Will Rogers State Historic Park reopened Saturday, exactly ten months and one day after the Palisades Fire erupted.
The devastating fire impacted both Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park. At Will Rogers, the historic 31-room Ranch House, horse stables and other park facilities were destroyed. The guest house and visitor center and the blacksmith/carpenter shop were damaged, as were approximately 300 trees, several miles of trails and some fencing.
Park staff’s swift actions on the day the blaze broke out meant that many things were saved, according to California Parks Department officials, including all horses and more than 150 artifacts, including Will Rogers’ typewriter, artwork and family heirlooms. The gatehouse and polo field survived with minimal damage, as did the foreman’s cottage, which serve as the park offices.
Topanga State Park lost 28 structures – including the historic Topanga Ranch Motel – and more than 8,000 acres of natural resources, which contained sensitive habitats for monarch butterflies, steelhead trout and tidewater gobies, was burned.
The damage cleanup process has, of course, taken months – and it’s still not over. While hiking, biking and equestrian access opened back up at Will Rogers on Saturday, there are still restrictions, and only select trails are open.
“Some trail segments and facilities remain closed as repairs and environmental restoration continue,” the parks department said in a statement.
Areas of Will Rogers State Historic Park that are now open to the public are the Polo Field, the Main Lawn and the picnic area. The Inspiration Loop Trail is partially open and equestrian opportunities are being made available on a smaller scale as restoration continues, officials said.
The Backbone Trail and the Rivas Canyon/Temescal Trail both remain closed.
The state parks department is celebrating the park’s reopening in several different ways on Saturday morning. Among them are a free coffee truck, different guided walks, free ice cream and a polo demonstration.
Entry is free and no RSVP is required. Parking is limited.
More information can be found here.
Want more insights? Join Grow With Caliber - our career elevating newsletter and get our take on the future of work delivered weekly.
