Being from Johannesburg, South Africa, I theoretically should have little interest in the history and landscape of Southern California and surrounds. I stumbled upon Sidetrack Adventures and just love Steve’s knowledge, demeanour and presentation. Great content and super filming! Keep it up, greetings from sunny South Africa.
Great mural. And I love that very old oak. Having grown up in S. CA, I'm aware that during the 1920s and 1930s, as more people bought cars and road trips became popular, any tidbit of history or lore became an excuse for a roadside attraction. The romance of the west in books, the founding of the National Parks, early western movies, clearly lead to embellishments. By the 1950s, nostalgia for those times reached a peak, which we can see from your great research.Thanks for including the interesting tie-ins with Disney and Cher, and digging a bit deeper into these stories.
I have to give credit to one of the docents there for the Cher info, I had no idea until he told me. Apparently in her book she talked about her great grandfather killing a deer she liked and it traumatized her.
I love that you delve deep into the history of the areas that you are visiting and sharing with us. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you again. I look forward to the next adventure.
In the painting/mural, since the oak tree is pretty near the stream/river - my guess at one point the river overflowed its banks and deposited some gold in the ground underneath the oak tree.
I find myself catching a chill and feeling a fever coming on... oh yeah ... GOLD FEVER! ;-) Very cool journey today... and thanks for taking the time to put this together and share.
I grew up a few miles away in Sand Canyon. We loved to come to Placerita Canyon Park and Walker Ranch and hike along the stream bed. There is a nice, shady trail leading to or from the Nature Center to Walker Ranch. Along the path there are still white oil seeps and in Walker Ranch, you'll find the foundation perimeter and a huge stone fireplace of one of the Walker cabins. Possibly one of their summer cabins.
Another very enjoyable, informative video, Steve! Interesting that there was a tie in with Disney. Never knew they had a working movie studio/ranch up in that area. I think a lot of areas in California have a somewhat similar story regarding their own mini gold rushes. Down here in San Diego, some man by the last name of Coleman was up hiking in the mountains east of San Diego in the same time period and allegedly found some gold in a small creek just outside the small town of Julian. That started the mini gold rush in Julian back in those days leading to the construction and development of many small gold mines in that area. The creek was also named after him as Coleman Creek. It’s always interesting to hear these legends, myths, factual accounts, or whatever they might be. They certainly are an important part of our history. Thanks for the great video! 👍
Wow, thank you for explaining this. Born in LA, I have heard about this forever. Having traveled extensively in California over the years, I so enjoy your videos!!!
I appreciate your staying skeptical, Steve! Too often we take myth as fact and, over time, are much worse off for it. I'll take truth and facts any day!
Notice at 6:42 the California flag on the right has the grizzly standing up on its hind legs. I've never seen that version before, thanks for this, Steve. I had no idea about this site, another excellent vlog, and a spot on my "need to visit" list
Thanks for another interesting video, Steve! With so much craziness in our world, I love the easy guitar music and your easy going approach. It's very calming as well as interesting.
You have a great eye for the places you visit. I know many people who would’ve chopped down that tree because of it’s trunk. I find it absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing
Now you're REALLY in my old stomping grounds. We had many family picnics at Placerita Canyon Nature Preserve. In fact, I have a friend who recently became a docent there. I have to admit I don't remember the Oak of the Golden Dream but do remember trying to sneak onto the Disney property. In the 80's I lived in a condo just a few miles away.
Another interesting story and good episode, thanks. Looking at how the landscape is painted in the tunnel the hills seem to appear without many of the signature trees and shrubs I am used to seeing on L.A. hillsides. Makes me wonder how much of the foliage we see today is non-native.
Have you done gold in SD County around Julian and Banner Grade? Not sure you can find any site or any owner to cooperate, but it's part of SD County history.
