Old Trapper's Lodge
6201 Winnetka Ave,
Woodland Hills, California
91371
If you cruise around to the back of Pierce College in Woodland Hills, over by the stables down the back entrance and along a badly in need of re-paving road, you'll find the Old Trapper's Lodge tucked practically out of sight in this remote area of the school. Most of the students probably don't even know it exists and the administration fully admits that they don't pay for the location's upkeep. What is the Old Trapper's Lodge? Why it's several statues and folk art depicting aspects, myths, tall tales and stories about the old west built by the Old Trapper himself, John Ehn.
John Ehn was born in 1897. Before moving to California, he was a trapper, but upon moving to the state, he opened up a motel in 1941 near the Burbank airport at Arvilla Avenue and San Fernando Road. The motel had western memorabilia in the office including old weapons and animal pelts. In order to attract more attention to his motel, called appropriately the Old Trapper's Lodge, Ehn decided to have a sculpture built on the site. If you believe the story, he originally hired Claude Bell, then of Knot's Berry Farm, to build the initial sculpture. Claude Bell would obviously go on to build the giant dinosaurs of Cabazon.
Supposedly, after watching Bell sculpt for three days, Ehn figured he was now a proficient sculptor and in 1951 off he went, building the multitude of statues today found on Pierce College. For the next thirty years until his death in 1981, using his self taught knowledge, John filled the front yard of his motel with folk art, by sculpting a variety of statues depicting myths, tall tales, and apparently personal experiences from the Old West. The statues feature cowboys, cowgirls, Native Americans, miners, saloon girls and other personages from the old west. John used the likeness of his family to create the statues. He also built his own version of a "Boot Hill", a mock cemetery of colorful and at times humorous tombstones.
The entire site became California Historical Landmark Number 939 in 1985. Around that time, the land the motel was on had been sold to the nearby airport. The motel was sadly torn down, but luckily most of the statues and other folk art were saved and transferred to Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Now the area near the Animal Sciences Building is filled with strange faces peering out from the ground and bizarre scenes of the old west. One sculpture shows Peg Leg Smith squaring off with Big Bear, a Native American. Peg Leg Smith was a mountain man, a prospector, and a spinner of tall tales, who lived from 1801 to 1866. Another sculpture entitled "Kidnapped" shows a Native American kidnapping a woman. Others show other fanciful characters such as Lonesome George.
No one at Pierce College will say who allowed the historical folk art to be hosted at the community college. Nor will they admit to who performs maintenance on them. Every few years though, someone shows up and touches up the paint jobs on the colorful statues. The grounds and trails are also occasionally fixed up also by these mysterious caretakers. All the college seems to care about is that they don't pay the upkeep cost. While it seems the historical landmark receives little attention from any one else in the outside world, particularly from the students who seem for the most part unaware of its existence, someone else takes a keen interest in continually maintaining these wonderful works of the past. Who this is, we don't know. Regardless, the Old Trapper's Lodge is very much worthy of a visit.
Take 101 North (or 101 West) to the Winnetka Avenue exit in Woodland Hills. Turn Right and go past the college to the next light, make a left and go to El Rancho Drive. To get to the sculptures enter the campus from El Rancho Drive. The Old Trapper's Lodge will be on your left, just past the horses.
Historical Plaque:
Old Trapper's Lodge is one of California's remarkable twentieth century folk art environments. It represents the life work of John Ehn (1897 - 1981). A self-taught artist who wished to pass on a sense of the old west, derived from personal experiences, myths, and tall tales. From 1951 to 1981, using his family as models, and incorporating memorabilia, the "Old Trapper" followed his dreams and visions to create the lodge and its "Boot Hill".
California Registered Historical Landmark No. 939.
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Comments:
- Al of Sun Valley , Vas on 2023-04-10 said:
- To the guy Michael Johnson that left a message about a documentary he filmed back in the late 70s. I would love to see it. I submitted a Youlube video in April of 2023 about Old Trappers. Its with Huell Howser. My handle on YouTube is Oye Mendigo.
- Faith Bautista of Santa Clarita,, California on 2021-01-16 said:
- Btw...I do know where all the memorabilia is...and the books and t.v shows he and my mom were on.
- Faith Bautista of Santa Clarita,, California on 2021-01-16 said:
- I am the youngest grandchild of John & Mary Eh. My sister's are are Linda and Teresa. We are the children of Rosemarie Garish who was the Manager at the motel for over 35 years. Please contact me with any questions. I am open to communicating and clarifying anything.
