Century Lake and Dam, Malibu Creek State Park, CA

Century Lake and Dam, Malibu Creek State Park, CA

The Century Lake once known as Craig’s lake after the Craig’s Country club owned by 100 or so Los Angeles Business Dammed the Malibu Creek in 1901. They made a lake for sailing, fishing and duck-hunting. They planted a grove of redwoods, which still stands. Photo’s to follow.

The property was purchased by 20th Century Fox for a remote studios in 1947 and has been the backdrop for many a famous Movie when they needed a remote place to simulate a faraway place. M*A*S*H was filmed very close to Here, near the “Rock Pool”.
Photo’s to follow.

The original Country club is but some stone foundations and the lake is now surrounded by Reeds and many hiking trails. It’s a great place to relax on the weekends, and very fun to photograph…
Here is a shot of the Dam…

Century Lake Dam, Malibu Creek State Park, CA

Here is Official Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=614
Map of Park: http://www.venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/MalibuCreek/AreaTrails.htm

Top Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 6:58PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/40th Second F-Stop:f4.5 ISO:400
Focal length:11mm  Lens:Tamron 11 – 18mm

Bottom Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 6:57PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/100th Second F-Stop:f5 ISO:400
Focal length:11mm  Lens:Tamron 11 – 18mm

The Happy Couple, Mallards Chilling by the Rock Pool, Malibu Creek State Park, CA

The Happy Couple, Mallards Chilling by the Rock Pool, Malibu Creek State Park, CA

Here is the Archetypal Mallard duck couple. Chilling by the Rock Pool, catching some mid-day sun.

Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 3:30PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/1000th Second F-Stop:f5.6 ISO:400
Focal length:300mm Lens: Nikon 70 – 300mm  VR

Rock Pool, Malibu Creek State park, Santa Monica Mountains, CA

The Rock Pool has been a backdrop and featured in so many films, I will refer you too this great web page with a brief history of the Area.
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/News/0168-MalibuCreekStParkHistory/NewsPage.htm

The Rock Pool was also a famous “Hollywood” Skinny dipping spot back in the day. Picture this Crystal Clear Water, Beautiful Surroundings, rich history, All the Famous people have hung here, Many a famous Movie was filmed here, Shear Volcanic Rock Cliffs with which to Leap Off for that perfect Dive. Yeah…

Right now the Fall colors are here, So…
I Climbed the “Planet of the Apes” Rock Wall and took this shot.

Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 3:30PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/50th Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:400
Focal length:14mm Lens:Tamron 11 – 18mm

The Mott Adobe Ruins, Fireplace, Malibu Creek State Park

The Malibu Creek State Park has a wide and Varied History. It’s abundant water, Wildlife and Forests make it a great place to live in the relativity dry California landscape. The Native Chumash Thrived here for Millennia. In the Early 1900′s part of the present day park was purchased by a group of wealthy businessmen who built Crags Country Club. Many of these Country club members built Homes here.

Johnny Mott a famous LA attorney built his Adobe here along Malibu Creek in 1911. Here he often played host to his good friend and travel companion, President Herbert Hoover. The Mott adobe was also used in the Movie “Viva Zapata!”  released in 1952, starring Marlon Brando. Here is a map of Area:
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/MalibuCreek/AreaHome.html

Over the years it has fallen into disrepair and only a small part of one wall and the fireplace remain. Around the fireplace you can see stone flooring and remains of the brick mortar foundation.

On the day we were there, the sun broke thru the clouds and gave the remains an eerie glow…

Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 2:01PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/30th Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:400
Focal length:11mm Lens: Tamron 11 – 18mm Wide Angle