Trail Blazing at Will Rogers Historic State Park

Credit: SK Staff, inside the Western Ranch House

Trail Blazing at Will Rogers Historic State Park

by SweisKloss
October 1, 2020

We have probably said this more times than we can count…Santa Monica is a beautiful place to work and live. There are incredible homes, a perfectly sized downtown area, and of course the oceanfront and a backdrop of mountains with nearby state parks. And because of the close proximity—within a few miles of the SweisKloss office—some of the SK staff have gone to Will Rogers Historic State Park for a run or hike on the winding trails. While many people may go for the 360 view of Los Angeles, which can be seen from Inspiration Point, the Will Rogers State Park is an outdoor and historic treasure with its trails, polo field, corrals, stable and the Rogers’ Western Ranch House—on the National Register of Historic Places—built in the 1930s. Being one of the most popular and highest paid actor of his time, Rogers purchased almost 200 acres of land in a part of an area now known as Pacific Palisades to build a family retreat and enjoy horseback riding. Although the Western Ranch House is temporarily closed, one SK staffer was able to take part of the house tour before COVID-19 hit. She saw the original furnishings and décor up close and appreciated the care that went into preserving the home. Although additions were constructed onto the main structure before the Rogers family permanently resided there, it was important to Will and his wife Betty that their home remained understated, charming, and functional for their children. One interesting part of the tour was when the docent told how Rogers was ahead of his time regarding sustainability. Rogers happened upon a construction site where there were large chunks of concrete left from a demolished sidewalk, and he asked if he could haul it away. He then repurposed the concrete and constructed a wall in the outdoor area behind the back of his home. The tour ended with one last anecdote about Will Rogers. It was said that when the Rogers family would have friends to the Western Ranch House, which was often, for parties and other celebrations, Rogers would inevitably slip out in the middle of every gathering. Not one to sit still for long, he would venture out onto the trails behind his home to ride his beloved horse, Soapsuds, and end up at Inspiration Point to survey his home and take in the beauty of California.