Spahn Ranch

For decades, the Spahn Movie Ranch in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was an important filming location for Westerns and TV series. Named after its last owner, George Spahn, the property, which at one point also belonged to silent film star William S. Hart, served as a backdrop for classics such as "Outlaw" and "Duel in the Sun," as well as for series like "Bonanza." Later, the owners built a complete miniature Western town with a saloon, barbershop, and jail, which Spahn rented out as a film set in addition to offering horseback rides. The site became infamous for housing the Manson Family from 1968 to 1969, who lived in the dilapidated set buildings and did chores around the ranch in exchange for lodging. After the Tate murders, most of the followers left the site before a brush fire destroyed the property in September 1970. Today, only Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park recalls the historical significance of the land, while the property itself is occupied by a senior living community and an event venue.