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Golden Gate Park Bison
Category: Local Flavor Local Flavor [Edit]
John F Kennedy Dr & Chain of Lakes Dr ESan Francisco, CA 94122
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
67 reviews for Golden Gate Park Bison
67 reviews in English
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Review from Jordan P.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012 3 photos
I drove by once and one of the Bison was running around all crazy with his tongue hanging out. He ran from one side of the paddock to the others, did a little dance move, and ran back again. This happened for about thirty minutes. Then he went back into the shade like nothing had happened.
Yesterday we came to visit the new tiny bison. They were hard to see but I had a huge zoom lens so I snapped a couple good photos. The tiny bison are adorable. -
Review from Ryan L.
San Francisco, CA
12/9/2011
What kind of pathetic crotch rocket would rate a public park stocked with a bison adventure zone less than five stars?
Three stars because the bison are boring? If you write a review of bison on the internet YOU ARE BORING.
Anyway, I give the park bison five stars because it was clear that the creators of the bison enclosure only did so to help members of my generation remember the hunting screen from the Oregon Trail computer game.
I wish my parents loved me -
Review from Alyssa G.
10/2/2011
It pains me to not give the bison 5 stars, but I can't in good conscience until I see them AWAKE.
However, sleepy bison are still adorable in their own way.
I came with a few friends and we walked the entire perimeter of the bison enclosure (don't do this) and only three of these guys were to be found. But it led to a golden gate park adventure so no complaints. -
Review from Sara P.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2011
Reasons bison are awesome:
1. They wallow.
2. They have beaten extinction! Whooooo!!! Go bison!
3. They are usually lazy but but if you piss one off they can run fast. This is highly entertaining.
4. They remind me of childhood trips to Custer State Park.
5. They are cute. and tasty.
5 reasons = 5 stars. Anything less is an insult to mother nature.Listed in: SF Lovin'
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Review from Ivan L.
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been excited for quite a while to get a chance to see the bison at Golden Gate Park. The park is always beautiful but somehow we never make it over to the bison paddock. I finally got my chance last weekend. Maybe I'm spoiled from spending many weekend at Northwest Trek http://www.yelp.com/bi... but the bison in GG were a bit of a let down. Three lazy looking beasts, none particularly large and one concerningly anemic. It was fun to see them but I was wishing for more.
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Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's pretty surprising to see bison roaming around in the middle of Golden Gate Park. (They are fenced off, no worries)
Most people don't seem to come this far into the park nor do they stay too long, so parking wasn't an issue. If you're an animal fan, it's pretty relaxing to take a seat on a bench and watch the bison sleep, chomp on grass, or just mosey on along in the field. -
Review from Jason O.
Garden Grove, CA
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
First off, if you don't give the Bison 5 stars, then you are an assdouche.
Now that that is out of the way..... I LOVE YOU BISONS! You guys are the definition of "Stayin' Alive." Making a comeback for your species, look at you guys go! I can't say I'm not proud of you guys. Not a bad location to be locked up either.
Although tasty in a burger, I now refuse to eat you after regularly visiting the Bison Paddock.
Go learn! -
Review from Amelia M.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The elusive Bison... sometimes they feel like being out there... sometimes they are in seclusion, but when you do get to see them, it is pretty cool. I am glad they have these in SF, but I wonder if it is a large enough area for them.
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Review from Christine A.
Cerritos, CA
2/19/2011
I'd never really taken the time to stop and watch the bison. I knew they were there, just didn't really have the time.
It wasn't until we were sitting down at a local cafe where the cook leaned out to tell us about the greatness that is watching the bison paddock that we decided to give it a shot while we were in the area.
As he, and the kind waitress, explained it: You have the bison; the bison fertilize the grass; the ground hogs eat the grass, and the foxes try to eat the ground hogs.
He chuckled mentioning the ground hogs and how you'll see the grass seemingly move on its own and then get pulled down from below. On top of that he full on guffawed saying that should you play golf nearby, the foxes steal your ball thinking it's an egg.