As the quote or a variation of it goes, “….when you had to choose between history and legend, print the legend.” I’ve taken over the years California history classes, so that’s pretty much the standard story that is told about the Oak of the Golden Dream. I grew up in the north end of the San Fernando Valley, and spent a lot of time up in that area because it was relatively close. A lot of history to be had. I’ve been to that oak tree numerous times. Also, loved going to neighboring Newhall to The William S Hart Ranch.
Hey love your channel, before placerita canyon gold was discovered on Catalina island then placearita then coloma California,but first goes to Catalina isl.good luck Dan
Nice trip report. That's a neat canyon, too. One reason the gold discovery wasn't publicized was because Spain had been taking from the Californios and all of New Spain in the Western Hemisphere, and not giving back. That lead to all of those countries declaring independence from Spain.
@@SidetrackAdventures It's a State Historic Site. There's a museum, a mine to tour, and the chimney and foundation for the furnace. And the Reed family cemetery.
Interesting about Cher's ancestors and that she spent time at the Walker cabin. That oak is hollow inside, you could sleep in there or get out of a rain storm. Very interesting.
I was always found it funny that the first gold strike was in Southern California and the first (commercial) oil strike was in Northern California. There's a great California's Gold episode where Huell goes to both sites. He goes to the old oil well in Northern California and, no joke, the old timer locals start putting it in their mouth. I guess there's some folk legend that it has curative abilities.
It's a wonder how legends get created. Also how big business wants a piece of the pie. It's makes one wonder how many are just tall tales and others real. In most cases no one ever will. I really like the history you are showing and hope you continue. I've been around California for almost 70 years and most of what your shows entail I never heard of. Many really unusual ones I have. This one I had not heard of and since the painting in the tunnel is in such good condition it's probably true not many others had either. Unfortunately once word gets around the painting will be destroyed by graffiti. I wonder if destroyed art work and graffiti will one become it's own unbelievable legend.
Interesting, so Mr. Walker was Cher's Grand father if I heard and remember correctly? That's cool, never heard of this gold find before or the Disney movie ranch there.
I took a tour of Empire Mine in Grass Valley, and the State Park Ranger said several times that gold was first discovered in California at Sutter’s Mill. After the tour I approached him and said “You know that Sutter’s Mill was not the first place gold was discovered.” He looked at me in confusion and I went on to tell him about Placerita Canyon. He noted he’d never heard of it. I took his card and days later I sent him several articles about the Oak of the Golden Dream. He responded with a thank you note and confirmed that he’d never heard of this discovery. I was raised in N. California and I can attest that to suggest gold was first discovered in S. California would be considered heresy.
There is ANOTHER connection to Disney, and specifically to their movie studios: In 2015, Walt Disney Motion Pictures released the movie "Tomorrowland" (obviously based on a Disney property); in the movie, the main character's name is Frank Walker, & was played by George Clooney. It's hard to believe this is a coincidence, as production would have begun near the same time that Disney gave up their claim about the tree - which competed with the one on land donated by the real life Frank Walker.
Viewers have to understand how close this stream and park is to the urban chaos of the San Fernando Valley and the increasingly urbanization of the Santa Clarita Valley. The massive 14 Freeway goes right past Placerita Canyon and that's where the Disney Movie Ranch sits. They have plans to build large sound stages on their 'ranch' further destroying the rural environment. That the canyon/stream wasn't plowed and bulldozed into another so. cal. housing tract is miraculous (there were plans by some powerful developers over the decades...aren't there always...but the preservationists won). The oil industry didn't completely leave the area...at the head of the canyon/across the freeway stands a still-producing, old, oilfield from those 'days'.
Yes, and we almost lost that tree in the Sand Fire, I believe, in 2018. The Nature Center a couple hundred yards from the tree was singed but saved and the cabin survived that fire unscathed. Great job, LACFD station 123, Camp 9 and all the other heroes!!!
@Sidetrack Adventures good to be safe with that canyon. It's not exactly a stable area. Would still be great if you ever made it out there. Not sure what's open to the public but it's so massive and beautiful maybe you can talk to its care takers and get a private tour going for viewers.