- ANGEL PEREZ of Florence, South Carolina on 2020-06-06 said:
- My parents Angel and Rachel Perez lived nearby on Stagg street (I think) sometime between 1958 and 1963. Anyone who knew my parents I would be interested to hear from. Ps. Has anyone else ever heard of Mr. Ehn's DIAMOND? I think I may know a little more about it..
- Michael Johnson of Hollywood, CA on 2020-05-21 said:
- If any member of the Ehn family would like a link to the film I shot at The Old Trapper's Lodge back in 1978 please contact the administrator to obtain my email info. I loved to share the film with them.
- Anonymous on 2020-05-06 said:
- I lived at Old Trappers Lodge in the mid 60's. my parents and us 4 kids. I was only bout 3-4 yrs old. Scared the hell out of me living there for a short time.
- Sandra Castle of Duncan , Oklahoma on 2020-01-28 said:
- I'm looking for a man named Frank who lived there in 1966. The only thing I know about him is he was married with children and a tall cowboy maybe from Tennessee or Kentucky.... long shot I know but I have to try....
- Robert Terrazas of Ventura, CA on 2019-02-21 said:
- I live at the Old Trappers Lodge in 1973 - 1974 with my dad and brother, I seen a man hanged on the cloth line outside my window, it's told he turned his people in to immigration for money.. other than that I enjoyed living there and watching the planes from Burbank Airport land next to my unit.
- Barbara Johnson of Reno, NV on 2018-04-20 said:
- I was born in Roscoe Ca. It's now called Sun Valley. I remember the old Trapper's Lodge as a four or five year old. It was so mysterious and scary. Then as a teen in the late 1950s I went to work at the self service gas station on SF Road and Buena Vista Some of my work mates lived at Old Trapper's. It was still mysterious. Next time I'm in SoCal I will stop by Pierce. And thanks for the trip down memory lane.
- Robert Verdugo of Sun Valley, California on 2018-03-16 said:
- As a young child we lived next door to old Trapper on arvila. My sister and i would sit in our wagon at the fence and watch him paint these stautes, falling asleep right there. I also went to school with his grandchildren The Crosby girls.
- Susan of Santa Claritaon 2017-06-25 said:
- I am doing genealogy research and it is possible a relative may have lived at or near The Old Trapper Lodge. Address given was 7799 W. San Fernando Rd, Roscoe CA. The address appeared to be in the same location. I know he built rental units. Question: Are there any records or paperwork archived anywhere someone could go and look though? The time period I am looking for is Aug. 1943
- Jeffrey Zungali on 2017-05-08 said:
- I stayed at the old trappers lodge motel,with a lady named Sue a friend Joe and Sue's family I was homeless they took me in and fed me and gave me a roof over my head I really liked that place it was a nice experience thank you sue
- Anonymous on 2017-04-29 said:
- I found this site, and had to comment. I lived at Old trappers with my family in 1961. We moved to CA for dad to find work. I was 11. Boy was that airport noisy. My bedroom window was not to far from the fence. Quite a place
- Holly (Ehn) Phillips of LAS VEGAS, NV on 2017-02-12 said:
- My father was John Phillips, O. T.'s daughter Lorraine's son. I know I'm not the only family that would love to see any of the films shot here. My great grandfather never threw anything away unless he had to. He took the adage from hunting, use every part, and applied it to everything. The grandchildren all got necklaces made from antler, snake vertebrae, teeth, claws and bright beads.
- shosh on 2016-11-09 said:
- the site at Pierce college is in ruins- if this is historical and indeed it is- please care for it
- Dianna cOUPE of oKLAHOMA cITY,OK, OKLAHOMA on 2016-07-30 said:
- When I as a little girl in about 1955 or maybe 56 cant really remember the year we lived in Old Trappers Lodge we would move back and forth froth from Ok.to cal.so lived there twice and I think the managers name was Harry have pictures can't get to them now.
- wac on 2016-07-16 said:
- I grew up in Sun Valley (lived there 1955-1971)about 6 blocks from Old Trapper's, and remember my dad driving us through the Lodge property once in awhile, just to see the statues and all the other masses of weird stuff on the property. It always looked fascinating to me, but also pretty run-down and depressing in a way - a place for the down-and-out, people who had hit rock-bottom on the economic scale and had run out of better options. We understood that people actually lived there, and that was amazing to me - we all felt kind of sorry for them, but I always envied them (a bit!) too. Even though my dad had a good job, he was perpetually worried about money (he had 10 kids). When he was feeling particularly impecunious, he used to muse aloud to us that if money got any tighter, or if he lost his job, "We might all have to go live in Old Trapper's Lodge." To him, this was the ultimate nightmare, and threat, but I was always secretly intrigued at the prospect: What an adventure that would be! For a 10-year-old kid, it sounded fascinating.
