Living in L.A. is like living on a movie set. Even our history is built on a backlot.
And the Old Western part of that history was primarily shot at Corriganville Movie Ranch, now a park you can hike.
Set in a riparian oak grove between the Santa Susana Pass Wildlife Corridor and Simi Valley, the property was initially developed by movie actor and stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan.
In 1937, he built an entire Western Town (this video gives a detailed layout of the grounds) and later converted it to a theme park that averaged twenty thousand weekend visitors, rivaling Knott’s Berry Farm.
Bob Hope bought it in the ’60s. Then fires destroyed most of the buildings in the ’70s.
You can hike through the remains anytime. But the best way to see the history is through Obscura Society LA’s docent-led trip this Saturday.
They’ll take you through the town, pointing out where John Ford’s Fort Apache was filmed, caves that were home to outlaws and the like.
You’ll need sunscreen, water and a little imagination.
Giddy up.
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