I never heard of that. I thought Sutter’s discovery started the California gold rush. Thanks to you I’m going to be very knowledgeable about California esoterica. Thanks! 👍☮️🌞🩵
By coincidence, I was listening to an old radio program (via satellite radio) called "Romance of the Rancheros" that talked about this. In that story Don Francisco Lopez was with a friend. They took a nap at the tree and then Lopez woke up and decided to pulled some wild onions to use with dinner later. His friend noticed a nugget and wanted to take it to his daughter. Lopez recognized it as gold. This episode was first broadcast on 11-26-1941, with no mention of the dream. Nice to see where this took place.
With no video stores around anymore I think the joke might be kind of dated! Its OK though, because my son had no idea what I was talking about when I said it.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Being from Johannesburg, South Africa, I theoretically should have little interest in the history and landscape of Southern California and surrounds. I stumbled upon Sidetrack Adventures and just love Steve’s knowledge, demeanour and presentation. Great content and super filming! Keep it up, greetings from sunny South Africa.
Great mural. And I love that very old oak. Having grown up in S. CA, I'm aware that during the 1920s and 1930s, as more people bought cars and road trips became popular, any tidbit of history or lore became an excuse for a roadside attraction. The romance of the west in books, the founding of the National Parks, early western movies, clearly lead to embellishments. By the 1950s, nostalgia for those times reached a peak, which we can see from your great research.Thanks for including the interesting tie-ins with Disney and Cher, and digging a bit deeper into these stories.
I have to give credit to one of the docents there for the Cher info, I had no idea until he told me. Apparently in her book she talked about her great grandfather killing a deer she liked and it traumatized her.
Born and raised in California learning new things thank you love the channel
I love that you delve deep into the history of the areas that you are visiting and sharing with us. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you again. I look forward to the next adventure.
Thank you, I appreciate all the support.
In the painting/mural, since the oak tree is pretty near the stream/river - my guess at one point the river overflowed its banks and deposited some gold in the ground underneath the oak tree.
I find myself catching a chill and feeling a fever coming on... oh yeah ... GOLD FEVER! ;-) Very cool journey today... and thanks for taking the time to put this together and share.
I grew up a few miles away in Sand Canyon. We loved to come to Placerita Canyon Park and Walker Ranch and hike along the stream bed. There is a nice, shady trail leading to or from the Nature Center to Walker Ranch. Along the path there are still white oil seeps and in Walker Ranch, you'll find the foundation perimeter and a huge stone fireplace of one of the Walker cabins. Possibly one of their summer cabins.
Wonderful presentation, and the Cher connection and photo were a surprise bonus! Huell is smiling.
I really look forward to seeing your history lessons every week! Thank you!
Another very enjoyable, informative video, Steve! Interesting that there was a tie in with Disney. Never knew they had a working movie studio/ranch up in that area. I think a lot of areas in California have a somewhat similar story regarding their own mini gold rushes. Down here in San Diego, some man by the last name of Coleman was up hiking in the mountains east of San Diego in the same time period and allegedly found some gold in a small creek just outside the small town of Julian. That started the mini gold rush in Julian back in those days leading to the construction and development of many small gold mines in that area. The creek was also named after him as Coleman Creek. It’s always interesting to hear these legends, myths, factual accounts, or whatever they might be. They certainly are an important part of our history. Thanks for the great video! 👍
Thanks. I think they do a lot of westerns at the studio. From the road driving in I could see a brief glimpse of a western town set through the trees.
I just discovered your RUclips channel and every video has been so interesting. Great job creating such fun to watch and listen to content!
Love your videos as we’re kind of kindred spirits who love to explore interesting historical places. Keep up the great work.
Thank you! Will do!
Wow, thank you for explaining this. Born in LA, I have heard about this forever. Having traveled extensively in California over the years, I so enjoy your videos!!!
Another great trek, thanks for taking us !