- Mark Hanson of Kent, Washington on 2016-05-26 said:
- I lived at Old Trappers in 1969 with my family. At 11 years old, “Old Trappers” seemed more like a fantasy world than a hotel. It was quite a large complex with duplexes, single units and many long low multi-unit buildings. I spent almost every day wondering through the “boot hill”, reading the epitaphs and reliving the old west through the eyes of John Ehn. Seeing these photos brings a flood of memories back to me. And now I can show my children some of the art that I grew up living around in that weird and wonderful place that I’ve told them about so many times.
- Rhona of Northridge, CA on 2015-09-06 said:
- Faith, I often wonder about your mom, as I pass her house daily. I hope that you and the boys are well. I still work in the same place. A few of us are still there from the old days.
- Faith Bautista of Sylmar, Cali. on 2015-08-28 said:
- The Old Trapper John Ehn was my grandpa!
My mom Rosemarie"Rose"Farish was the manager and their youngest daughter.
I speak for the family when I say thank you for sharing all your beautiful and funny memories. My mother Rose is still alive and lives at Casitas Care on Balboa in Granada Hills.She loves to reminisce about the tenants and events that occurred there.
Nothing of my grandpas went to waste. Many items are in a traveling museum(i.e Oakland,Gene Autry).
The rest was divided by his children and then their children.
Our grandparents were amazing and genuine people. They are loved and respected by many. We are thankful for those that keep them alive in memory and reflection.
Gods blessings!Dios te bendiga!
-Faith Bautista(youngest grandchild)
- Emily of North Hollywood , Ca on 2015-06-05 said:
- My grandfather worked for Rosie Farish as a handyman for many years. I used to live there for a short time when I was a little girl. I remember thinking it was a magical place.
- Anonymous on 2013-02-23 said:
- WE MOVED TO SUN VALLEY JUST ON THE EDGE OF BURBANK WHEN I WAS 7 YRS OLD {1956} THERE WERE OLD TRAILERS PARKED ALONG SAN FERNANDO RD WITH PICTURES OF MOUNTAIN LIONS ON THEM ADVERTISING
- JAMES SMITH of OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON on 2013-02-23 said:
- THE LODGE.IT IS A GOOD THING THE STATUES AND BOOT HILL WERTE PRESERVED BUT SAD ABOUT THE STUFFED BEAR AND GUN COLLECTION-NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM
- Phillip Anthony Aguirre of Bozeman, Montana on 2012-10-22 said:
- Growing up in Burbank was great and bizzare at the same time. Movie studios,cemeteries and the Trappers Lodge! The Burton brothers and myself usually rode our Shwinns past the lodge as fast as we could!
- Veronica Melendrez of Sun Valley, cA on 2012-08-04 said:
- I'm 34 years old and still live in Sun Valley...I was raised with my sisters and brother at the lodge. Los monos as it was also known. I was always scared of the statues but always thought they were cool. And it had a certain smell, in a cool way. I remember Linda ( she was my dads friend) my Dads name is Juan. I'll always have memories of this place. I cried when it was torn down :/
- Ron York of California City, Ca. on 2012-07-30 said:
- I moved in across the street from the old trapper in the early 60s. He was an anachronism, he was like he just stepped out of a Daniel Boone movie. Me and a friend used to go in his back yard while he was working on his statues and pester him like Dennis the Mennis used to pester Mr Wilson. He had a lot of patience to tolerate us and never once told us to leave. If you lived in that neighborhood there were two places everybody knew of, Yo and Sue "Little Store" and "The Old Trappers Lodge". As time went on we grew from pesty little Dennis the Mennis' into mischievous Eddy Haskel's. He had an old Chinese Gong hanging from an old pepper tree by his side door with a bowling ball hanging in front of the gong. Three or four times a week we would sneak up there and swing the bowling ball into the gong. You could hear that thing for a couple of blocks. He never took it down. He was a good old guy. And to Steve who bought the Trappers old jeep here's some more history about that jeep. In 1974 I had a mint condition 63 Buick Riviera, I joined the Marine Corps and while I was in boot camp I left my car with my parents. My father was backing out of the driveway the same time the trapper was backing out of his and they met in the middle of the street. His jeep got a little of my paint on his bumper, my Rivy was ruined. Maybe that was Karma from banging that gong all those years. Thanks for the memories Mr Trapper
- ruth cisneros of Burbank, calif on 2012-06-03 said:
- I remember going to Old Trappers Lodge just to walk around when I was a little kid in the 60's it was a scary yet exciting place then. A long ago piece of Burbank history glad to hear it is still around!
