Outpost Estates, Los Angeles facts for kids

Outpost Estates is a cool neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills part of Los Angeles, California. It's home to about 450 houses. This area is surrounded by Mulholland Drive to the north, Franklin Avenue to the south, Runyon Canyon Park to the west, and Hollywood Heights and the famous Hollywood Bowl to the east.

A Look Back: History of Outpost Estates

The Outpost Estates area has a long history! The very first building in what is now Hollywood was built here in 1853. It was a small, three-room adobe house made of sun-dried bricks. A man named Don Tomas Urquidez built it near where Outpost Drive and Hillside Avenue are today.

Later, a newspaper owner named General Harrison Grey Otis, who owned the Los Angeles Times, bought the land. He built a special clubhouse on the property for parties and entertaining guests. He called this clubhouse "The Outpost." This is where the neighborhood got its unique name!

Building a Dream Neighborhood

In 1924, a developer named Charles E. Toberman bought the property. He decided to keep the "Outpost" name. He then developed the area into one of Hollywood's fancy new neighborhoods in the 1920s. It quickly became known as a place where many rich and famous people lived.

The houses in Outpost Estates had to follow special rules. They were designed in Spanish, Mediterranean, or California modern styles. They all had red tile roofs and lots of patios for enjoying the sunny California weather. An architectural committee had to approve every house before it was built. Many of these original houses are still standing today, making Lower Outpost look much like it did almost 100 years ago!

The Giant Neon Sign

Back in the 1920s, there was a huge sign in the hills above Outpost Estates. It spelled out "Outpost" in bright red neon letters that were 30 feet tall! This sign was meant to compete with the famous Hollywoodland sign (which later became the Hollywood sign). At the time, the "Outpost" sign was the biggest neon sign in the entire United States!

The sign was taken down during World War II. Its twisted remains were left behind, hidden in the weeds. Hikers found the old parts of the sign, including its foundation and electrical boxes, in 2002.

Protecting the Neighborhood

In 1967, the people living in Outpost Estates formed a homeowners association. This group worked to stop building projects that they felt weren't right for the neighborhood. In the 1980s, this group helped protect Runyon Canyon Park from being developed.

Outpost Estates was also one of the first neighborhoods in the country to have all its power lines and other utilities buried underground. This meant no messy wires hanging overhead!

The neighborhood was even featured on an episode of California's Gold with Huell Howser, showing off its unique charm.

Learning in Outpost Estates

Students living in Outpost Estates attend different elementary schools depending on their address. These include Gardner Street Elementary School, Selma Elementary School, and Valley View Elementary School. All students in the neighborhood go to Bancroft Middle School and then to Hollywood High School.

Images for kids

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  An old brochure for Outpost Estates, showing the neighborhood's early vision.