Glad you enjoyed it
I grew up in that area (1960's and 1970's) and we used to go to the park that has the Oak of the Golden Dream.
Its a great park. I wish I had more time to spend there.
I appreciate your staying skeptical, Steve! Too often we take myth as fact and, over time, are much worse off for it. I'll take truth and facts any day!
Yeah. The true story is usually just as interesting as the myth too.
Love a good story about a road or a tree. Thanks for taking us there.
Thanks for stopping y. Keep up the great work on your videos.
Notice at 6:42 the California flag on the right has the grizzly standing up on its hind legs. I've never seen that version before, thanks for this, Steve.
I had no idea about this site, another excellent vlog, and a spot on my "need to visit" list
Thanks for another interesting video, Steve! With so much craziness in our world, I love the easy guitar music and your easy going approach. It's very calming as well as interesting.
You have a great eye for the places you visit.
I know many people who would’ve chopped down that tree because of it’s trunk.
I find it absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for taking the time to not only track down these places, but their history as well.
Your videos are so unique and definitely hold one's attention! Love to hear the stories associated with these out-of-the way places!!
Love your sidetrack adventures! Thanks for bringing us along:-)
Just found your channel and really enjoy your stories.
Great, as usual! 👍🌲👍
¡Muchas gracias, Steve!
Great reporting, and story. Keep up the good work Steve. Subbed.
Cool. I'm always excited to hear a little nugget of history, and you deliver it well.
Yes this cabin was in the movie The Hard Hombre (1931) and that movie can be watched on RUclips. Thanks, Steve!
Thank you for your video!
I really enjoy watching it. Speaking of I live in WA and Oregon. I don’t get to go to these places, EVER! 😅 thank you!!!🎉🎉🎉
As always, very cool adventure! Thx brother for taking us along!
Glad you enjoyed it
Now you're REALLY in my old stomping grounds. We had many family picnics at Placerita Canyon Nature Preserve. In fact, I have a friend who recently became a docent there. I have to admit I don't remember the Oak of the Golden Dream but do remember trying to sneak onto the Disney property.
In the 80's I lived in a condo just a few miles away.
I am so impressed by your videos!
Glad you like them!
Thanks Steve for another interesting story! Thoroughly enjoyed the video!
Steve, i realy injoy the reserch you put into your videos.
I love your little trips, such a great break from reality today!
Another great video, San Diego Steve!
Thanks again!
Another interesting story and good episode, thanks. Looking at how the landscape is painted in the tunnel the hills seem to appear without many of the signature trees and shrubs I am used to seeing on L.A. hillsides. Makes me wonder how much of the foliage we see today is non-native.
Gotta love these great stories. Sometimes facts get in the way, but the legend is usually more interesting.
I like this nature/history videos you make :)
Greeting Norway :)
Have you done gold in SD County around Julian and Banner Grade? Not sure you can find any site or any owner to cooperate, but it's part of SD County history.
These videos are terrific. They remind me of the material produced by Huell Howser and Slim and Henrietta Barnard, The Happy Wanderers.
Thanks Steve. You put out another fine video.
David
"Behind a curtain" 😂 Wasn't thinking it, but now I am. 🤣 Now I just have to find my own oak tree to dream about riches! Really unique tree too.
I was almost afraid to Google it! Yeah, I was tempted to start pulling up some weeds while I was there to see if I could find any gold myself haha
I did not know that. Great story! Thank you.
Semper Fi.
@@jerrysullivan8424 What was you MOS and when were you in? Semper Fi by the way. I joined in june 1966. micro sd
As the quote or a variation of it goes, “….when you had to choose between history and legend, print the legend.” I’ve taken over the years California history classes, so that’s pretty much the standard story that is told about the Oak of the Golden Dream. I grew up in the north end of the San Fernando Valley, and spent a lot of time up in that area because it was relatively close. A lot of history to be had. I’ve been to that oak tree numerous times. Also, loved going to neighboring Newhall to The William S Hart Ranch.