- Cynthia of West Covina, Ca. on 2011-12-30 said:
- I to am connected to this whimiscal place. As a child I used to roam through through this mysterious place. My grandmother used to work for the lodge and live next door. This place was amazing and I had really good memories of this time period. Thanks for comments about this place, it seems that it has brought joy to many as myself!
- P. Kindree of Mountain View, CA on 2011-08-25 said:
- Wow, this brings back some strange memories. We moved from PA to Old Trappers Lodge when we were very young - my sisters and I only remember being scared of the strange (life size statues). It's interesting to take a trip down memory lane and look at it from a grown up perspective. I'm glad to know that the statues were preserved.
- Suzanne Hackett on 2011-05-11 said:
- The sculptures were "saved" by Seymour Rosen and his organization SPACES (Saving and Preserving Arts and Cultural Environments), same group that helped preserve the Watts Towers. I was honored to call Seymour a friend and help him with his work, which also included helping preserve Grandma Prisbreys Bottle Village and the Amargosa Opera House. Old Trappers Lodge kind of set me up artistically and contemporary folk art environments like that have been a lifelong passion.
Funny, I also made a Super 8 movie there in the late 70s...still have it.
- RMF of Woodland Hills, CA. on 2011-04-03 said:
- My husband went to run the hills at Pierce and discovered this hidden treasure. We had to come home and look up the Old Trapper's Lodge. It's amazing to find little historical gifts like this. It looks like the sculptures are in need of a touch up though, it would be a shame to let this wonderful place atrophy.
- Michael Johnson of Los Angeles, CA on 2011-03-04 said:
- I shot a 16mm independent film at The Old Trapper's Lodge back in 1979. Rose Marie Farish, John Ehn's granddaughter(?) was the manager and the nicest person you'd ever meet. OT was a real character! My only regret is we shot the film in black and white. Too bad as it was such a colorful place.
- linda of ben lomond, ca on 2011-01-18 said:
- I am one of 20 grandchildren of John Ehn aka O.T.
I grew up in Sun Valley
I have the original versions of my grandpa's trapping courses. He used to sell them in the Fur Fish & Game Magazine, in the 60s & 70s
- Jessica Ehn of Honolulu, Hawaii on 2011-01-12 said:
- I am proud to say that the Old Trapper, John Ehn, is my great grandfather!! I can't believe his stuff has gotten so much publicity!! I love being an Ehn.
- nathan winterowd of brainerd, mn on 2010-12-26 said:
- Does anyone know where any of Johns books are on trapping?
- Dallas Caley of Santa Ana, California on 2009-12-09 said:
- I don't believe in coincidences... ok so my brother sent me this link because we both used to live at the old trappers lodge back around 1980. and i thought it was real interesting, then i saw the comment by Steve of North Hollywood about his purchase of a 1954 Jeep Willys that used to be owned by the old Trapper. Well just coincidentally about 15 years ago my family aquired an old Jeep Willys wagon that if i recall was probably a '54, i loved that wagon, i always thought it would be my first car but then someone stole it... Steve... then i remembered after we moved out of the old trappers (i was about 5) we moved into this other place and had to have room mates, and one of their names was... you guessed it... STEVE! i remember he used to put me on top of the refrigerator when he didn't want me to go anywhere. like i said i don't believe in coincidences, i think if me and steve and the willys and the old trappers were all to meet again at the same place it would rip a hole in the space-time continuume! it would be the end of the world! AHHH!!
- Carole Pomerantz of Westminster, CA on 2009-12-09 said:
- I'm Dallas Caley's mom. We lived at the "Old Trapper's" in 1978. I was told by the "Old Trapper's" daughter (who was one of the manager's of the motel, that he was from Mich.. We lived in one of the little adobe apts. which rented at that time for about $185. I have old pictures of taken of family sitting between the statues.
