Will Rogers’ Ranch © Author Adventures

Will Rogers and the Ranch

The Will Rogers Ranch is an adventure-making choice for anyone visiting the Los Angeles area. This wonderland in Pacific Palisades (near Malibu) that overlooks the Pacific Ocean seems a world away from the urban lifestyle of Los Angeles. We recommend it for people interested in the early film-making era and anyone who wants to learn more about one its breakout stars, Will Rogers (1879-1935), an influential American “cowboy humorist” with Native American Cherokee roots.

Information about the Writer

Read about the writer and entertainer here: notablebiographies.com and see gutenberg.org to check out his writing in Rogers-isms, the Cowboy Philosopher On the Peace Conference.

Another resource is our Oklahoma section. (Originally from Oklahoma, the writer’s childhood home and nearby museums are open to the public.)

The Home

The home is open to the public but visitors must be on a tour with a park tour guide and group size may be limited. Photography inside the house is prohibited. On view are personal items and furnishings owned by the Rogers family during the time they lived there.

The home also features a window in the office of Will Rogers with a stunning view of the mountains. Detailed information can be found at parks.ca.gov, which is wise to read before touring because the grounds are used for a variety of events that change daily. The tour is free, except for a small parking fee.

Gift Shop

At the gift shop, visitors can purchase water bottles, trail mix, and other items that will help with hiking in the area. An exhibit adjacent to the shop includes historic photography and a short film about Will Rogers with amazing original footage of his lassoing and other events where he was featured.

Video

The video below describes the overall experience of visiting the Will Rogers Ranch. To see other videos we filmed on location at literary landmarks, click here: Author Adventures YouTube Channel.

This is the seventh stop on our Southern California Author Adventures Trail.

Patricia Smart