Corriganville Movie Ranch facts for kids
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a special place where movies and TV shows were filmed outdoors. It was also a fun Western-themed park for visitors! This ranch belonged to actor and stuntman Ray "Crash" Corrigan. It was located in the Santa Susana Mountains near Simi Valley, California. Sadly, wildfires destroyed it in 1976 and 1979. Today, it's a public park called Corriganville Park, managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.
Filming Movies and TV Shows
Ray Corrigan bought the land for the ranch in 1937. It offered beautiful natural scenery like lakes, mountains, caves, and big rocks. It also had special buildings and sets built just for filming.
What Kind of Scenery Did It Have?
The ranch looked like a lovely California oak woodland. It had a small man-made lake with a waterfall. This lake even had a secret underwater room with thick glass windows! This allowed filmmakers to shoot scenes underwater while keeping their cameras and crew dry.
Famous Sets and Buildings
One important set was an Army fort built for the 1948 movie Fort Apache. Many other movies rented and used this fort later.
Another big set was "Silvertown," a complete Western street. It had a saloon, a hotel, a jail, a stable for horses, a blacksmith shop, and a bank. There was also an outlaw shack and a church that could also be used as a schoolhouse. Some of these buildings even had small living spaces or restrooms for the actors and crew.
Who Filmed There?
Many famous cowboy stars filmed at Corriganville. These included Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Clayton Moore (who played The Lone Ranger), and of course, Crash Corrigan himself. Hundreds, or even thousands, of movies and TV shows were filmed at this ranch!
Some popular shows filmed here were The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Sky King, and even an episode of Star Trek.
Visiting Corriganville: A Fun Park!
From 1949 to 1965, Corriganville was open to the public on weekends and holidays. For just one dollar, visitors could explore the movie sets and enjoy exciting shows.
What Could Visitors Do?
- Stunt Shows: Watch amazing stuntmen perform thrilling acts.
- Meet Stars: Sometimes, movie and TV actors (including Crash Corrigan) would sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
- Explore Sets: Walk through "Silvertown" (the Western street), "Fort Apache" (the Army fort), and a Mexican village. Many of these were real buildings, not just fake fronts!
- Fun Activities: Enjoy live Western music, see Indian crafts, take stagecoach rides, go on pony rides, and even boat on the ranch's lake.
Changes Over Time
In 1965, Ray Corrigan sold the ranch to comedian and businessman Bob Hope. Later, some of the land was used for motorcycle racing.
Sadly, fires swept through the ranch in 1970 and again in 1979. The 1979 fire destroyed almost all the remaining movie sets and buildings. One of the last movies filmed there was Vigilante Force in 1976.
In 1988, the City of Simi Valley bought about 190 acres (0.77 km2) of the original ranch land. They wanted to turn it into a public park.
Corriganville Park Today
Today, the site of the old movie ranch is called Corriganville Park. It's a public park managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.
What Can You See and Do Now?
- Old Foundations: You can still see concrete and brick foundations from the old movie sets and theme park buildings.
- Historical Signs: Signs around the park show old photographs and explain where famous scenes were filmed.
- Hiking Trails: Enjoy hiking trails that lead to dramatic rock formations. These rocks were often seen in movies and especially in 1950s TV Westerns.
- Wildlife: The eastern part of the park is an important wildlife corridor. This means it's a natural path for animals to travel between the Simi Hills and the Santa Susana Mountains.
- Nearby History: You can see more historic photos and items from Corriganville at the nearby Santa Susana Depot.
