Return to Paramount Ranch Park – Agoura, California: Part 2 Hiking the Site

Return to Paramount Ranch Park in Agoura, California:
Part 2 Hiking the Site
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

NOTE: If you’ve been redirected here via a link from Agoura Renaissance Faire, please FOLLOW and LIKE this page and our facebook and Twitter pages.

See our other Blogs about the Faire and the Paramount Ranch for more pics! Use the SEARCH BOX at the top of the page and SEARCH: PARAMOUNT RANCH^^^^^^^^^

ARE YOU READY?
THEN, LET’S BEGIN! …Take a little trip on ThrowbackThursday!

101 Freeway – Kanan Rd Exit (watch out for the California Highway Patrol!)

In 1927, Paramount Studios purchased a 2,700-acre ranch on Medea Creek in the Santa Monica Mountains, It is now the Paramount Ranch Park and part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Exit at Kanan Rd off the 101 freeway, go west past Agoura Rd, make a left on Cornell Rd and follow it to the Paramount Ranch park entrance. Admission is FREE, Parking is FREE.

The Paramount Ranch is Open 8am to Sunset in Agoura, California

Leaving Los Angeles: 101 Freeway – Kanan Rd exit to Agoura, California

NOTE: You may experience heavy traffic at the Kanan Rd exit on weekend “Beach Days” or if there is an event at one of the wineries or during rush hour traffic periods. Plan Ahead!
(And the Banjo & Fiddle Festival and other events are still held at the Paramount Ranch)

Kanan Road and Cornell Road (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

As you approach the Paramount Ranch Park entrance, after you pass the Fire Station, you will enjoy a great view of the park’s landscape and the old racetrack from Cornell Rd.

Paramount Ranch – Parking Lot (Phredd’s Meadow) from Cornell Road

The Paramount Ranch Racetrack

In 1956, the owner of Paramount Ranch decided to build a road-racing facility. He approached Ken Miles and Dick Van Laanen to design the road course. They designed a paved road course nearly 2 miles in length. The road course included 11 turns with uphill and downhill sections, a straightaway just shy of ¾ mile, a bridge and underpass as well as a lake opposite the start/finish line. Most of the drivers were weekend racers and the lack of safety features along with dangerous curves were more risk than they were willing to take for a hobby. The racetrack was a two mile figure eight course with a bridge between turns 3 and 4. The racetrack pits and grandstand were located on the current parking lot. Bob Bondurant described the course as “unforgiving but a real challenge”. A total of seven races were held at Paramount Ranch. Five events were sponsored by the California Sports Car Club (CSCC) and two by the United States Auto Club (USAC). After several drivers were killed on the track (3 on the same day) it was closed in 1957. 

Paramount Ranch – Racetrack and the Old Parking Lot

Paramount Ranch – Racetrack and the Old Parking Lot

Paramount Ranch – Racetrack and the Old Parking Lot

The National Park Service maintains the entire ranch including the racetrack as a historic site. Very little remains of the racetrack as of 2015, the bridge still remains however it has been blocked off so vehicles cannot drive over it and the road underneath the bridge is overgrown with trees and shrubs. Home construction on the neighboring hillsides has caused water runoff erosion that destroyed the original layout and terrain of the land. Much of the road is no longer there. There is some sentiment among park rangers to repair the circuit and return the track to its former glory, but there are no plans in the foreseeable future. The Paramount Ranch Racetrack is featured in several movies filmed in the 1950’s and 1960’s: “Road Racers” (1959), “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” (1965), “Devil’s Hairpin” (1957), “Spin Out” with Elvis Presley (1965), “Munster Go Home” (1966), “The Love Bug” (1968) and “Herbie Rides Again” (1974).

Paramount Ranch – Next Right

Enter the Paramount Ranch Park from Cornell Rd,
turn left at the bottom of the main entrance and park near the Ranger Station.

Paramount Ranch Park Entrance – “Top O’ the Main”

The park is open 8am to Sunset everyday! Take a tour of Western Town, visit the Western Town Meadow and then enter the park proper and the hiking trails on the other side.

Paramount Ranch – Western Town: Open 8am to Sunset

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Western Town! Read the previous Blog:
“Return to Paramount Ranch – Agoura, California: Part 1 Western Town” to see more pics>
RIGHT CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW!

Paramount Ranch – Western Town

RIGHT CLICK ON THE PIC AND “OPEN IN NEW WINDOW” TO VIEW THE LINK!

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Paramount Ranch – Oak Tree in Western Town Meadow

NOTE: These pics are from a couple years back.
The Western Town pics are in the previous Blog>
“Return to Paramount Ranch – Agoura, California: Part 1 Western Town”

Paramount Ranch – Western Town Bridge from the Meadow

Paramount Ranch – Western Town Oak Tree (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)

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Ye Olde Renaissance Faire Site

We walked the site and here are some selected pictures:

Paramount Ranch – Front of Faire and Front Gate Area

CLICK ON PIC FOR LARGER PIC>

Map to the Paramount Ranch w/locations

Paramount Ranch – Finance Hill from the Bridge/Berm

Paramount Ranch – Finance Hill

Paramount Ranch – Gaming Hill

Paramount Ranch – Gaming Hill

Paramount Ranch – View from Gaming Hill, MainStage to Your Left

Paramount Ranch – MainStage from Gaming Hill

Paramount Ranch – Low Road from Gaming Hill

Paramount Ranch – Olde Oak Tree

Paramount Ranch – Olde Oak Trees

Paramount Ranch – Twilziwop, Drench-A-Wench, Children’s Dell & The Washing Well

Paramount Ranch – Washing Well, Twilziwop & Drench-A-Wench

Paramount Ranch – Drench-A-Wench/Soak-A-Bloke Site

We will be adding more to this Blog and there will most likely be a Part 2 coming soon.
We just wanted to post this before this year’s annual reunion. More to come! Enjoy!

All photos copyright 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 JoshWillTravel

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Western Town! Read the previous Blog
“Return to Paramount Ranch – Agoura, California: Part 1 Western Town”>
https://joshwilltravel.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/return-to-paramount-ranch-01-apr-13-part-1-western-town/

Paramount Ranch – “Days of Future Past”

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Paramount Ranch – View from the Fire Road towards Gaming Hill

Paramount Ranch – west of the MainStage

Paramount Ranch – Phredd’s Meadow on a Cloudy Day