With all of this amusement over the Circle of Life happening RIGHT NOW in Golden Gate Park, we had to check it out. As others have mentioned, the bison didn't really do much. They mostly graze and sit in the shade. Didn't see any ground hogs or foxes.
I'm sure if we had a couple hours to stand by and meditate, we'd see this unique eco-system at work, but we didn't.
Perhaps another time. -
Review from Ryan L.
7/5/2011
A friend told me there were bison in Golden Gate Park so we drove around trying to find them. Then we found them and they just sat there. They seemed to be happy. I enjoy the whimsy of seeing bison in the middle of a big city.
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Review from Natasha M.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
They are a pretty cool site to see. Its a bit erry considering you are in the middle of SF but seriously cool. I love that we help keep them alive and happy. I love that they still exist and are really cool to see a historic creature up close and in person.
Granted after you read, chilled and watched them for a bit there is not much to do. This is why it doesn't get crazy great stars. -
Review from Katy A.
10/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Easiest $5 I ever made was when I bet my new roommate (who had just moved from down south) that there were buffalo in Golden Gate Park.
The look on his face when he realized I was right was pretty priceless.
I enjoy watching the buffalo because of their slowness. Reminds me that I should take in each day with purposeful steps.
Also a good reminder that I'm not caged in like they are.
Tho...let's be real...if they weren't happy there - animal rights activists in SF would be all over this place. So I give this place 5 stars! I'm sure I'll wave at them while I ride by again soon. -
Review from samanta v.
Healdsburg, CA
Updated - 1/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came by and saw the fellows on Sunday. God I love them. They werw quite spry and happy roaming in their pen. A couple walked right over the fence as if to say hello.
Love them. love them love them. What a neat treat to have so close by, and available for everyone to see.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/24/2009
I was lucky enough to be raised by parents who took me on vacations through the midwest, and on more… Read more »
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Review from Sonlay V.
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice Bison Bro
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Review from Bruce N.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2010
Yayyy!! I love these little bastards.... well there not so little...
Every time I show guests around SF, we always find ourselves driving through lovely GGP, and then we turn a corner and I say... ".. and here are our pets! " and they're ususally like, WTF!!! lol, love the looks on peoples faces...
I love it how they call it a paddock - kind of reminds my of the "raptor paddock" from Jurassic Park. I mean, I totally have eaten buffalo many a times in my life (yummmy), but these guys are totally cool.
Yes it is a wondrous day when they are littered accross their paddock, however most of the times i've been their all scrounged up in one corner, or resting in their zoo-like pen.
I heart the SF Bufallo!!!!
TATANKA LIVES !!!!
PS - theres a cool display showing alittle history on SF's and our nations Buffalo's in front! -
Review from Ed U.
http://www.youtube.com...
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day...
I wonder if these bison know about the Bullshead Restaurant in West Portal. My friend Maggie and I were taking a less-than-brisk walk through Golden Gate Park last weekend when the weather was very nearly perfect. As we passed by the cement pool that is Spreckels Lake, I was starting to get worried that they would stampede knowing that I have enjoyed eating a buffalo burger at Bullshead.
When we walked past the paddock on our way to the Park Chalet, we saw them lounging way in the distance under the shadow of a mammoth tree. Ah, the drawback of natural habitat areas is that they naturally habituate. Coming back from our minuscule burger at the Park Chalet (just beef, not buffalo), they were up close and grazing as a group (see photos). Much better though they couldn't be bothered by the gawking families strolling and cycling by.
Since there were only five head in the herd, I wouldn't expect a replay of "Dances with Wolves" here. No, that would be "Avatar". Let's just hope the Park or Beach Chalet don't start serving Buffalo Steak Bearnaise on the menu. Or else it will be one empty field with a lot of petrified manure. By the way, for old movie trivialists, that's Ralph Bellamy and the crush-worthy Irene Dunne singing "Home on the Range" from the classic 1937 (yes, 1937!) screwball comedy, "The Awful Truth". Respect, kiddies.Listed in: A San Franciscan's Guide to…
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Review from Helene K.
