Will Rogers Ranch, George Harrison Funeral Site & Other Buildings That Burned in the California Fires
The tragic Palisades Fire, which has impacted over 55 square miles, causing more than 180,000 residents of Los Angeles to evacuate their homes and leaving 10 dead, continues to rage. Among the locations damaged or in danger are famous locations that are instantly recognizable from major films and TV shows like Carrie and Baywatch, as well as iconic Los Angeles buildings like the Getty Villa, Andrew McNally House and the Eames House, and the gorgeous religious shrine where George Harrison and Tom Petty had their final tributes.
Will Rogers Beach State Park, Will Rogers Ranch Foundation & Topanga Ranch Motel
This beach park, located on the Santa Monica Bay, might be most famous as the location where several seasons of Baywatch were shot; it is also briefly featured in 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon. It is located on land that originally belonged to film star Will Rogers; his widow gave his land to state, as well as their former ranch house on the property, when he died. The ranch was turned into a museum.
Will Rogers’ historic ranch house and all other historic buildings on the property have been destroyed. In addition, State Park employee residences and over 30 other structures in the area were destroyed. One of those structures was the Topanga Ranch Motel, originally built by William Randolph Hearst. It served as an inexpensive retreat for writers and their families, and later served as a filming location for shows/films such as Mannix, Blue City and Leather Jackets.
Will Rogers Estate and Moonshadows are gone. This is disastrous beyond. And obviously so much more. How much heartache can we take? My nostalgic heart is broken. pic.twitter.com/IiHXP8JcfZ
— Vintage Los Angeles (@alisonmartino) January 9, 2025
House from Beverly Hills 90210
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The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the Eaton Fire spared the iconic Walsh family home from Beverly Hills, 90210, despite about half of the homes on the block burning down.
The Bunny Museum
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Sadly, the iconic Pasadena Bunny Museum, which featured over 28,000 rabbit-themed collectibles, burned down. The museum’s proprietors, a couple, say they were able to save only a few bunny items, and are currently looking to rebuild in a new future location.
Getty Villa
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The Getty Villa Museum, a museum dedicated to ancient Greek, Roman, and Etrurian art, reported that though brush and trees around it had caught fire Tuesday, the structure and its art collection were safe. According to president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust Katherine E. Fleming, the museum has state-of-the-art fire fighting technology built in to it to keep collections safe, and employees regularly clear brush from the area as a fire mitigation technique.
Founded by oil tycoon J. Paul Getty and opened to the public in 1974, the Getty Museum sees almost 2 million visitors a year. Though the Getty has not been featured as a shooting location in any films or TV shows, it was featured in a 2010 episode of the show Visiting … with Huell Howser.
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
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Unfortunately, the Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, the only Conservative-affiliated synagogue in the area, has been destroyed by the Eaton Fire. It has served the area for over 100 years, and temple leaders vow that it will be rebuilt.
Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine
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This 10-acre religious shrine, owned by the Self-Realization Fellowship, was the location of George Harrison’s funeral and Tom Petty’s memorial service, and was frequently visited by Elvis Presley. According to the Fellowship’s website, the area was evacuated and will remain closed for the foreseeable future; however, according to an Instagram post by the Fellowship, all the Shrine’s major structures survived the wildfire unharmed.
Eames House
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This house, constructed in 1949 by married design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, is a National Historic Landmark that is visited by thousands of design and architecture aficionados each year. Considered a major icon of midcentury design, the house was evacuated Tuesday, as it is within the evacuation zone for the fire surrounding the Getty Villa. But a statement issued Friday confirmed that the house was unharmed in the fires.
Altadena mansion seen on Hacks
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Just after Jean Smart won a Golden Globe for her role in Hacks, one of the show’s most important filming locations was lost. The 1915 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion reportedly burned down in the Eaton fire, with only the facade still standing. The house has also been seen in Knots Landing, and numerous other films and shows — it had been a popular filming location since the 1921 film Seven Years Bad Luck.
Palisades Charter High School
Walt Disney/Everett Collection
The high school featured in 1976’s Carrie, 2003’s Freaky Friday, and the TV series Modern Family and Teen Wolf, has been severely afflicted by the fire, with the full extent of the damage not yet known. The school’s football field, which can be seen in the gym class scene in Carrie, has burned, as well as numerous school building structures.
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