Lake Enchanto, California
Peter Strauss Ranch (Lake Enchanto)
This enchanting oak woodland has long been a source of dreams, visions, and memories. Inhabited for thousands of years by the Chumash people, this area became part of Rancho Las Virgenes after Spanish colonization. The original coast live oak, used as the marker in the 1881 land grant survey, still stands just west of the swimming pool. The upside-down letter “T” is still evident in the bark. The “vision of enchantment” continues at this site today with hiking, concerts, picnics, and art exhibits. Explore this peaceful refuge and create some memories of your own.
Dreams- At the turn of the century, Harry Miller purchased the ranch as a weekend retreat from his residence and automobile factory in Los Angeles. His patented master carburetor and “Miller Specials,” featured at Indianapolis 500 car races, brought him fame. In 1926, Harry built many structures including the stone ranch house, the “look out tower” and the aviary. The Depression and his attempt at aircraft-engine development resulted in financial ruin, the loss of the ranch and an end to his dreams.
Visions - In the mid 1930s, Warren Shobert and Arthur Edeson purchased the ranch, transforming the place into “Shoson”- a fairyland of charm and a paradise for children and adults. Later, a dam was constructed on Triunfo Creek, creating a small lake was created on Triunfo Creek, and a 650,000 gallon swimming pool was built on site. The resort was renamed “Lake Enchanto.” Competition from other, larger amusement parks and resorts led to the decline of "Lake Enchanto.” It fell into disrepair and closed around 1960.
Memories - Actor Peter Strauss was deeply moved by the area's natural beauty while filming the mini-series "Rich Man, Poor Man" at Malibou Lake in 1976. He purchased the property and restored the site to its original splendor, living here until 1983. Due to his sensitivity and concern for the natural environment, Strauss sold the ranch to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The National Park Service purchased the ranch in 1987 as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, dedicated to the preservation of our natural and cultural history.
Dreams- At the turn of the century, Harry Miller purchased the ranch as a weekend retreat from his residence and automobile factory in Los Angeles. His patented master carburetor and “Miller Specials,” featured at Indianapolis 500 car races, brought him fame. In 1926, Harry built many structures including the stone ranch house, the “look out tower” and the aviary. The Depression and his attempt at aircraft-engine development resulted in financial ruin, the loss of the ranch and an end to his dreams.
Visions - In the mid 1930s, Warren Shobert and Arthur Edeson purchased the ranch, transforming the place into “Shoson”- a fairyland of charm and a paradise for children and adults. Later, a dam was constructed on Triunfo Creek, creating a small lake was created on Triunfo Creek, and a 650,000 gallon swimming pool was built on site. The resort was renamed “Lake Enchanto.” Competition from other, larger amusement parks and resorts led to the decline of "Lake Enchanto.” It fell into disrepair and closed around 1960.
Memories - Actor Peter Strauss was deeply moved by the area's natural beauty while filming the mini-series "Rich Man, Poor Man" at Malibou Lake in 1976. He purchased the property and restored the site to its original splendor, living here until 1983. Due to his sensitivity and concern for the natural environment, Strauss sold the ranch to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The National Park Service purchased the ranch in 1987 as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, dedicated to the preservation of our natural and cultural history.
Posted by: GeekHiker | March 3, 2009
HIKE: Peter Strauss Ranch
The Peter Strauss Ranch is a place I go to sometimes for no other reason than the fact that it has a big parking lot.
No, seriously.
The reason for this is that the lot is usually empty, so it’s an easy place to park the truck under a shady tree. Even with the sound of Mulholland Highway right behind you, it’s peaceful, with a nearby stream, tall trees, various birds, and hawks soaring up and down the canyon. There’s even a flock of wild parrots, though the noises they make are slightly more annoying than the cry of a hawk.
The Peter Strauss Ranch is a place I go to sometimes for no other reason than the fact that it has a big parking lot.
No, seriously.
The reason for this is that the lot is usually empty, so it’s an easy place to park the truck under a shady tree. Even with the sound of Mulholland Highway right behind you, it’s peaceful, with a nearby stream, tall trees, various birds, and hawks soaring up and down the canyon. There’s even a flock of wild parrots, though the noises they make are slightly more annoying than the cry of a hawk.
Of course, I never thought I’d be writing it up as a hike post, either. The hiking, such as it is, isn’t long. Still the park is still an excellent place to relax or have a picnic, so I thought I would share.
Be sure to pick up one of the park brochures, which details the area’s life as the home of the Chumash people, part of an 1881 land grant survey, the weekend retreat of Harry Miller (who patented the master carburetor), to childrens amusement park (with a small dam-formed lake called Lake Enchanto) and home of Peter Strauss, who sold the land to become public property in 1983.
To explore the park, start by crossing the bridge along the highway over the creek from the parking lot, turning left and entering the park, passing a small rock tower.
Be sure to pick up one of the park brochures, which details the area’s life as the home of the Chumash people, part of an 1881 land grant survey, the weekend retreat of Harry Miller (who patented the master carburetor), to childrens amusement park (with a small dam-formed lake called Lake Enchanto) and home of Peter Strauss, who sold the land to become public property in 1983.
To explore the park, start by crossing the bridge along the highway over the creek from the parking lot, turning left and entering the park, passing a small rock tower.
Walking up the original entrance road, you’ll pass a small cactus garden and turn right to see the house itself, small by modern “star’s mansion” standards.
Be sure to walk past the house to see the historic circular pool. Despite it’s decrepit state today, it’s easy to imagine what it must have looked like in it’s heyday.
Returning to the house, turn right and head up the hill, passing an old aviary and a small outdoor theater.
The trail curves around the theater, continuing up a series of switchbacks. After a few turns, the trail levels out and follows the hillside, looking towards the other side of the canyon dotted with very expensive homes.
After a quarter mile, the trail switchbacks downhill, finally reaching a junction. On the map available in the parking lot, the trail to the right appears to only go a couple hundred feet and stop at the park boundary, but in reality the trail continues another quarter mile or so to a chain link fence, where it swings left and drops down to Triunfo Creek. From there, the usually barely-there creek can be followed back upstream to the parking lot, but it was too deep to cross while I was there.
Going left from the junction, the trail quickly returns down to the canyon floor and a small picnic area near the old dam, which once formed Lake Enchanto.
Following the road to the left will take you back to the house and the park entrance.
Total Distance: ~1.5 Miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: ~200’/~200′
Peter Strauss Ranch
- Directions: From Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) turn north onto Malibu Canyon Road.
- Drive north 6.3 miles (the road name will change to Las Virgenes Road) and turn left on Mulholland Highway.
- Follow Mulholland for 5 miles until you see the park entrance on the left, across from Waring Drive.
- Park and walk across the bridge to the pedestrian entrance, across from Troutdale Drive.
- From the 101 freeway, exit at Kanan Road in Agoura Hills, turning south.
- Drive 3 miles to Troutdale Drive and turn left.
- After .3 miles, Troutdale Drive will end at Mulholland Highway.
- Turn left and drive about 100 yards and turn right into the parking entrance.
- Cross the bridge to the park entrance as noted above.