Among the carnage caused by the devastating Palisades fire were two pieces of California history dating from a bygone era.
Will Rogers' historic ranch house, owned by the famous social commentator, actor and performer, and the Topanga Ranch Motel, built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, were victims of the fires that have wreaked havoc throughout Southern California during the last two days. according to California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.
Both were consumed by the fire that charred a total of nearly 16,000 acres and devoured an additional 300 structures, including homes and businesses, as of Wednesday afternoon.
“California State Parks mourns the loss of these precious natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to all those affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” Quintero said in a statement.
Both structures were part of the damage sustained throughout Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Park when the fire destroyed state employee residences, along with more than 30 other structural losses.
Rogers, known to the later part of his life for his political commentaryHe was once one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. He began his career as a vaudeville performer and was a famous comedian.
The aftermath of a fire at the historic Topanga Ranch Motel on January 8, 2025.
(California State Parks)
During the 1920s, Rogers purchased land in Santa Monica and developed what became a 359-acre ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean in what is now Pacific Palisades.
The actual ranch house consisted of 31 rooms, with an adjacent guest house, a stable, corrals, a golf course, and hiking trails.
Rogers died at the age of 55 in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935.
His widow, Betty, eventually donated the ranch to the state in 1944 and it became the historic state park.
The family said in a statement Wednesday that they were deeply saddened that the historic Rogers home and “the barn that Jokes built” were destroyed.
“While the loss of the Will Rogers Ranch is devastating, it pales in comparison to the loss of property and businesses and, more importantly, the lives of those who live in the surrounding area,” Jennifer Rogers, a representative for the Rogers family, said in a statement.
Rogers was born to a Cherokee family in Oklahoma and was considered “one of our most beloved Cherokees,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. of the Cherokee Nation.
“The…loss of the historic Will Rogers House is certainly a tragedy, and the entire Cherokee Nation sends our thoughts and prayers to great-granddaughter Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry and her family,” Hoskin said in a statement.
The Topanga Ranch Motel before the Palisades Fire.
(California State Parks)
In 1929, Hearst, a San Francisco native, built the bungalow-style Topanga Ranch Motel, which fronted Topanga Beach.
The motel included 30 rooms and once housed construction workers building the Pacific Coast Highway.
While hotels in the area were expensive, Topanga Ranch Motel offered an affordable vacation by the sea.
Tourists, families and writers remained there for decades. The facility was acquired by California State Parks in 2001.
There were plans to again restore 20 of the bungalows for public use.
State Parks closed Topanga and Will Roger State Park and Beach shortly after the Palisades Fire started Tuesday, Quintero said.
Other historic or notable losses include:
Palisades Charter High School
The 3,000-student campus suffered extensive damage, including sports facilities and school bungalows. Palisades Charter Elementary School and nearby Marquez Charter Elementary School are feared to be total losses.
Pasadena Jewish Center and Temple
The Torah scrolls were saved, but the temple and center were destroyed for a community that has called Home of Pasadena for over 100 years.
Pierson Playhouse inside Theater Palisades
The renderings date back to the 1960s and the playhouse was built in the 1980s. The board of directors has suspended all operations due to the severe damage sustained in the fire, according to a statement.
The Reel Inn
One of Malibu's famous “seafood shacks,” the Reel Inn, caught fire. Its owners confirmed it on Instagram. The establishment stood for 36 years.
