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Photograph was edited for publication purposes; Title supplied by cataloger. 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 dated July 10, 1948 shows Aaron Iverson walking past an overhanging rock formation on the Iverson Movie Ranch.; See images #00127187 through #00127193 for all photos in this series.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Iverson Movie Ranch Motion pictures--Setting and scenery--California--Los Angeles Landowners--California--Los Angeles Rocks--California--Los Angeles Hats--California--Los Angeles Dirt roads--California--Chatsworth (Los Angeles) Chatsworth (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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