The devastating loss of Will Rogers’ historic Southern California ranch leaves a profound Western cultural and historical void.
The Palisades Fire in Southern California dealt a devastating blow to Western history and culture on January 7, destroying the iconic Will Rogers ranch house and several other structures within the Will Rogers State Historic Park in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
Shortly after the Palisades Fire began around 10:30 a.m. on January 7, California State Parks closed Will Rogers State Historic Park as a precaution. Unfortunately, the fire quickly moved onto the property, consuming all the buildings. Only a few brick chimneys remain where the historic ranch once stood.
Will Rogers State Historic Park before and after the Palisades fire destroyed the ranch. Photo courtesy of California State Parks.
“California State Parks mourns the loss of these treasured natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Since yesterday afternoon, we are directing all available resources into the emergency response effort and working to secure and protect as much as we can at affected nearby state parks. We are deeply grateful to our parks staff and all partner agencies for their swift actions. Our top priority remains the safety of the public, our employees, and the responders bravely battling the fires.”
The California State Parks system now faces the immense challenge of assessing the damage and determining the future of this historic site.
Will Rogers Builds His Pacific Coast Sanctuary
Born in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in 1879, Cherokee humorist Will Rogers rose to global fame as a trick roper, vaudeville performer, actor, and commentator. By the 1930s, he was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid stars, capturing audiences worldwide with his humor and humility.
The 359-acre ranch was more than just a home for Rogers and his family. Built during the 1920s and 1930s, it reflected Rogers’ love for the Western lifestyle, featuring a sprawling 31-room ranch house, stables, corrals, and riding trails.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the ranch was a sanctuary for Rogers and a gathering place for Hollywood stars and dignitaries of the era. After Rogers’ untimely death at age 55 in 1935 in a plane crash in Point Barrow, Alaska, his widow, Betty Rogers, donated the estate to the state in 1944 to ensure its preservation as a public historic park.
Will Rogers and his family at their Pacific Palisades ranch. Photo courtesy of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.
While some artifacts and artwork were evacuated before the fire by park officials, the Palisades Fire erased an irreplaceable piece of Western entertainment history. The architecture and design of the ranch symbolized the marrying of Hollywood glamour with Western authenticity, reflecting who Rogers was as a person.
The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation shared a heartfelt statement on social media in the aftermath of the loss: “We are deeply saddened to share that the historic home of Will Rogers and the iconic barn and stables have all fallen victim to the Palisades Fire in Southern California.”
Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter and operator of the Will Rogers Foundation, highlighted her family’s trauma.
“While the loss to the Will Rogers Ranch is devastating, it pales in comparison to the loss of property, businesses, and, more importantly, lives in the surrounding area,” she said. “The Rogers family is devastated by the loss of the California ranch and the overwhelming loss of the community. Our hearts go out to all those neighbors who have lost their homes. The community of Pacific Palisades has always been a generous supporter of the Will Rogers State Historic Park.”
Horses Whisked Away Hours Before Fire
Thankfully, there was a silver lining amid the devastation. Cha Cha Jago and her team at Jigsaw Farms, the equine riding company contracted at Will Rogers State Historic Park, led a heroic horse rescue effort.
As the fire raged, Jago and her staff safely evacuated 17 horses from the stables, battling 80-mile-per-hour winds and encroaching flames. The last horse was evacuated hours before the park was engulfed.
Rogers-Etcheverry said saving the horses reflected her great-grandfather’s values. “He would’ve saved the horses before anything else. That would’ve been his number one priority, too.”
The aftermath of the destruction from the Palisades fire at the Will Rogers ranch. Photo courtesy of Cha Cha Jago via The Hollywood Reporter.
Jago likened the effort to Noah’s Ark, a sentiment echoed by those who saw the horses relocated to temporary shelters. Initially moved to Sullivan Canyon in Brentwood, the horses were later evacuated again to Burbank and even farther to Santa Ynez due to worsening air quality.
Jigsaw Farms’ horses are staple of school field trips across Los Angeles. The horses’ relocation not only saved their lives but also provided solace to children who had lost homes and schools to the fire.
“These horses and these kids really need each other,” Jago said.
Jigsaw Farms now faces an uncertain future, having lost barns, arenas, and equipment. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support recovery efforts and ensure that the farm can continue fostering its unique bond between children and horses.
HEADER PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.