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September 13, 2007
Griffith Park Observatory Shuttle Fiasco To End?
In early September, 104 years ago, in a hotel in Santa Monica, the immigrant mining millionaire, Colonel Griffith Jenkins Griffith, aimed a pistol at his wife during a fit of rage and shot her in the head. Because she survived, and thanks to his political connections, Griffith only did three years in San Quentin.
After he emerged from prison he still had a wild streak, but he also had an extremely generous side to him, and donated over 3,000 acres of land to the City of LA, and properties including the Griffith Observatory.
Terms of the gift specifically noted that Griffith Park Observatory would always be free to the public. But now that the city has renovated the observatory and removed public parking near the observatory, requiring a long steep walk or a shuttle ride costing $8.
The LA Weekly last week hinted that that situation may end soon.
The official Web site, www.griffithobservatory.org, makes things worse with its disingenuous insistence that “Griffith Observatory continues to be free.”Let's hope those insiders are right.Insiders say the shuttle system is no longer needed for its purported purpose — crowd control — and will be dropped, letting Angelenos once again drive up to hang out at the observatory. It’s “all going to change,” promises Mukri, who says the contracts for shuttle service last only one year. That means the Department of Recreation and Parks and Los Angeles City Council soon must re-evaluate the troubled setup. But for now, not even taxis are allowed to ferry visitors 1,000 feet above Hollywood to drop them off.
photo of the hopefully doomed shuttle by Stephanie Asher via LAist Featured Photos
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The Griffith Observatory was part of Griffith's will, but it wasn't built until 15 years after the land was given to the city.
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I have yet to visit the remodeled Observatory specifically due to the shuttle situation, so I would greatly appreciate a change in the policy. I would have liked to have gone, but sometimes in this town you just have to say enough is enough.
When I moved here 21 years ago, one of my favorite spontaneous things to do was just go up to the Griffith, walk around and enjoy the views and the exhibits. I want that back!
Douglas
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They killed the Observatory. They took away the coin operated telescopes and basically took away one of the last few places people without a mansion in the hills could appreciate the view. They turned it into some kind of sad cross between a blockbuster video, the observatory, and some kind of Paris Las Vegas type show. The old observatory was all made out of wood and marble and built to last forever. This one is more of a movie prop. It's made out of foam and glue and was falling apart from the second they made it. Sure they are trying to be all educational, but Google Sky has more to offer. Oh, but let's not forget the new Wolfgang Pucks. The tourist love that.
Who decides this stuff anyway? The Parks Department?
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How the hell are disabled people supposed to visit the observatory? I can't make the climb, nor can a lot of electric wheelchairs or scooters climb that degree of incline. If you're not even allowed to have a taxi drop you off in front and no parking even for disabled is nearby, access is a joke.
I suggest that this is in direct violation of the City's policy on disability access and a call to the Mayor's Office on Disability might achieve something. If not, a lawsuit might be in order.
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#3, what the fuck are you talking about?? Have you eve been since they reopened it? Everything at the Observatory is how it was when I was little, except beautifully restored and with more comfortable seats. And yes, there are still coin-operated telescopes.