For nearly a century, Paramount Ranch in California’s Santa Monica Mountains was linked to Hollywood filmmaking. The 2,700-acre property was bought by Paramount Pictures in 1927 and used as an outdoor filming location. Between 1927 and 1943, the studio made more than 130 films at the ranch.The ranch was used for productions set in different parts of the world. Over the years, it became known for its Western-style sets and was also used for television productions. Stars including Gary Cooper, Bob Hope and the Marx Brothers filmed there. TV shows such as Gunsmoke, The Dukes of Hazzard and The Bachelor also used the ranch as a filming location.The Park Service acquired Paramount Ranch in 1980, two years after the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was established by Congress. The site is described by NPS as the only location in the National Park System dedicated to telling the story of American filmmaking, both past and present.The ranch was also open to the public, with visitors able to hike, bike and ride horses on its trails. It hosted events including ranger programmes, music festivals, classic movie nights, weddings and night sky parties.
Woolsey Fire destroyed historic ranch
The Woolsey Fire began on November 8, 2018, and burned nearly 100,000 acres across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The fire reached Paramount Ranch on November 9 and destroyed most of its historic buildings and film sets.“Almost everything in the ranch burned,” said Jody Lyle, Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.Lyle said a few structures survived, including some film sets, the chapel from HBO’s Westworld and the train depot from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. However, most of what visitors knew as Western Town was destroyed.The loss was significant because the ranch had continued its connection with filmmaking for decades. According to Lyle, Paramount Pictures had owned the property from 1927 to 1943 and filmed more than 160 movies there during that period. The property was later developed with a Western Town-style setting, where television Westerns and other productions were filmed.Although Western Town was the most recognisable part of the site, Lyle said the older buildings behind the facades were particularly important to the ranch’s history. Many of the Western Town sets had been built in the 1980s and 1990s, while the original buildings dated back to the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Rebuilding follows historic footprints
Almost eight years after the fire, a $26 million rebuilding project is nearing completion. The aim is to restore Paramount Ranch as a place for filmmaking while also creating space for public events, education and other activities.The new buildings are being constructed in the footprints of structures that existed during the historic Paramount era. The National Park Service says the first phase includes four structures: a Pavilion, Prop Shed, Barn and restrooms. The buildings are designed to be fire-safe and adaptable.“What we have rebuilt here is something more akin to what existed during the Paramount era,” Lyle said.The Pavilion is a covered event space that can accommodate more than 200 people. The NPS lists its planned capacity as 265 people. The Barn will provide indoor event space for 200 people, while the Prop Shed will accommodate 100 people. New restrooms will also support large events and day-use visitors.The rebuilt site includes underground utilities and modern facilities. The new structures have been designed with wildfires in mind, with metal roofs, fire-resistant siding and built-in fire sprinkler systems.
Movie sets to return
Once the new buildings are complete, the National Park Service plans to work with film companies, partner organisations and volunteers to bring movie sets back to Paramount Ranch.The new infrastructure will allow studios to build facades suited to individual film and television productions. Some sets will be temporary and will only be accessible while filming is taking place. Others will be designed to remain for longer periods and could be used for educational purposes.“This is going to be an amazing facility for us. Having this area where more than 200 people can gather for all kinds of different events will be great,” Lyle said.The rebuilding effort received $26 million in federal disaster relief funding. The Santa Monica Mountains Fund, a non-profit organisation, also raised $1 million to help start the reconstruction project.The National Park Service and the fund have said they are committed to bringing back the ranch’s filmmaking tradition while also creating opportunities for people to gather, take part in education programmes and volunteer in habitat restoration.The ranch’s buildings remain closed to the public while construction continues. However, its trails remain open for hiking, biking and horseback riding.The National Park Service expects the rebuilt Paramount Ranch to reopen in 2027, marking the ranch’s centennial year.