TURKEY INN, RAMONA (1937–now)
Not surprisingly, Homer D Tucker’s aptly-named longtime cafe and bar in Ramona was known for turkey dinners. As well it should — Ramona was once the epicenter of San Diego’s pre-war turkey farming industry.
In the 1930s, San Diego county’s mountainous town of Ramona and surrounding area was known as the “turkey capital of the world.” Ramona high school student Altarene Ivabelle Richardson (aka “Dottie”) was chosen as queen of the annual festival in 1938 and for a year represented Ramona and the turkey industry. The popular Turkey Day celebrations, included exhibitions, turkey shoots, and a parade.
Today the Ramona Inn is a bar only, no turkey dinners here.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, order food from the cafe next door — they’ll deliver!
Ramona
716 Main Street
Ramona, CA 92065
Don’t waste those turkey feathers! But remember, making fabulous outfits like these can take months.
The whole town was in on the Turkey Day gig — check out this full-page newspaper ad from 1937.
