This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Photograph was edited for publication purposes The Iverson Movie Ranch was originally a 500 acre homesteading property established by Augusta Wagman (later married to John Iverson) in 1884. Local film studios started using the location as early as 1912, particularly for westerns. Later generations of the family divided the property into the Upper Iverson Ranch (Aaron Iverson) and Lower Iverson Ranch (Joseph Iverson), a division that was further emphasized by the construction of the Simi Valley Freeway (118) through the property in 1967. It was during this period that part of the ranch (known as the Spahn Ranch) was occupied by Charles Manson and was the base for his followers known as The Family. In 1982, Joe Iverson sold what remained of the Lower Iverson to Robert G. Sherman who almost immediately began subdividing the property. The former Lower Iverson now contains a mobile home park, the Rocky Peak Church and a large condominium development. The Upper Iverson is also no longer open to the public as it is now a gated community consisting of high-end estates along with additional condos and an apartment building. Part of the ranch has been preserved as parkland on both sides of Redmesa Road, north of Santa Susana Pass Road in Chatsworth. This section includes the famous "Garden of the Gods" on the west side of Redmesa, in which many rock formations seen in countless old movies and TV shows are accessible to the public. Also preserved, unmarked, is an area on the east side of Redmesa that includes the popular Lone Ranger Rock, which appeared beside a rearing Silver, the Lone Ranger's horse, in the opening to each episode of the "Lone Ranger" TV show. Photograph caption dated June 23, 1958 reads "Artist's haven - Among rugged hills of Iverson Ranch, Virginia Lynch, Valley artist, begins oil landscape while Bee Jay, friend's child and Mrs. Helen Backus watch."; See images #00127194 through #00127196 for all photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Iverson Movie Ranch Women--California--Los Angeles Girls--California--Los Angeles Artists--California--Los Angeles Painting--California--Los Angeles Rocks--California--Los Angeles Chatsworth (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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