Wow
Nice Story, Steve. I enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hey love your channel, before placerita canyon gold was discovered on Catalina island then placearita then coloma California,but first goes to Catalina isl.good luck Dan
Great stories 😀👍
Very cool video!!!
🐈⬛🐾👍
You just get better with your videos, man.
What a great spot of CA history. And makes you think about those small historic markers you drive by down busy roads.
Yep, that’s how you heard the story, too. My best friend’s dad worked at the nature center. There are also some cool mines there.
Nice trip report. That's a neat canyon, too.
One reason the gold discovery wasn't publicized was because Spain had been taking from the Californios and all of New Spain in the Western Hemisphere, and not giving back. That lead to all of those countries declaring independence from Spain.
Another great so cal history lesson. Thanks for sharing
We loved learning about this area!
Another interesting tale, thank you!
I enjoyed the video. I live near the first documented gold find in the US, Reed Gold Mine in NC.
Very cool! Do they have anything there marking it?
@@SidetrackAdventures It's a State Historic Site. There's a museum, a mine to tour, and the chimney and foundation for the furnace. And the Reed family cemetery.
Interesting about Cher's ancestors and that she spent time at the Walker cabin. That oak is hollow inside, you could sleep in there or get out of a rain storm. Very interesting.
Wow, who would have known...that's quite the story and memorial...believable or not, still quite the times. Bruce and Otis
Great video Steve
I was always found it funny that the first gold strike was in Southern California and the first (commercial) oil strike was in Northern California. There's a great California's Gold episode where Huell goes to both sites. He goes to the old oil well in Northern California and, no joke, the old timer locals start putting it in their mouth. I guess there's some folk legend that it has curative abilities.
The looks like a cool break with that stream going under too.
It's a wonder how legends get created. Also how big business wants a piece of the pie. It's makes one wonder how many are just tall tales and others real. In most cases no one ever will. I really like the history you are showing and hope you continue. I've been around California for almost 70 years and most of what your shows entail I never heard of. Many really unusual ones I have. This one I had not heard of and since the painting in the tunnel is in such good condition it's probably true not many others had either. Unfortunately once word gets around the painting will be destroyed by graffiti. I wonder if destroyed art work and graffiti will one become it's own unbelievable legend.
To bad that you could not show some footage from the Disney working ranch, However, this was a great video and story. Thank you.
Interesting, so Mr. Walker was Cher's Grand father if I heard and remember correctly? That's cool, never heard of this gold find before or the Disney movie ranch there.
when i lied in burbank back in the 60s thru the 90s i would go to placerita canyon hiking parts of the year the creek would be running, love that area
I took a tour of Empire Mine in Grass Valley, and the State Park Ranger said several times that gold was first discovered in California at Sutter’s Mill. After the tour I approached him and said “You know that Sutter’s Mill was not the first place gold was discovered.” He looked at me in confusion and I went on to tell him about Placerita Canyon. He noted he’d never heard of it. I took his card and days later I sent him several articles about the Oak of the Golden Dream. He responded with a thank you note and confirmed that he’d never heard of this discovery.
I was raised in N. California and I can attest that to suggest gold was first discovered in S. California would be considered heresy.
Interesting story. As usual the media will embellish a story to spice it up and make it more interesting even at the cost of accuracy.
Calico Town area would be a good adventure.
Another awesome video
There is ANOTHER connection to Disney, and specifically to their movie studios:
In 2015, Walt Disney Motion Pictures released the movie "Tomorrowland" (obviously based on a Disney property); in the movie, the main character's name is Frank Walker, & was played by George Clooney. It's hard to believe this is a coincidence, as production would have begun near the same time that Disney gave up their claim about the tree - which competed with the one on land donated by the real life Frank Walker.