4/29/2009
This little spot of the park is right by my apartment, so it's an easy stroll across Fulton on a beautiful sunny day. When I first stumbled upon the bison here, I was surprised since I wasn't expecting to see these creatures just hanging out in the fields of San Francisco. I would expect to see bison in Montana, but not in California (in this day and age anyway).
It seems that the best time to view the bison is early in the morning/day. By afternoon, they're not moving around as much, and by early evening (before the sun sets), they're already asleep/at rest. I like coming here on days when I feel like taking a break from the day-to-day frenzy of the city. It's calming and relaxing to me to see the bison just going on with their lives, not seeming to have a care in the world.
It's not THE ideal escape from the city for me (the most ideal is, of course, going somewhere else, i.e., Montana or somewhere else a little more natural), but it's a good alternative for the individual on a budget.Listed in: SF Points of Interest
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Review from Kevin L.
Berkeley, CA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
THE BISON ARE AWESOME! It's a really nice stop on my usual jog. Coming here brings some zoo nostalgia back, it's pretty cool
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Review from Leah E.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2009 2 photos
This review is dedicated to my DAD on Father's Day! The best dad in the world!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I stopped by the Bison Paddock with my 75-year old dad and much younger mom at 65 while visiting the Golden Gate Park.
There's something about the bisons that always make stop, park my car and just stare at them for few minutes or so. It must be their gentle beauty -- powerful yet calm. They don't do anything but just gently graze on the peaceful green Golden Gate meadows.
Millions used to freely roam North America centuries ago but they were hunted for their meat and fur. They almost became extinct. Now there are about 200.000 in existence all over United States.
I was just thinking, nature, just like our loved ones, should be cherished while they are still around--because they are not going to be with us forever. Maybe the bisons remind me to slow down and focus on what will really count in the end--families, loved ones and friends.
It is becoming more rare that I can spend time with my old but youthful mommy and daddy. This visit at Golden Gate Park watching the bisons together will be forever embedded in my memory.
It was a beautiful sunny day that I will always cherish.Listed in: Good for the Heart and Soul, Family Time
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Review from Victoria F.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2011
I LOVE THE BISON
Please don't eat Bison -
Review from Jen M.
Brooklyn, NY
9/30/2010
I hung out with these guys and gals today for a bit. It's amazing that they are in the middle of the city like that! It kind of blows my mind that I can take a bus to see bison.
I hung out by the fence and drew for a little. One lady bison was scratching her back on a tree trunk that was pretty close to the fence and I got some great little drawings.
The enclosure is beautiful, with tons of natural vegetation. I will definitely be a regular visitor. -
Review from John S.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2009
I feel so sorry for these girls.* I love coming here, especially when there are people in town who did not know that San Francisco has famous bison. But it's just kinda sad. They're out of place, but with their spotty pelts and general lackadaisical attitudes, I don't think they'd survive too long on the cold cold Great Plains.^
*They're all female! So when you go to check them out, it's like going to a Donnas concert, and if you're into the drummer like I am, you'll also feel a little bit weird ogling these females, as she looked all of 14 on their first album cover even though she was older than that and even thought I wasn't that far from 14 at the time and even though she's legal now, but you know.
^I know it doesn't snow or freeze over in San Francisco, but at least the Great Plains are warm some of the time. These poor girls must deal with fog year-round. -
Review from Liz A.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2006
When I was little, my dad would talk to the buffalo whenever we passed them in the car. That was weird.
Still, I enjoy my fantasies of them breaking down that pathetic little fence and stampeding around the park, scaring ducks and perhaps smashing a model yacht or something. Four stars for that and an extra star for smelling better than my 10th grade English teacher. -
Review from lulubelle l.
