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Newhall, CA |
Leap thirty years into the past and we arrive on the farm that is owned, or was owned, or will be once owned before...we arrive on the Peabody farm. Or what was, and is still today, known as the Golden Oak Ranch, a movie ranch owned by Disney.
I was very, very lucky to have the opportunity to experience an unofficial tour of the ranch and to see this site for myself. I must point out, however, that Disney does not grant the general public access to the ranch and if you attempt to trespass onto the property, you will be arrested. I was told of a number of incidents where individuals tried sneaking their way out there for a peek and were carted away by the authorities. So, do not try to go out there yourself.
Although I was able to see the majority of the ranch, the focal point of my visit was naturally the Peabody barn into which Marty crashes the time machine following a collision with a scarecrow. On the Golden Oak Ranch, it's referred to as the Ragwing Barn and although it has undergone some superficial changes over the years, it existed when Disney purchased the property decades ago. Before that, it served as an actual working barn. I actually spotted the barn on TV recently in an old episode of Spin and Marty, a 50s serial shown during The Mickey Mouse Club that made considerable use of the ranch.
Unfortunately, Disney has requested that I not write about the ranch, so I can't say much more than I already have. Suffice it to say that if you've seen many movies or watched much television, you've probably seen as much of the ranch as I have.
If you are insistent on getting some kind of view, however, there is one spot that is visible from the road running past the ranch. If you continue beyond the entrance, but before you reach Placerita Canyon Park, you can catch a glimpse of the old west town that was built for the sequel to Roots. But, again, don't try getting a better view of it or anything else at the ranch. It won't happen.
Oh, there is one other spot from Back to the Future that you can get a look at, though. As Marty races off of Twin Pines Ranch and onto a paved road, he's actually coming off of the Golden Oak Ranch and onto Placerita Canyon Road.
Next: Lyon Estates, 1955
Visited September 19, 2000
