Will Rogers’ ranch house, Hearst-owned motel burned by Palisades fire

Among the carnage unleashed by the devastating Palisades fire were two pieces of California history that date back to a bygone era.

Will Rogers’ historic ranch house, owned by the famous social commentator, actor and performer, and the Topanga Ranch Motel, built by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, were victims of the fires that have wreaked havoc in Southern California over the past two days , according to California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

Both were consumed by the fire, which has charred a total of nearly 16,000 acres and consumed another 300 structures — including homes and businesses — as of Wednesday afternoon.

“California State Parks mourns the loss of these precious natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to all those affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” Quintero said in a statement.

Both structures were part of the damage at Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Park when fire destroyed state employee housing along with more than 30 other structural losses.

Rogers, known for later part of his life for his political commentarywas once one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors. He started his career as a vaudeville performer and was a famous humorist.

A wear and tear "Topanga Ranch Motel" sign in a parking lot with a few cars.

The aftermath of a fire at the historic Topanga Ranch Motel on January 8, 2025.

(California State Parks)

During the 1920s, Rogers purchased land in Santa Monica and developed what became a 359-acre ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean in what is now Pacific Palisades.

The ranch home itself consisted of 31 rooms with an adjoining guesthouse, a barn, corrals, a golf course and hiking trails.

Rogers died at the age of 55 in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935.

His widow, Betty, eventually donated the ranch to the state in 1944 and it became the historic state park.

The family said in a statement Wednesday that it was deeply saddened that Rogers’ historic home and “the Lad that Jokes built” were destroyed.

“While the loss to the Will Rogers Ranch is devastating, it pales in comparison to the loss of property and businesses and, more importantly, the lives of those in the surrounding area,” Jennifer Rogers, a Rogers family representative, said in a statement.

Born to a Cherokee family in Oklahoma, Rogers was considered “among our most beloved Cherokees,” Principal Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. from the Cherokee Nation.

“The loss of Will Rogers’ historic home is certainly a tragedy and the entire Cherokee Nation sends our thoughts and prayers to great-granddaughter Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry and family,” Hoskin said in a statement.

A long one-story bungalow-style building.

Topanga Ranch Motel before the Palisades fire.

(California State Parks)

In 1929, San Francisco native Hearst built the bungalow-style Topanga Ranch Motel, which was across the street from Topanga Beach.

The motel included 30 rooms and once housed construction workers building the Pacific Coast Highway.

While the area’s hotels were expensive, the Topanga Ranch Motel offered an inexpensive seaside vacation.

Tourists, families and writers stayed there for decades. The facility was acquired by California State Parks in 2001.

There had been plans to restore 20 of the bungalows for public use again.

State Parks closed Topanga and Will Roger State Park and beach shortly after the Palisades fire began Tuesday, Quintero said.

Other historical or notable losses include:

Palisades Charter High School

The 3,000-student campus suffered significant damage, including to the school’s athletic facilities and bungalows. Adjacent Palisades Charter Elementary and nearby Marquez Charter Elementary are feared to be total losses.

Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center

Torah scrolls were saved, but the temple and center were destroyed for a community that has called Pasadena home for more than 100 years.

Pierson Playhouse at Theater Palisades

Performances date from the 1960s, with the playhouse built in the 1980s. The board has suspended all operations due to serious damage caused in the fire, according to a statement.

The Reel Inn

One of Malibu’s famous “fish houses,” the Reel Inn burned down, its owners confirmed on Instagram. The establishment had been in existence for 36 years.