California's Former Western Movie Set And Tourist Attraction Is Now A Lesser-Known Park Outside LA

The Gene Kelly-led swashbuckling action film "The Three Musketeers" and the cowboy shows "The Lone Ranger" and "Bonanza" have more in common than you might think. Aside from being beloved classics of post-war pop culture, they all feature scenes that were shot against the very same backdrop: Corriganville Movie Ranch. Founded in the late 1930s by Western star and stuntman Ray "Crash" Corrigan, the 1,500-acre property sat about 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Tucked into the rocky terrain of the Santa Susana Mountains and Simi Hills in Southern California's Simi Valley, this famous filming location's Old West facades and other period sets drew filmmakers from various genres in its heyday. 

Corriganville Movie Ranch was a mainstay of Hollywood's Golden Age, serving as the rugged setting for thousands of productions, including award-winning films "Fort Apache" in 1948 and "The Robe" in 1953. Starting in 1949, Corriganville transformed into a movie-lover's amusement park on weekends. For just a buck, visitors could see Wild West performances, staged gunfights, and rodeos. It also offered stagecoach rides and other activities. Comedian Bob Hope eventually bought the ranch before it was acquired by city officials and opened to the public as a regional park in 1998. 

The former backlot space was once as popular as the old Western-themed Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Now known as Corriganville Park, the site has transitioned into a peaceful nature retreat. It made a brief return to the spotlight when it fittingly stood in for Spahn Ranch in Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning film "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" in 2019. Today, you can stroll the trail-covered grounds from dawn to dusk and explore a rather fascinating piece of cinematic history.

Mainstream studio tours are a worthy addition to any itinerary of the best things to do in Southern California. But the grounds of the former Corriganville Movie Ranch are steeped in decades of Hollywood history, too. The place is now a fraction of its original size at 246 acres, and many original structures were ravaged by fires in the 1970s. But you can still find traces of the Western filming site around Corriganville Park as you stroll among the woodlands, grassy meadows, and rocky outcroppings. 

The first hiking path you'll come across after entering the park is the Interpretive Trail. It runs for just over a mile, taking you through an oak grove called Sherwood Forest, where a "Robin Hood" television series was apparently filmed in the 1950s. Stop and read the informational signs that line the trail, which highlight the native animals and plants, along with some of the local movie lore. 

"Stepping into Corriganville Park feels like entering a different world entirely," one visitor wrote on Google. Other reviews describe a large picnic area with several tables, ideal for a snack break. Some old concrete ruins are still scattered around the park, as well as the now waterless man-made lake that was used to film underwater scenes for the "Jungle Jim" franchise. Needless to say, have your cameras ready.

Continue your ramble in the Corriganville Park wilderness along the Loop Trail, which branches off from the Interpretive Trail. It covers about the same amount of ground and weaves through the craggy sandstone rock formations that blanket the region. It's not as easy of a jaunt, though, so be prepared for some tougher terrain. "Beautiful, well-maintained loop trail with a great mix of shaded sections and open views," a hiker wrote on AllTrails. They note that the initial part of the trail has lots of shade from the towering oaks, "while the backside has very little cover and includes a steady uphill climb." Be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection if you plan to hike during peak daytime hours.

Tackle the nearly 1-mile Wildlife Corridor Trail for a chance to spot some local critters. This steep, moderately challenging route features a small stretch of tunnel that goes under State Route 118 — also known as Ronald Reagan Freeway — providing a safe passage for animals. If you're lucky, you may catch sight of bobcats, coyotes, mule deer, gophers, and rabbits. You can find more scenic trails at Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, which is just a few miles away from Corriganville Park. If you're still craving outdoor adventures, check out the best national parks near Los Angeles for a nature escape.