Geek Field Guides

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Murphy Ranch Hike

Murphy Ranch …Los Angeles Lore

We’ve all heard the urban legend of the WWII Nazi compound hidden among the canyons of Los Angeles. Right? No? (Just type in los angeles nazi compund into Google.)

Anyway, this nefarious lore combined with rumors that the city may eventually demolish some of the structures, cried out for a visit.

Rustic Canyon entrance sign
Rustic Canyon entrance sign

Lets address the whole Nazi Compound legend.

It was not a Nazi Compound.

Much like the childhood game of telephone, over the year what went on at the ranch has grown far from the truth.  This is not to say that there isn’t a link, but just not what the legends stipulate.

View of Rustic Canyon
View of Rustic Canyon

A little history,  the land was originally purchased by Jessie Murphy in 1933.  Sadly, it is the Murphy surname that gets associated with the ranch.  It was actually Winona nd Norman Stephens who developed the land. Shouldn’t we call it the Stephen’s ranch?  Anyway, they begin construction of a compound and an immense amount of stairs.

Stairs
Stairs

They hired a German national named Herr Schmidt to help them become self sustaining.  He convinced them to pour money into the development, engage in fire arm training, and other survivalist training. It is him who the lore stems from.  Workers on the development no doubt saw him, speaking German, and the Stephens family engaging in survivalist activities and assumed… Nazi.

Water Tanks
Water Tanks

Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, federal agents swarmed the compound and took the Stephens and Schmidt into custody.  The Stephens were released. But, it did turn out the Schmidt was a Nazi sympathizer and was in contact with Nazi agents. He died in jail.

Now, the property, owned by the city of Los Angeles, is an ongoing graffiti work-in-progress or a Tetanus jungle waiting for a lawsuit.  Either way, it is nestled in beautiful Rustic Canyon.

Worth a hike.

Particularly for history buffs and those looking for an extreme cement step workout (largest known cement stair case in Los Angeles.)

There is a chain link fence around the power house.

Power station
Power station

There are large holes in parts of the fence and sections have been pushed down.

Murphy Ranch

On many hiking boards there are note about park rangers giving out tickets for trespassing.  I did not see any that morning.  That being said, I always recommend abiding by all laws/ordinances/regulations.

Inside the power station
Inside the power station
Inside the power station
Inside the power station

Besides, the water tank, the power station, the stairs, there are other ruins to visit:

greenhouse
greenhouse
guardhouse and fueling station
guardhouse and fueling station

Stairs
Stairs
...and more Stairs
…and more Stairs
The gate
The gate

I highly recommend  Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles by Charles Fleming.  He has the best directions and descriptions in his book (Walk #42).

 Address:

Park near the intersection of Capri and Casale Road.  Head west on Casale Road which will turn into Sullivan Fire Road.  You’ll come to a wide yellow fire gate, on the other side of the gate is the Rustic Canyon entrance sign.

 

 

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