Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Paramount Ranch's 'Witness Tree' Gets A Fond Farewell This Weekend
It’s not every day a tree gets a funeral, but this weekend there will be a sendoff at Paramount Ranch for a Valley Oak believed to be more than a century old (more on that below).
Known as “The Witness Tree,” a designation park officials give trees that have been around long enough to witness historic events, the 70-foot tall tree appeared in hundreds of movies and TV shows before becoming a casualty of the 2018 Woolsey Fire. That fire burned nearly 90% of the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area and turned the “Witness Tree” into a blackened husk.
The tree wasn’t cut down sooner because experts were hoping it might show signs of life -- which it did earlier last year, but unfortunately those signs proved to be fleeting.
We’ve spotted signs of life sprouting in the beloved valley oak tree at Paramount Ranch's Western Town. This centuries old tree is known as a "witness tree." We know these green sprouts aren't a guarantee that the whole tree will survive, but who knows? Maybe it will. pic.twitter.com/Ow1Mb0ov44
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) March 5, 2019
Support for LAist comes from
The tree grew on on the historic Paramount Ranch, an iconic Western set used as a backdrop since the 1920s for film and TV productions like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Westworld. Much of the backlot was destroyed in the fire.
Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb, 8th, park rangers and historians will be on hand to answer questions about the tree at a goodbye gathering. The event is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Those planning to attend should navigate to 2903 Cornell Road in Agoura Hills.
The tree will be cut down later, its rings counted to determine age and then the wood will be repurposed into benches, signs, hitching posts and more as part of the newly rebuilt Western Town (construction is expected to start on it within the next few years).
You can enter a contest to guess the tree’s age by sending your predictions to ana_cholo@nps.gov.
GO DEEPER:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist