Jungleland USA

Jungleland USA was a zoo and training facility in Thousand Oaks, California that covered roughly 170 acres and housed a wide variety of wild animals. Visitors could see elephants, tigers, giraffes, hippos, chimpanzees, and many other creatures kept there for entertainment and film productions.

Louis Goebel founded the park in 1926 with five lions from Universal Studios and developed it into a public attraction by 1929. The facility grew into a well-known place that drew visitors while also serving the film production industry.

The place was deeply connected to the film industry and supplied animals for many Hollywood productions. Visitors could watch how animals were trained and used in movie scenes.

Visitors had access to various rides and activities across the grounds, including elephant rides, tortoise rides, boat tours, and train rides. Safari trams and a sky tram made it possible to explore the entire facility and experience the animals from different vantage points.

Famous animal trainer Mabel Stark performed shows there and doubled for actress Mae West in lion-taming scenes for the 1933 film I'm No Angel. This blend of real circus training with movie production made the place a meeting point of two different worlds.