Oddity Odysseys
  • New Episodes
  • Episode Archive
    • 2020 Episodes >
      • The Lummis Castle
      • The Sky Slide
      • The Galleta Meadows Sculptures
      • Burro Schmidt Tunnel
      • The Global Angel Wings Project
      • The Topanga Time Tunnel
      • Solstice Canyon
      • The Kea Mill
      • Tankland
      • Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
      • Cabot's Pueblo
    • 2019 Episodes >
      • The Shoemaker Tunnels
      • The Canned Heat Suicide House
      • Angels Flight
      • Echo Mountain
      • Amir's Garden
      • The Amboy Crater
      • Hazel's Volcanic Gardens
      • East Jesus
      • Rock-a-Hoola Waterpark
      • The Mojave Lava Tube
      • The Mosaic Tile House
      • The Krampus Run
    • 2018 Episodes >
      • Devil's Gate Dam
      • Salvation Mountain
      • The Cat House
      • The Sutro Bath Ruins
      • Bring Your Own Big Wheel
      • The Wave Organ
      • The Bay Bridge Troll
      • The Peephole Cinema
      • Nike Missile Site LA-88L
      • The High Tower Elevator
    • 2017 Episodes >
      • The Bridge to Nowhere
      • The Musical Road
      • The Old Los Angeles Zoo
      • The St. Francis Dam
      • Phantasma Gloria
      • The Sunken City
      • Nike Missile Site LA-96C
      • The Prohibition Tunnels
      • Vasquez Rocks
      • Big Horn Mine
      • The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
    • 2016 Episodes >
      • The Laguna Beach Pirate Tower
      • The Great Wall of Los Angeles
      • Murphy's Ranch
      • The Chemosphere
      • The Los Feliz Murder Mansion
      • The Music Box Steps
      • Bronson Cave
      • The Shakespeare Bridge
      • The S.S. Dominator Shipwreck
      • The Last Bookstore
      • Picnic Table #29
  • Contact Us

ECHO MOUNTAIN

Location: Altadena, CA
​Accessibility: Moderate 6-Mile Round Trip Hike
​Created: 1893
Located in the San Gabriel Mountains are numerous hiking trails, picturesque views and ruins of what was once one of the most popular tourist attractions to date.  Finding the ruins requires a 6-mile round trip hike to ascend Echo Mountain. With its name derived from the echo effects through the adjacent canyons of visitor’s voices, Echo Mountain was the location of a resort built from the vision of Thaddeus S.C. Lowe.

Lowe was a New Hampshire native who made a fortune from his inventions and patents on ice making machines and hydrogen gas manufacturing. He retired in Pasadena in 1888.  While in retirement, he has the vision to make the beautiful mountains accessible to average citizens. Shortly thereafter, Lowe joined forces with David Macpherson - an engineer from Cornell University.  In 1892, the duo began construction on the world’s first electric-powered incline railway leading to the summit of Echo Mountain.

Opening on July 4th, 1893, the railway led to quite a spectacle. Atop Echo mountain stood numerous structures, including a Victorian hotel, an echo chalet, an observatory, several car barns, and a casino.  However, the glory days of Echo Mountain would not last long. Despite its popularity, the railway and buildings never turned a profit.  Disaster upon disaster hurdled at Echo Mountain beginning with a kitchen fire which destroyed the Echo mountain house in 1900.  In 1905, the wind blew the roof from the casino onto the power generating station across the track.  In 1928, harsh winds blew down the observatory.  Eventually, Lowe lost ownership of the railway to the Pacific electric system, and in 1938, the mountain top was officially abandoned.

Thaddeus Lowe passed away at the age of 80 and was buried at the mountain view cemetery in Altadena.  The railway and structures may have been demolished, but enough is left standing today for hikers to explore and enjoy the history. Those up for the trip can also enjoy the ruins of Cobb Estate.  Join us as we explore the tragic history and ruins of Echo Mountain.
  • New Episodes
  • Episode Archive
    • 2020 Episodes >
      • The Lummis Castle
      • The Sky Slide
      • The Galleta Meadows Sculptures
      • Burro Schmidt Tunnel
      • The Global Angel Wings Project
      • The Topanga Time Tunnel
      • Solstice Canyon
      • The Kea Mill
      • Tankland
      • Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village
      • Cabot's Pueblo
    • 2019 Episodes >
      • The Shoemaker Tunnels
      • The Canned Heat Suicide House
      • Angels Flight
      • Echo Mountain
      • Amir's Garden
      • The Amboy Crater
      • Hazel's Volcanic Gardens
      • East Jesus
      • Rock-a-Hoola Waterpark
      • The Mojave Lava Tube
      • The Mosaic Tile House
      • The Krampus Run
    • 2018 Episodes >
      • Devil's Gate Dam
      • Salvation Mountain
      • The Cat House
      • The Sutro Bath Ruins
      • Bring Your Own Big Wheel
      • The Wave Organ
      • The Bay Bridge Troll
      • The Peephole Cinema
      • Nike Missile Site LA-88L
      • The High Tower Elevator
    • 2017 Episodes >
      • The Bridge to Nowhere
      • The Musical Road
      • The Old Los Angeles Zoo
      • The St. Francis Dam
      • Phantasma Gloria
      • The Sunken City
      • Nike Missile Site LA-96C
      • The Prohibition Tunnels
      • Vasquez Rocks
      • Big Horn Mine
      • The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
    • 2016 Episodes >
      • The Laguna Beach Pirate Tower
      • The Great Wall of Los Angeles
      • Murphy's Ranch
      • The Chemosphere
      • The Los Feliz Murder Mansion
      • The Music Box Steps
      • Bronson Cave
      • The Shakespeare Bridge
      • The S.S. Dominator Shipwreck
      • The Last Bookstore
      • Picnic Table #29
  • Contact Us