Mining in it's heyday of the 1800's and early 1900s was prevalent across America. From the high dollar items like Gold and Silver, to minerals and other metals, mines dotted the landscape all over the country.
The problem with mining is that once you've dug out all there is to dig, there's nothing left to do but abandoned the mine.
These abandoned mines are all over the place. Some still have whole Ghost Towns around them and others are just big holes in the ground.
I went searching for a mine who's history and origins are still unknown to me, and I found it.
If you live in the Santa Clarita Valley there is no doubt you've heard of the Bouquet Falls. In this time of extreme drought you may think that these stories date back to the olden days and there is no way there are active waterfalls in Southern California.
I recently decided to venture out the this mystical location to check it out for myself. What I found was what appeared to be an abandoned recreational area that at one time appeared to have been the place of many family picnics and barbecues. Unfortunately these days it is accessible only by foot and no longer appears to be the family friendly area of yesteryear. The below photos and videos document my findings.
As I travel round Southern California I'm always looking for something interesting. While I've been up and down Bouquet Canyon many times over the years it was only recently that I found this place.
The Los Cantiles Handicapped Picnic Ground was established in 1972. On my visit recently it was blocked off but looked to have been refurbished in the last 10 or so year. I am not sure why this day use area is currently closed but it is an interesting place.
Check out my video of my exploration of this now abandoned day use/roadside rest stop in Santa Clarita.
While driving up Bouquet Canyon in Santa Clarita looking for a certain abandoned roadside stop I stumbled across another abandoned roadside structure.
This structure appeared to be, at least my best guess, a stable. I'm not sure how long it has been abandoned or what it's purpose was but I was very intrigued by this when I saw it.
I have driven this section of Bouquet Canyon numerous times but this particular day while looking for something else all together I stumbled across this abandoned structure.
Come with me as I investigate and tell me what you think this was.
Rivendale started as a family home in Towsley canyon in the Santa Claerita Valley back in the mid seveties. At first just a home for a family looking to carve out a life for themselves it soon grew in to more than that.
An equestrian center and stables which hosted many events over the course of many years were also built. First built to satisfy the desire for a little girl to have a horse it soon became a place where many could enjoy the beauty and serenity of the then quaint and quiet Santa Clarita Valley.
While the equestrian center had laid abandoned for many years the house is still used by the park. I had long seen the abandoned Equestrian Center from The Old Road and finally, in 2013, I decided to visit this location.
I'm glad I took that opportunity as well as my camera. Little did I know that I would document for myself a place that only a few years later would be torn down and gone forever,
Below are the photographs I took on that December day in 2013. Enjoy and share.
America lives on fossil fuels. While we are all leaning towards hybrids and fuel efficient cars, back in Detroit's heyday the gasoline was the the liquid that fueled our travels.
Times have changed and gas stations now have multiples of pumps, mini marts, and even fast food restaurants built in. These one stop shops may service our needs but they lack the style that the gas stations of yesteryear had.
I am fortunate that I have been able to document some vintage gas stations that, while no longer in service,
still exist in one form or another. These buildings remind us of the days of the family road trip, Route 66, roadside attractions, and in general, a simpler way of life.
I'm fortunate that the Santa Clarita Valley still has some history to be found. While it has built up over the past 20 years you can still find some remnants of what it used to be.
The Walker Family lived in Placerita Canyon in the early to mid 1900's. Frank walker built several homes there throughout the years and the remnants of a few as well as an entire cabin still exists.
I decided to take a trek down to what is left of what is referred to as the "Homestead" to see what was there. It's a mild hike with some beautiful scenery as well as a really cool historical site.
The Santa Clarita Valley was practically built on Oil. The rich deposits from Placerita, to Pico,to Elsmere Canyons had oil wells dotting the landscape for years.
Mentryvville is a famous oil town in the West Santa Clarita Valley which has been preserved over the years. While there are no longer any residents of this town the remnants of this historic oil town are still around and available for the public to see.
The Schoolhouse
When you gotta go, you gotta go….
The foundation of an old building,
Oil drilling equipment.
A marker for Pico #4 the first commercially successful oil well in the western united states
Up the hill to Odeen #1.
The marker for Odeen #1. A less than successful well but a spectacular view.
The St. Francis Dam failure in 1928 was devastating. The loss of life and property extended for miles. The remains of the dam still exist but there are some other ruins from this terrible event that can be found as well.
The Santa Clara River bridge was part of the original ridge route which extended from Los Angeles to Bakersfield. It crossed the Santa Clara river at what was then Castaic Junction. The bridge there was washed out when the flood waters from the dam failure came through but the concrete supports and some evidence of the old ridge route still survive.
I decided to venture out and find this historic site. It's amazing that after all these years this site still exists.
Below is a postcard depicting the bridge while still in tact.
The same area today.
This is the asphalt from the original ridge route where it would have met the bridge
These days the Santa Clarita Valley can be accessed from the south via the 14 and 5 freeways or The old road and Sierra highway. Back in the mid 1800’s the first path through what is now the Newhall Pass was Beale’s Cut. A crude path cut through the mountain but an important throughway that allowed people to gain access to the Santa Clarita Valley.
Beale’s Cut still exists although it is somewhat challenging to get to. Access from the south is somewhat available although it has become increasingly overgrown. Access from the north requires you to pass through what is left of the Newhall Refinery property which is connected to the Elsmere Canyon open space.
