By Teresa Acosta, Feb. 4, 2025
By destroying the Will Rogers ranch house and Zane Grey Estate, the Pacific Palisades and Altadena have not only erased parts of Southern California history but also deeply affected community culture.
“A lot of these spaces are not just preserved because they are nice houses or belonged to important people, but they also were originally saved for the community,” said Eileen Wallis, professor of history at Cal Poly Pomona. “I think one thing people like me, who work with historic preservation, are having to reckon with coming out of these terrible fires is not just the loss to history, but the loss to communities.”
Before the fire destroyed the Will Rogers State Historic Park, the space was used for field trips, hikes, horseback riding lessons, games of polo and outdoor movies.
“California State Parks mourn the loss of these treasured natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero in a press release.
According to the press release from California State Parks, the losses in the Palisades Fire also included Topanga Ranch Motel and state park employee residences.
Some of the spaces that once hosted community gatherings are gone. It is after losses like these that a community looks for a place to come together and support one another, and those places no longer exist.
“It’s a loss to the natural world anytime you lose open space or green space,” said Wallis. “Those were also spaces for the community for families to gather.”
According to an order issued by the USDA Forest Service, there are 34 roads and trails currently closed to the public. These locations are used by the community for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, backpacking, scenic driving, wildlife viewing and archeological, astronomical and geological interpretation.
Elesa McKernan, a local hiking enthusiast, recalled how impactful the trails are.
“I’m currently a resident of Pomona, and back when I lived in Fullerton and also Rancho Cucamonga, I would drive specifically to Bailey Canyon to hike because it’s always been one of my favorite trails.”
McKernan described the trails as lush and well-maintained, and fellow hikers were always respectful of the land. It was also a good workout full of steep inclines, switchbacks and lookout points. But most importantly, the hikes served as an opportunity for self-care.
“I hike probably about 4-5 times a month, for not only physical health but mental health,” said McKernan. “It really helps to clear my mind, being in nature.”
Wallis stressed the importance of preservation that would honor the people in these communities. Right now, the community is focused on survival, but soon enough there will be conversations about how to rebuild in a way that best serves the people in the community.
“Historic preservation, to my mind anyway, should never just be about saving a building,” Wallis said. “It should be about saving a building so that (preservation) can continue to serve the community in some way, right?”
Feature image courtesy of California State Parks