Spahn Ranch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the band, see Spahn Ranch (band)
Spahn Ranch is a 500 acre (2 km²) ranch situated at 1200 Santa Susana Pass Road, Chatsworth, California. Located in the Santa Susana Mountains, it is best known as one of the residences of Charles Manson and his group of followers commonly referred to as "The Family", who lived there in the spring of 1968.
The ranch, once owned by silent film actor William S. Hart, was used to film many westerns, including Duel in the Sun and episodes of Bonanza and The Lone Ranger. A Western village movie set stood there until it was completely destroyed by a wildfire in November, 1970.
In late 1969, Robert Hendrickson began filming the Manson Family at the Spahn Ranch for his documentary film "Manson". There he filmed "Squeaky", George Spahn, Bruce Davis, "Clem", Nancy Pittman, "Gypsy" Sandra Good, Paul Watkins and others.
The ranch got its name from dairy farmer George Spahn, who purchased the property in 1948. Mr. Spahn was living at the ranch in 1968, when Charles Manson and his "Family" moved in. Spahn himself nicknamed all the Manson girls including Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Susan "Sadie" Atkins. Charles Manson asked Lynette Fromme to have sex with Spahn and do his housekeeping in exchange for the Family to live there rent-free. George Spahn died on September 22, 1974 and is buried in Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, California.
The property is currently owned by the state of California.