Thank you, enjoyed this one ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Viewers have to understand how close this stream and park is to the urban chaos of the San Fernando Valley and the increasingly urbanization of the Santa Clarita Valley. The massive 14 Freeway goes right past Placerita Canyon and that's where the Disney Movie Ranch sits. They have plans to build large sound stages on their 'ranch' further destroying the rural environment.
That the canyon/stream wasn't plowed and bulldozed into another so. cal. housing tract is miraculous (there were plans by some powerful developers over the decades...aren't there always...but the preservationists won).
The oil industry didn't completely leave the area...at the head of the canyon/across the freeway stands a still-producing, old, oilfield from those 'days'.
VERY COOL STORY,THANK YOU
Glad you enjoyed it
Greast Video as always Steve!
What a beautiful area!
I may be wrong but I think Huell Howser did a California's Gold episode on this. Probably in the 1990's. Thanks for the interesting story .
He probably did. There isn't many places in California he missed.
Amazing! A tunnel without graffiti. How did that happen? Also amazing is how that oak tree has survived all this time.
Another interesting video, I’m surprised that oak tree looks so healthy as hollow as it is.
Loved this we use to go here before it got fenced off
Its a really nice area. I want to head back up there soon.
Given that huge cavity in the tree I'm surprised it's still living.
Those oak trees are might sturdy.
Yes, and we almost lost that tree in the Sand Fire, I believe, in 2018. The Nature Center a couple hundred yards from the tree was singed but saved and the cabin survived that fire unscathed. Great job, LACFD station 123, Camp 9 and all the other heroes!!!
@@briang70 You ought to see what it's like here in the Northeast, skies a weird shade of yellow due to smoke from the Canadian fires.
Have you been to the goat canyon trestle?
I haven't been out there. Every time I planned to go out the weather ended up being bad.
@Sidetrack Adventures good to be safe with that canyon. It's not exactly a stable area. Would still be great if you ever made it out there. Not sure what's open to the public but it's so massive and beautiful maybe you can talk to its care takers and get a private tour going for viewers.
Do you make the MEMORY MOUNTAIN videos? You sound just like him!
Be careful dude -- you are turning into Huell Howser - which is NOT a bad thing!! Very info0rmative and great stuff ...
The movie sounds like the kind you’d find behind a curtain😂
I never heard of that. I thought Sutter’s discovery started the California gold rush. Thanks to you I’m going to be very knowledgeable about California esoterica. Thanks! 👍☮️🌞🩵
I wonder where the destroyed gold mine is? 🤔
I wasn't able to find that out. My guess is probably on the Disney property, but that's just a guess.
You mentioned Disney. Ironic how the Disney Ranch is also on Placerita Cyn.
Golden Oak Ranch IS the Disney Ranch.
So much fun! ✌️✌️✌️✌️❤
My ex-wife is head over heels for Cher, I'm going to have to send her a copy of this
Great JOB...You are the new Hard Hombre in my book...Ha ha hahaha
Wow that's some good fact checking.
Thank You Sir. THE SARGE
The Hard Hombre - I've been called that!
I love history and I'll never understand why people steall the plaques from these interesting sites.
The 1849 gold discovery was announced to the world by President Polk. So quickly the world knew.
Interesting
By coincidence, I was listening to an old radio program (via satellite radio) called "Romance of the Rancheros" that talked about this. In that story Don Francisco Lopez was with a friend. They took a nap at the tree and then Lopez woke up and decided to pulled some wild onions to use with dinner later. His friend noticed a nugget and wanted to take it to his daughter. Lopez recognized it as gold. This episode was first broadcast on 11-26-1941, with no mention of the dream. Nice to see where this took place.
That's really cool. I'll listen to Radio Classics sometimes too, but I can only do it when no one else is in the car.
Go behind a curtain to see - took me a second but I got it.
With no video stores around anymore I think the joke might be kind of dated! Its OK though, because my son had no idea what I was talking about when I said it.
@@SidetrackAdventures Yes, with video stores being outdated no need to spell in front of the kids.
Sounds like a Walt Disney story
☺️👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🇧🇷