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

​

MURPHY'S RANCH IN RUSTIC CANYON

Location: Santa Monica Mountains / Rustic Canyon
​Accessibility: Accessible via 2-Mile hike on Sullivan Fire Road

​Built: 1933-1941
Hidden in the mountains north of Santa Monica, is a 50-acre area of Rustic Canyon known as Murphy's Ranch.  This area was once allegedly the home of a group of Nazi sympathizers.

in 1933 a Jessie M. Murphy purchased 50 acres of land in Rustic Canyon from Will Rodgers. What makes this purchase odd is that Jessie Murphy never actually existed. There are no other records of that name anywhere on file, other than owning this property.  It is assumed that the name was an alias for the true owners of the land, two Nazi sympathizers named Winona and Norman Stevens.  Winona Stephens was a strong believer in metaphysical and supernatural phenomena. This fascination led her to a man named Herr Schmidt. He believed that Germany would ultimately defeat the United States.  Herr Schmidt claimed to have supernatural powers and said they needed to build a “self- ­sufficient farm”. So on August 28th, 1933 they started building their Utopia.  Many of the architects who were sending ideas for the ranch’s design had no idea what they were working on. The Stevens’ had a great deal of money at their disposal and asked those hired to dream up a four­ story mansion with indoor pools, libraries and servant’s rooms. Even with all the planning, funding and influence of Herr Schmidt, the Nazi compound met it’s demise before many of the more elaborate structures could be built.  On December 8th 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor, local police occupied the compound and those who weren’t arrested, quickly scattered. Norman and Winona Stephens started living in a garage and the property now belongs to Los Angeles.

Today, a number of structures built during the time period still exist in varying levels of decay.  Among these are a diesel fuel tank designed to hold 20,000 gallons of fuel, and a nearby power house.  To the north stands a partially collapsed stable. In addition, several long and narrow stone staircases, still line the hillside of the estate.  They were designed to provide a full view of the canyon to anyone on patrol.


For more information on how to find the ranch for yourself, please watch the video.

UPDATE...

On February 23, 2016, the city of Los Angeles demolished a number of the structures on the property due to safety concerns.  Among these structures was an original wrought iron gate, designed by celebrity home designer Paul Williams to be the main gate to the estate.  A large collapsing garage and a 395,000-gallon concrete water tank were also removed.  It is uncertain when the remaining structures will be demolished.​
  • 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