- Ebb Nelson of Woodland Hills, CA on 2009-03-04 said:
- WeirdCA,
I find it decidedly odd that there is much written about these mysterious statues with so little content in regards to them.
As a small child I often visited Old Trappers monument to his family and past as I was one of his many great-grand children (though my relationship to the family was through marriage). If you think the few statues that remain are creepy, imagine the man himself!! Old and gnarled as he was from my memories, he also had an air of mysticism that could not be denied. Walking through his living room was like stepping through a warped time portal of the old west. Every inch of the walls covered with animal trophies, guns, Indian relics, and every other old knickknack, broken or otherwise, arranged with mural-like sensibility. I regarded such experiences with a mixture of intense foreboding and curiosity. I would never even dare to touch anything as I always feared that one of the many, ever watching animals, would suddenly come to life and maul my wayward hand. I'm sure David Lynch would have died to shoot there.
As so what remains of his vast collection beyond what the few see at Pierce College, it was divided amongst the surviving family members. He had quite the large family and I have no clue as to where it all had specifically disappeared to, beyond the few trinkets I myself had inherited.
The Ehn family is intensely private and it does not surprise me to find that some mysterious benefactor keeps the statues as new looking as they ever have been. I myself sit amongst the statues (as I live nearby) and find it easier to remember the strangely prolific artist and the many mysteriously creepy creations that were born from his intense stare.
I find it almost poetic that few find there way there, but once stumbled upon, the experience will populate memories they will find hard to forget.
Regards,
Ebb Nelson
- Mike E hn of San Marcos, California on 2008-08-27 said:
- Glad to see the old man's work is being taken care of.
Mike Ehn
- Steve of North Hollywood, Ca on 2008-08-14 said:
- I googled Trappers Lodge, and found this, because I just purchased a 1954 Willy's Wagon, and the first owner was apparently the owner of The Old Trappers Lodge in Burbank. Kinda cool this truck has a little history now!
- Sue Stoff of Saint Joseph, MO on 2008-07-09 said:
- I lived at Old Trappers lodge (with my 4 daughters) in the late 70's. How great to see these old statues again.
- David Holt of Batesville, Arkansas on 2007-08-29 said:
- I lived in the lodge apartments 1959-1960. I watched John Ehn make a large Totem in his shop building that was between the Lodge Office and Air Port. It was set up in front of the Lodge. I know that some of the statues went to Pierce College. What happened to all the other stuff?
- John Nichols of Oceanside, Ca on 2007-02-01 said:
- Man! I totally remember Old Trappers Lodge when it was back in Burbank. My Dad use to work right by the Airport and every once in a while he would take us to the Lodge. I get this weird chill thinking about it because it was usaully after his work time and it was near sunset. There use to be this old decaying 50's style motor home trailer that displayed very old decaying stufted animals with some kind of story to it. Inside the office itself was filled with old black and white pictures of Ehn himself with animal trophies. There was this huge mounted bear standing near the entrance. We spoke to his grand daughter who was running the Lodge at the time. There was also this glass case that had a collection of what seemed to be vintage old six shooter pistols right outside the entrance way. I really miss that place. It really took me a place of sincere mystical curiosity. This was back in the 70's, around maybe 1974, 75, time period. Thanks for taking me back there. Do you know any other word on what happened to the old place before the sculpters were taken to Pierce?
- Joe Parzanese of San Luis Obispo, CA on 2007-02-01 said:
John,
Thanks for your memories about the Old Trapper's Lodge! I really appreciate it.
Sadly the land the Lodge was on was acquired by the Burbank Airport in the mid eighties. Regretably it was all torn down. To the best of my knowledge only the statues were saved. As to what happened to the rest of the memorabilia, including all the stuffed animals, furs, and pistols, I sadly have no clue. I'm assuming that much of it was probably junked. Hopefully some of it was preserved, but if so, I don't know its current where abouts.
If anyone has or knows where any of the rest of the Lodge's memorabilia went to, please let us know! Thanks!
- Joe Parzanese
www.weirdca.com
Outside References:
- Weird California (2006) by Greg Bishop, Joe Oesterle, Mike Marinacci, p: 149
- Weird Hollywood (2010) by Oesterle, Joe, p: 117
- Southern California Curiosities (2004) by Rubin, Saul, p: 90 - 91
- New Roadside America (1992) by Wilkins, Mike; Smith, Ken; Kirby, Doug, p: 239 - 240
First Created: 2006-10-23
Last Edited: 2013-12-19
