Will Rogers State Historic Park

By the mid-1930s, Will Rogers was one of the most popular and highest paid actors in Hollywood and "America's most beloved citizen." From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to world-wide fame as a columnist, "cowboy philosopher", aviation enthusiast, philanthropist, radio personality, and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, Will Rogers owned about 359 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as the Pacific Palisades.

The ranch became the place where Will Rogers could relax with his family and friends, pursuing his favorite pastimes of riding and roping. At his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers's ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house with neighboring guest housing, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and riding trails. His widow, Betty, donated the ranch to California State Parks in 1944 and it became a state historic park.

Additional Information

Good For

Families

Wheelchairs

Activities

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Picnicking

Guided Tours

Sightseeing

Birdwatching

Dog Walking

Trail Running

Barbequing

Rules & Regulations

Dogs On Leash

Accessibility Description

http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=229&type=0

Hiking Trails

Hikers can enjoy a moderate 2-mile loop to and from Inspiration Point. The Rivas Canyon Trail also provides a moderate 2.1 mile hike to Temescal Gateway Park. Adventurous hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians can tackle the Backbone Trail National Trail into the Santa Monica Mountains, which can take you all the way to Point Mugu. Free trail maps are at the stand near the visitor’s center and in the park office.

Movies In The Park

During the summer months, Hollywood comes back to the home of one of its earliest stars and celebrated movies are shown the park. Bring your family and friends, a favorite lawn chair or blanket, maybe dress as your favorite movie character, grab some international cuisine from the various food trucks, enjoy the band prior to the start of the movie, take a brief tour of the home of Will Rogers, and enjoy the movie on a movie screen the size of a giant oak tree in the evening peacefulness of Will’s front lawn. For more info visit: www.streetfoodcinema.com .

Polo Field

The Will Rogers Polo Club carries on Will’s enjoyment of polo by using the field for their matches during their annual Polo Season (April through September). Matches are free to the public to watch (you still need to pay the vehicle parking fee) and played on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays form 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit their website at http://willrogerspolo.org .

Parking Fees

Open daily, including holidays

Parking lot open 8:00am - Sunset

Parking Fee:

$12.00 per car

Seniors Parking: $11.00 per car

Large Bus (25 - 100): $125.00

Small Bus (10 - 24 or fewer): $50.00

Ranch House Tours

We offer public tours of Will’s ranch house every hour on the hour on Thursdays and Fridays from 11a.m. to 3p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays every hour on the hour from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Will’s ranch house is accessible only through guided tours, there is no charge for the ranch house tours, and no preregistration is needed to take one of these tours. They are offered on a first come, first served basis for all and we can accommodate up to 20 people per tour.

Visitor Center & Gift Shop

The visitor center, as well as the various displays around the historic core of the park, helps interpret Will’s story to many explorers and you are welcome to discover them all. The visitor center is a good place to start in orienting oneself on the significance of the park with various displays that convey Will’s story and the development of his California ranch. A brief, 10-minute video will help orient visitors to the story of Will Rogers.

Open Thursday through Sunday

Horse Riding Lessons & Trail Rides

Cha Cha Jago, Inc. is open for riding lessons at the park everyday except Mondays. Horseback riding lessons are open to both children and adults. To schedule lessons, please visit our Horseback Riding Lessons Information Page .

Will Rogers Trail Rides provides guided trail rides on safe, reliable horses on the beautiful trails of Will Rogers State Historic Park. You will experience the park in the way Will Rogers loved to experience it, on horseback. Will Rogers guided trail rides are available Tuesday through Friday. You can book a private guided ride by calling 805-434-1996.

Equestrian visitors are welcome to bring their horses to the park for day-use to enjoy the riding and roping arena, Sarah's Point, and the trail to Inspiration Point.