Did you know… that back in the 1930s there was a Movie Ranch in Simi Valley?
It was called Corriganville Movie Ranch. It was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction. The ranch was owned by actor and stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan. Located in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains, it was open to the public for many years for tours until closing around 1965.
The ranch was the backdrop for several movies and television programs including Fort Apache, Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory, The Robe, The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Sky King, and Star Trek, among others. See if you recognize any of the local background in these shows. A fire destroyed what was left of the structures and the area is now a public park called Corriganville Regional Park.
6 comments
Yes I remember hearing about it. Later bought by Bob Hope and there was Corriganville too. I love Ventura County. I might just move back someday
back then it wasn’t ‘Simi Valley’, the whole area was called Santa Susana
We camp there sometimes!
Check out some of the old pictures at Jim’s Tire Center.
Hey Miss Mel, Your grandmother, Helen, and grandfather John took Sue and I there once. It was a really cool trip and we had lots of fun.
In the late 60’s my brother friends and I swam next to the Hippy’s from spawn ranch which was a couple miles from hopetown. Guess they called it robinhood lake. We laughed cause we’d dive off Tarzan Falls and they’d only jump off