San Mateo, CA
1/18/2009
Sunday and the kids want to stay home and watch television. No way! So I take my son (my daughter was sick) to see the bison (or buffalo) in Golden Gate Park. He can't believe there are buffalo in the city and has never seen one in his life. We park on Fulton and 35th, walk in Golden Gate Park, admire the remote control boats in Spreckels Lake and walk on John F. Kennedy Drive heading south. A fenced meadow comes into sight, and lo and behold! Six bison, huddled together, ignoring the humans and enjoying the midday sun.We hike to the back of the paddock, where we can get a closer look and take some pictures of these huge, imposing, yet gentle looking animals. It was a unique way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the city -- wait 'til he tells his friends who he tells me hardly ever leave the suburbs, "My mom took me to see buffalo in San Francisco"...
PS I remember as a child that the buffalo were in the back of the zoo...??? -
Review from Brianna T.
San Francisco, CA
6/19/2011
I am writing this review to support the consensus that the bison shouldn't be given anything less than 5 starts. Come on, its bison, in SF. Pretty cool in my book.
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Review from Loli L.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2010
The first time I saw these guys, I was at the tail-end of my first Bay to Breakers. The fog was breaking and after a morning of walking revelry I thought I was hallucinating. I remember asking aloud, "Are those buffalo?" just to be certain.
Many years later, I am here with with some 'tweens. They seem completely unsurprised that there are bison hanging out in a park in the city. Either it seems like a completely natural thing for them (like ducks in a pond) or my talking it up hours before took the thrill away.
We pull the car over and they proceed to watch them for a couple seconds. One of them attempts to taunt the bison while the other resumes texting a friend.
Note to self: Next time, I won't mention what we're stopping for... and I won't feed them sugary stuff... ever.Listed in: For Tourist Children in San…
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Review from Karen S.
1/26/2010
Golden Gate Park Bison...I love you!
Thank you for hanging in with the fine folks of SF...you seem to be far from home but you just keep on truckin' and we LOVE that about you!!
Muwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah to all the Bison of GG Park!! -
Review from Kathryn E.
Oakland, CA
1/13/2008
Now Sex in the City is a common thing, but buffalo?
My boyfriend, a San Francisco native, thinks nothing is funnier than telling me, a newbie to the city, all kinds of untrue stories about the home of the only moving historical landmark (trolley cars!) and the first China town. This is the guy who recently tried to convince me that he never had earrings, but was born with strange holes in his ears. I didn't believe that one anymore than I did the night we were driving through the park and he pointed to the "buffalo pen." Suuure baby. Buffalo pen. And the guy I saw standing on the corner of 18th and Castro in a pink bunny suit in the middle of January really is the Easter Bunny and not some lunatic with, ahem, unconventional social skills.
No, really, there are buffalo in the park. Yes, I Yelped it when I got home.
All in all, I love the big guys, and while it does seem strange that the "home where the buffalo roam" happens to be not far from a duck pond, row houses, a few bus lines and hippie hill, they're just another reason to enjoy such a unique city.Listed in: Sweet spots for sweethearts
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Review from Maria S.
11/30/2009
This place is FREE!...Coming from California Academy of Sciences...I pulled over to admire the Bison's that looked bored to some but to me looked very at peace. Their HUGE but look so gentle. I wouldn't ever go near one though..they may look cute but I'm sure can eat me alive.
I suggest anyone who passes by GGP to just pause and admire these N. American beauties. Definitely a cool site to see AND it's free. -
Review from Dan T.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2006
I'm an animal guy.. but Bison.. come on. I see the poor S.O.Bs sitting there in the fence pretty much bored out of their minds. You can't get close to the animals because most of the time their are away from the fence. For all the kids I bring to see the Bison they want to leave after a minute.
Don't get me wrong..I'm not giving the Bison 2 stars.. they deserve 6 stars out of 5 for hanging in their mangy area. But as an activity there's not much really here. -
Review from Rennie L.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2009
I've never understood why tourists think that Fisherman's Wharf is THE place to go in SF. It's just a disgusting overpriced tourist trap. Okay, sea lions are cool, but the rest is crap.
If I have people coming to town, THIS is what they need to see. Real live california bison living it up in GGP.Listed in: SF in a nutshell (help I'm in…
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Review from Sarah S.
5/10/2011
The bison kept me thoroughly amused for about 5 minutes. But they were just sitting around and basking in the sun. Still, its prettttttty awesome that there are bison in GG park!
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Review from Ed C.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2011
Not a lot better than walking the length of GGP with the Bison as one of the last highlights of the walk. It's not only watching the bison chilling out, eating, rambling, whatever; there's also a lot of bird watching activity!
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Review from Roy M.
San Francisco, CA
11/23/2009
So, me and my girlfriend called ahead of time and were unable to get a reservation. Undeterred, we decided to soldier on and try to get a seat. A short bus ride and a bit of a hoof later (no pun intended), we were there.
Service: 2 stars
Show: 5 stars
Ambiance: 5 stars
There was a twinge of pity for these grand ol' creatures, but I buried that feeling with banana bread. We continued on towards the ether, a brisk wind at our backs. -
Review from Trevor F.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2007
I like the big fur balls, don't get me wrong, but as something to do in San Francisco, is it worth the trip? Depends.
They're way out at one end of the park. If you start at the other end, by the time you get there you're babbling incoherently, or maybe that's the crazy guy that lives in the park standing next you. Anyway, you're tired and you're cranky, and you want to see some great american beasts galloping across a wide open plain.
Instead you get... rocks, big furry rocks, not moving rocks, but very very still, caged-in and probably sad rocks. So the excitement that you hoped for is not really there, for you or them, and that's a little sad for both of you. -
Review from Jessica D.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2006
The Bison are awesome. I used to live close enough to walk to see them and I would take that stroll regularly.
The Bison are huge, smelly beasts that like eating and sleeping on the sloped grassy area of their pen. They live in a big caged area that seems adequate since they appear to be lazy 'tatankas' (and yeah I did do that whole hand gesture thing right now to represent horns). -
Review from Casi C.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2010
The first time someone told me there were bison in GG Park I thought they were pulling my chain. What is this, Dancing With Wolves?!
Well they were right! There actually are Bison in GG Park (minus the American Indians and soldiers that dance with wolves)(actually, it's GG Park, you never know!)
It's pretty random, but also pretty fricken awesome! I could sit there all day watching them. Their 10 ft. long tongues are crazy! -
Review from Mike J.
12/11/2009
Random huge creatures roaming around grassy pastures in the middle of a major American city? How crazy is this but SO true.
Yeah they are fenced in and in Golden Gate Park but it's still hard to believe that in the 21st Century they are still around after millions were killed for their hide not too many years past.
When in the park, stop by and pay homage to the former kings of the prairies. -
Review from Albert L.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2011
I used to bike or walk my dog around the fenced area regularly. The buffalos are rather boring. They don't seem to be scared of anything. I'd like to see them run, but they barely move. *yawn*
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Review from Allyson S.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2008
BISON! ( and for once, I don't mean the superset of YACC)
As I was growing up in the city I played soccer from pretty much the time I could run in a straight line. This entailed many early morning soccer games at the polo fields across the street from the bison. Ans of course, the soccer entailed carpools, which entailed stupid childhood jokes. Well, my friends and I would always tease each other. "oh look *** there's you're family!!! don't you want to go out and eat with them?" and similar things.
Well the sentiment changed, I consider the Bison as part of my extended San Francisco family, because we spent so much time together. I noticed when they were gone, or shedding, or disliking the rare hot day in the city. I still get very excited when I drive by and the bison are out to play.
