Harold Vega, owner of the Chicken Fiesta restaurant chain, is developing a 114-acre ranch and event venue on his property in eastern Henrico, Virginia. Purchased in 2020, the former sand and gravel site is being transformed into a ranch inspired by one he owns in Colombia, where he breeds Paso Fino horses. The new venture will feature a steakhouse restaurant, an equestrian center, a riding ring, and a barn housing horses and other animals like Highland cows, miniature donkeys, and alpacas. The ranch will be open to the public on weekends for dining, horseback riding, and events such as weddings.

Vega has secured permits for the project and is investing around $2 million in construction, which includes a 3,500-square-foot barn, a 2,400-square-foot dwelling, and a 3,000-square-foot restaurant building. The ranch, operating under a name connected to the Chicken Fiesta brand, aims to attract visitors familiar with his popular restaurant chain. Vega’s lifelong passion for horses and farming drives this new business, marking a significant expansion beyond his established food service ventures.