Falling Springs, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Falling Springs
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Falling Springs and Cold Brook c. 1936
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 Falling Springs
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Elevation | 3,957 ft (1,206 m) |
Falling Springs is an old name for a place in Los Angeles County, California. It was once home to cozy vacation spots called "rustic resorts." These resorts were located by the San Gabriel River in the San Gabriel Mountains. It's about 12 miles (19 km) from Azusa, close to the Crystal Lake Recreation Area in the Angeles National Forest. Today, Falling Springs is a ghost town.
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History of Falling Springs
From Little Cienega to Headlee's
The area was first known as Little Cienega. A "cienega" is a Spanish word for a "wet marshy area." A small stream started in this wet area. It flowed past the cabins that were built there.
The main resort at Falling Springs was first called Headlee's La Cienega. It was named after Frank Headlee, who started the resort. In 1933, parts of a movie called Six of a Kind were filmed at Headlee's. The main building of the resort even had a small branch of the LA County Library in 1935.
A Popular Mountain Resort
Headlee's Mountain Club was a popular spot for visitors. It was mentioned in a 1941 travel guide to Los Angeles. The resort had a main lodge built from wood and stone. It sat on a hill overlooking the highway and the North Fork Canyon.
The resort offered many fun activities. It had swimming pools and wading pools for cooling off. There was also a nine-hole putting green for golf, and courts for croquet and horseshoe pitching. The swimming pool was a big draw for people on vacation in 1949.
Falling Springs in Later Years
Around 1957, Falling Springs and a nearby place called Cold Brook were described as "tiny communities." They were both near the Crystal Lake Recreation Area in the Angeles National Forest.
By 1961, Falling Springs still had a lodge with cabins and a restaurant. A writer described it as a great place for families and groups. The cabins were surrounded by large old trees like incense cedars and white alders. A small stream flowed in front of the cabins. It even created a small waterfall near the restaurant.
What Remains Today
Today, Falling Springs is mostly abandoned. All that is left are some old vacation cabins. Many of these cabins have burned down. Before a forest fire, the cabins were heavily damaged by vandals.
The area is now very overgrown because of all the water from springs and the creek. There is a lot of poison oak. Many burned, fallen trees block the way, making it very hard to get through.
