2 minutes read.
Have you heard of Silvertown? Or maybe Dodge City? How about Mineral City, Tombstone, or Lone Ranger Ranch? All these iconic names, crafted in Hollywood, were part of a famous Western movie ranch in Simi Valley. Uncover the fascinating and little-known history of Corriganville – an acclaimed Western movie ranch and amusement park that has since transformed into a public park.
Corriganville Movie Ranch: the Hollywood dreamscape
In 1937, actor and stuntman Ray “Crash” Corrigan purchased a ranch in Simi Valley.
The Santa Susana Mountains foothills offered natural features such as mountains, a five-acre California live oak forest, and rock outcroppings.
Soon, theme sets were constructed for various productions including, a Sicilian village, a fake cave entrance, and a rodeo arena.
The Vendetta Village, later renamed the Corsican Village, was the first major set built onsite in 1946.
More than 3,500 movies, TV shows, and commercials were filmed there, such as Fort Apache (1948), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958-1961) with Steve McQueen, Johnny Concho (1956) with Frank Sinatra, Robin Hood (1950s), Lonely Ranger, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954-1959), and The Three Mesquiteers series with John Wayne.
Corriganville Amusement Park
In 1955, the movie ranch was transformed into a Western-themed amusement park. For 50 cents, visitors could navigate the Old West’s last frontier, enjoying iconic movie theme sets such as Fort Apache, Robinhood Lake, and the Corsican Village. The park also featured a replica Western town and a rodeo arena. Stunt shows were regularly performed, sometimes by Ray “Crash” Corrigan himself.
Corriganville’s Evolution to a Public Park
1965 marked the beginning of Corriganville’s decline. Ray “Crash” Corrigan sold the property to actor Bob Hope, who renamed it Hopetown. Unfortunately, a year after reopening, the ranch closed to the public. Around this time, the construction of the Simi Valley 118 Freeway (now the Ronald Reagan Freeway) began. The freeway, completed in 1971, significantly reduced the size of Corriganville.
In 1970 and 1979, fires destroyed the remaining structures of Corriganville.
Since 1988, Corriganville has been a public park operated by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The 246-acre park offers numerous trails and scenic views. Hikers can also explore Corriganville’s movie history through numerous interpretive signs along the paths.
For more information, check out the Santa Susana Depot. The museum features numerous original artifacts of the renewed Corriganville Movie Ranch and amusement park.
Article based on my visit in 2023
Sounds like a must-see?
Plan your visit:
- Location: 7001 Smith Rd, Simi Valley, CA 93063.
- Hours: 24/7 from dawn to dusk.
- Duration: I spent 1 hour discovering it.
- Admission: Free.
- Parking: unmetered street parking.
- More information is available at https://www.santasusanadepot.org/
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