Buffalo Ranch - Later Existence

Later Existence

Bonita Canyon, which lies within the land that had once been Buffalo Ranch, became somewhat notorious in the late 1960s as a hideout for hippies from the nearby university. Indeed, drug paraphernalia and evidence of sexual encounters were frequently found there by rock climbers who frequented the canyon, attracted mainly to a large rock formation that was known as the "Buffalo Chip."

Long after Pereira and his team departed, the barn stood on the street corner as a landmark to passersby. It was demolished in the 1990s to make way for the Bonita Canyon housing development. Today, a large bronze statue of a buffalo stands at the street corner with a large plaque placed in front of it honoring the site's history.

Part of the barn, including the silo that Pereira had converted into a 360-degree survey platform for his planning efforts, was moved to Centennial Farm at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center where it remains to this day.

The main section of this barn is still located in Newport Beach. It can be seen fully rebuilt at the corner of Irvine Avenue and Holiday Road.