Topanga Canyon Trip of Varied Beauty Covers Ocean Road, Mountain and Valley 

Features like this one, from a 1913 issue of the Los Angeles Morning Tribune, encouraged readers to visit Topanga and quite literally put Topanga on the map. The route along the coast and up the canyon rapidly became popular with adventurous motorists, making Topanga a tourist destination for the first generation of motorists. On the way, they stopped at Maikura, the Japanese fishing village on the coast route between the Palisades and Topanga. The notoriety this quiet community received as a result was a mixed blessing for the people who lived and worked there. Travel back in time with TNT, this time to the start of the twentieth century, for another lost chapter of local history. Cover design by Urs Baur

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of two members of the board of the Topanga Historical Society. Eric Dugdale grew up in Pacific Palisades and Topanga, and lost his childhood home in the Palisades Fire. He had a wealth of information about the history of this area and was always willing to share his knowledge, he was funny and smart, and patient. Britt Trotter was a Topanga resident who volunteered not only with THS but also with TCEP—the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness. She was kind and thoughtful, a tireless advocate for disaster preparedness, as well as for historic preservation. The loss of these two good, caring, generous and knowledgeable people is a terrible one for our community. Our hearts go out to their families. 

Volunteers are not only the backbone of our community but also its heart and soul. Britt Trotter and Eric Dugdale represented the best in this community, giving freely of their time—something that is a finite commodity for all of us. We remember them with gratitude and affection. 

The Wall Street Journal broke the news that State Parks has declined to renew the lease for the Reel Inn, and that the owners will not be permitted to rebuild, at least, not in the immediate future. The historic seafood restaurant burned in the Palisades Fire. State Parks, which owns the land where the restaurant stood, has announced that it will be opening bidding for temporary food trucks at the site, but that it will be a competitive bid process, with no guarantees that the legacy business would win the bid, and even the winning bid will only be offered for a two-to -three year period. 

The state agency revealed that there “may” be an opportunity at the end of that two to three year period for more permanent concessions on the site. That would also be subject to a bidding process, with no guarantees for the local businesses that lost their livelihood during the fire.

Several longtime businesses at Topanga State Beach, including Cholada, Wiley’s Bait Shop and the Feed Bin, were already scheduled for demolition before the fire swept through the area, but the Reel Inn and the old Topanga Ranch Motel, had earned a reprieve in the final State Park plan to restore Topanga Creek and the Topanga Lagoon, relocate the lifeguard station and restrooms to higher ground, and transform the old, historic row of corner businesses into the gateway for the extensive parkland in Lower Topanga Canyon. The fire changed everything. 

The fact that the story broke in the WSJ is a reminder of how valuable these assets are. At least this land is owned by the state and won’t be bought up by multinational corporations or foreign investors, who are reportedly snatching up property in Malibu and Pacific Palisades, but the loss of the legacy Topanga Beach businesses still hurts. Everything changes, many of these businesses would have gone soon regardless, but it was hard to lose them all at once, and it came as a blow, this week to learn that there is now little chance that the Reel Inn will rise from the ashes.

Currently, the Los Angeles County Department of Water and Power is using the site as a staging area. Eventually the Topanga Ranch Motel may be rebuilt, and with it, potentially, a new restaurant in the footprint of the old Reel Inn, but it now appears unlikely to be a new incarnation of the Reel Inn. 

Summer is winding down, going out this year in a sultry wave of hot, humid weather. Monsoon season hasn’t brought rain to the coast, although thunderheads tower to the east, and there has been rain and dry lightning strikes in the desert and mountains. Later summer often brings perfect beach weather, with the potential for big waves, warmer water, and spectacular sunsets, but even on the hottest day there are signs that autumn is coming. At the beach, the air is filled with the white wings and sharp cries of the terns. Spiderwebs—delicate, ethereal and surprisingly strong—are appearing everywhere. The days are already growing shorter, as we head for the fall equinox. In the night sky, Scorpio sets earlier every night, and Sirius rises earlier. Autumn is coming. Enjoy these last, precious days of summer!

Stay safe, be well.