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THE CANNED HEAT SUICIDE HOUSE

Location: Topanga, CA
​Accessibility: Easy
​Created: 1990s
An urban legend is defined as: “A story that appears mysteriously and spreads spontaneously in various forms and is usually false.” The definition of abandoned reads: “Having been deserted or cast off”. In the hills of Topanga Canyon resides a place that embodies both terms. Originally constructed to be a private home, the building accessible by a private bridge was doomed from the start. 701 North Topanga Canyon Blvd is among beautiful scenery and serenity but on the pathway of flooding and landslides which prevents any chance at completion of a home on the property. Because the area is so picturesque, several residents have built and made their home in the hills, especially celebrities. Such celebrities have included, Jim Morrison, Sissy Spacek, Bob Denver, Viggo Mortensen and more.
​
Another celebrity that owned a home in Topanga Canyon hills was Bob Hite, lead singer of American blue-rock band, Canned Heat. Canned Heat was formed in 1965 and band members adorned themselves with fun nicknames including: Larry “The Mole” Taylor, Bob “The Bear” Hite and Alan “Blind Owl” WIlson.  Alan Wilson burst at the seams with talent and not only composed songs for Canned Heat but played harmonica and guitar and sang for the band as well. It was stated by those who knew him that he was a passionate and free spirit who earned his nickname “Blind Owl” from his extreme nearsightedness.

On September 3rd 1970, Alan Wilson was found dead in his sleeping bag on a hillside by a home in Topanga Canyon. Wilson was 27-years-old which meant his death put him into the tragic “27 Club”. The “27 club” is a term used to classify the most tragic coincidences in rock and roll history. Musicians who have passed away at the young age of 27 have included: Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.  An autopsy stated Wilson’s death was the result of barbiturates overdose. It was never confirmed nor denied if the death was an accident or intentional. It has been rumored Alan Wilson went to sleep under the stars, a practice he loved and did often. Thus the area in which he was found forever asleep by fellow band member Skip Taylor, was permanently marked as the Canned Heat Suicide House.

Some say the ghost of Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson haunts the house and while the structure has been doomed from the start and left in ruins of lost potentials, it is still a beautiful spot to see the stars.
  • New Episodes
  • Adventure Archive
    • 2023 Episodes >
      • Zzyzx
      • The Encinitas Boat Houses
    • 2022 Episodes >
      • The Salton Sea Naval Base
      • Desert Christ Park
      • Rubel Castle
      • The Radford Art Walk
      • George Air Force Base
      • The Cal-Earth Institute
      • The Venice Canals
      • Mount Rubidoux
      • Queen Califia's Magical Circle
      • Scary Dairy
      • Fort MacArthur
      • Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
    • 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
  • Map
  • Contact Us