Vasquez Rocks

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Vasquez Rocks
Enlarge
Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 745 acre (3 km²) northern Los Angeles County, California USA park acquired by LA County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce vicinity between the Antelope Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley just north of Los Angeles and seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway. Vasquez Rocks have been used innumerable times in motion pictures, various television series and in moving and still photography advertisements, and continues to be used in them today.

Contents

[edit] History

The rocks' history began in prehistoric times when the sandstone rocks were uplifted at a picturesque angle, showing their jagged red features. The rock formations are part of the San Andreas Fault. In 1873 and 1874 Tiburcio Vasquez - one of California's most notorious bandits - used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature.

[edit] Role in entertainment

The Vasquez Rocks have been used as the setting for key scenes in a relatively large number of motion pictures produced by many Hollywood filmmakers, including:


Television series productions which have used the Vasquez Rocks include:


Music video production done at Vasquez Rocks include a Michael Jackson video as well as:


The Rocks were even drawn into the animated series Futurama, depicting various alien landscapes as they did in the other science fiction shows, and they were also animated in Shrek.

[edit] What to do at the rocks

Climbing the large sloped rocks is the most popular activitiy. Other activities include a history trail tour of its previous visitors, the Tatavian Indians and Spanish settlers. Additional activities include campfire nature talks, hiking (including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail), horseback riding and other equestrian programs, an Easter sunrise service, and picnic lunching at picnic areas in the park. School tours and organized youth group campouts require a reservation from the park management, reachable by telephone at (661) 268-0840. Other uses the park allows are motion picture filming, weddings, and large picnic and party groups, which must be arranged in advance.

Star Trek fans sometimes recreate the events that transpired at Vasquez in the Original Series' episode Arena, even going as far as donning masks of the reptilian creature in that episode, the Gorn.

[edit] Directions

From Los Angeles, drive north on Interstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway) to California Route 14/Antelope Valley Freeway, which meanders northeast. Exit at Agua Dulce Canyon Road past the Canyon Country portion of Santa Clarita and at the end of the offramp turn left. Agua Dulce Canyon Road winds its way through the southern part of the rocks for a few brief miles. Turn right on Escondido Canyon Road, where one will see the park entrance to the immediate right. Parking and use of the park is free.

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources/external links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../v/a/s/Vasquez_Rocks_9a29.html"