Paramount
Ranch Santa Monica Mountains
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Paramount
Ranch is located
in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The
park consists of about 2700 acres of oak and sycamore woodlands.
Paramount movie studios purchased the land in the 1920s to
use as a movie ranch. Over the next 25 years hundreds of films
were shoot on the property. Most movies made at the ranch
were westerns although there was a huge replica of San Francisco
and even a european village at one time. Today all that remains
of the movie making days is the western town. The list of
film stars that made movies at Paramount Ranch is huge including
John Wayne, Cary Grant, Burt Lancaster, Roy Rogers, Lucille
Ball and Diane Keaton. Many television shows also were filmed
here including several classic westerns. Gunsmoke, Have Gun
Will Travel and the The Rifleman were all shot at the ranch.
Paramount ranch is still used as a backdrop for movies and
television shows so don't be supervised if you see a film
crew at work. Most people visit paramount Ranch to enjoy the
beautiful scenery and hike the miles of trails. On weekends
there is a volunteer staffing the western town than can go
into detail about the history of Paramount Ranch. |
Paramount Ranch
has no admission charge and parking is free. There are plenty
of places to have a picnic and let the kids run around. Western
town is a movie set and visitors are asked not lean or climb
on the buildings. Stay on the trails the park is slowing recovering
from years of being used as a movie ranch. At one time there
was a car racetrack here and you can still see the banked curves
and part of the straightaway. Paramount Racetrack was only used
for about two years, and was considered it one of the most challenging
sports car tracks in the U.S. Paramount Racetrack closed after
several fatal accidents and was soon over grown with grass.
From 1957 to 1980, the ranch changed ownership several times
until it was purchased by the National Park Service. Filmmaking
continues at Paramount Ranch and the park is used for several
festivals during the year including the Topanga Banjo Fiddle
Contest, Calabasas Pumpkin Festival and Agoura Renaissance fair.
Plan on spending at least two hours here longer if you decide
to hike. There is drinking water, restrooms and a ranger station
at the park. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. |
Things
to do and see near Paramount Ranch |
Cornell
Winery - Stop
by and explore more than 50 local wines, from right here in
your own backyard. Events and local wine tasting. 29975 Mulholland
Hwy Agoura Hills, CA |
Peter
Strauss Ranch - Hiking trails and grounds open
daily from 9AM to 5PM. Parking and admission free. 30000 Mulholland
Hwy. at Troutdale Drive, Agoura |
Troutdale
- Fishing lake charges a small entrance fee plus a per pound
charge. Perfect place to teach kids how to fish. 2468 Troutdale
Road. Agoura, California 91310 818 889-9993 |
The
Old Place - Serving local residents and visitors
since 1970. Now serving breakfast and dinner. Located next to
the Comnell Winery. The Old Place 29983 Mulholland Hwy Cornell,
CA 91301 |
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Directions: Paramount Ranch
is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, between the west San
Fernando Valley and Malibu. From the Valley, take the Ventura
(101) Freeway west to the Kanan Road offramp in Agoura Hills
(about seven miles west of Woodland Hills), then turn left (south)
on Kanan Road and follow it three quarters of a mile south to
Cornell Road. Turn left (southeast) on Cornell Road and take
it to Paramount Ranch Road. Turn right (west) and follow the
road into the ranch. Parking and admission is free. Open every
day, from dawn to dusk seven days a week.
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