

National Park Service Purchases Paramount RanchĪfter purchasing a portion of the original Paramount property in 1980, the National Park Service revitalized the old movie ranch. Most of the track still winds through the grass and oak woodlands of the park.įrom 1957 to 1980, the ranch would see more ownership changes, but filmmaking continued.

The raceway was featured in "The Devil's Hairpin" (1957) and Disney's "The Love Bug" (1968). Some considered it one of the most challenging in the U.S., and it closed 18 months later after two fatal crashes occurred in December of 1957. The Paramount Raceway opened a year later. William Hertz sold the property in 1955 to three businessmen investors who renamed it the Paramount Sportsman's Ranch. As a result, television companies began shooting westerns at the ranch, such as "The Cisco Kid" and "Bat Masterson." Hertz Era Western TownĪn ardent fan of movie westerns, Hertz built a permanent western town utilizing Paramount Pictures' old prop storage sheds. Paramount Ranch found renewed life as a film location when William Hertz bought the southeast portion in 1953. The golden era of moviemaking at Paramount Ranch came to an end when changes to the studio system prompted Paramount Pictures to sell the ranch. The art of illusion was mastered on the landscape. It offered filmmakers the freedom to create distant locales such as colonial Massachusetts to ancient China in "The Adventures of Marco Polo" (1938), a South Seas island in "Ebb Tide" (1937), and numerous western locations, including San Francisco in "Wells Fargo" (1937). The diverse landscape, however, was the real star of the show. Army in "Caught in the Draft" (1941).Ī veritable "who's who" of Hollywood practiced their craft here for almost a century. Bob Hope played the part of a vain movie star whose biggest fear is to be drafted into the U.S.
You can experience the area where Claudette Colbert was sentenced as a witch in 1692 Massachusetts in "Maid of Salem" (1937). When Paramount Pictures leased the ranch in 1927, they began a historic era of film production. The Ranch and its hiking trails will remain open during construction, but visitors will be diverted around the construction closure.Īdditional History about Paramount Ranch The Paramount Pictures Era
Watch the trail of the lonesome pine movie 1936 series#
Quinn, Medicine Woman” series and the chapel used in HBO’s “Westworld” survived the fire and remain on site.Ĭonstruction to replace some of what was lost at Paramount Ranch will begin in spring 2023 and wrap-up in fall 2024. In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire swept through Paramount Ranch and destroyed much of what was known as Western Town. Read more about Paramount: Past, Present, and Future. More recent productions at Paramount include HBO’s “Westworld” (2016-2017) and “American Sniper” (2014). In the 1950s, Western Town was created for television shows, such as “The Cisco Kid” (1950-1956).

You can experience the area where Bob Hope starred in “Caught in the Draft” (1941) and Jane Seymour had the leading role in “Dr. When Paramount Pictures leased the ranch in 1927, they began an era of film production that continues today. Experience the rare valley oak savannah and be transported to far off destinations. Be on the lookout for our two native oak species-coast live oak and valley oak. Wildlife sightings might include red-tailed hawks, acorn woodpeckers, coyotes, and deer. Equestrians and mountain bikers may access these multi-use trails. Several miles of easy to moderate scenic hikes meander through chaparral, riparian, and valley oak savannah plant communities. Paramount Ranch offers opportunities to learn about film history while spending time in the beautiful environment.
