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 A panoramic shot of a portion of the western Morrison Ranch. |
Homesteaded by Alonzo Morrison in 1896, this cattle ranch was run by Alonzo and his brother John. The brother’s resided on opposite ends of the ranch. The eastern ranch buildings were located along the current Las Virgenes Road near the intersection with Horseshoe Circle. The eastern ranch land was sold in early 1963 to the Boyar Corporation. A large amount of that acreage has been subdivided into housing. A portion of the western acreage was acquired by the State of California and is being preserved for park land, while some of the property on the south side is now a landfill.
DIRECTIONS: To reach the west Morrison Ranch, from Los Angeles, take the 101 Freeway North past the City of Calabasas. Exit at Chesebro Road and turn right. Follow Chesebro Road north until you see the entrance to the Chesebro Canyon Park. After parking, take the hiking trail that heads east from the parking area. After a short walk, you will see a road heading to the south (right). Take that and you will be on the old western Morrison Ranch range.
To reach the east Morrison Ranch, from Los Angeles, take the 101 Freeway North and exit at Las Virgenes Road and head north. You will come to Horseshoe Circle. To the left is where the ranch buildings for the east ranch were situated.
One of the few remaining structures on the western ranch as seen prior to a wildfire which destroyed it. It was probably a ranch house for the workers on the ranch. The main house was located south of this location. All of the building on the ranch are gone.
It was used in the first two episodes of "The Rifleman" television show.
Some of the western ranch land.
An overview of a portion of the western ranch.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
"Bad Man From Red Butte; (Universal 1940) Directed by: Ray Taylor. Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Anne Gwynne.
"Robbers of the Range" (RKO 1941) Directed by: Edward Killy. Cast: Tim Holt, Virginia Vale, Ray Whitley, Emmett Lynn, LeRoy Mason.
"The Mystery of the Ghost Farm" (Disney 1955) Directed by: R. G. Springsteen. Cast: Tim Considine, Tommy Kirk, Carole Ann Campbell, Sarah Selby, Russ Conway.
