Malibou Lake, California


Malibou Lake is a small reservoir surrounded by a residential development in the Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills, California. Adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park and within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, it is situated between Malibu Beach and the Conejo Valley. It was created in 1922 after the Malibu Lake Club Dam was built at the confluence of two creeks. The lake, and community of 250 residents are private.
The site includes rugged mountain terrain, exclusive ranch houses, cabins and a club, It has been a popular venue for filming due to its proximity to the Hollywood studios. About 100 Hollywood movies have been filmed since the silent film period.

Etymology

The Chumash, Native Americans, territory extended loosely from the San Joaquin Valley to San Luis Obispo to Malibu, as well as several islands off the southern coast of California. They named this region "Humaliwo" or "the surf sounds loudly." This name was included within the name of Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit. The "o" was added to avoid confusion with Malibu Lagoon.

History

In 1922, George Wilson and Bertram Lackey bought of land near Cornell with the vision of creating a remote residential community surrounding a lake. In 1922, they formed the Malibou Lake Club. For nearly four years Malibou "Lake" remained dry. Because of this, the Malibou Lake Mountain Club received criticism from early cabin owners, who had purchased properties for up to $700 along roads such as "Lakeside Drive". Finally on April 5, 1926, a storm produced nearly of rain. The hillsides nearby drained millions of gallons of water into Medea and Triunfo Creeks and Malibou Lake was filled for the first time. The founding members threw a party that lasted for days. The club land is rich with live oak and Sycamore trees, and the trees of the riparian woodland.
Built in 1924, the Malibou Lake Clubhouse had 24 bedrooms, a lounge, a dining room, a stage, locker rooms, a trading post, a tennis court, rowboats, and swimming/changing facilities. It was replaced with a smaller structure after the clubhouse burned down in 1936.
The 1936 clubhouse by early Los Angeles architectural firm Russell and Alpaugh stands today. The Malibou Lake Mountain Club clubhouse has a 2100 sq ft ballroom and a 475 sqft receiving room, a 1500 sqft patio, immediately adjacent gardens, a swimming pool and a tennis court and 18 ensuite 10' x 13' club member guest rooms.
Winter rains were expected to refill the lake in late 1959 when state safety officials had the lake partially drained so the dam could be inspected. Attempts by a rainmaker to resurrect it were initially unsuccessful. the rains finally poured down in 1961 and refilled the lake. Over the past few decades the community of Malibu Lake has proved successful in preserving the lake area and resisting various proposals for mass development in the area.

Woolsey Fire

The 2018 Woolsey Fire burned through the area, destroying more than 30 homes.

Geography

Malibou Lake is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, half a mile south of Mulholland Highway, and over the hill, north of Malibu. The Ventura Freeway is approximately to the north. The Malibou Lake area includes parts of Point Dume and Thousand Oaks. The lake sits at the bottom of a sharp defile where the confluence of Medea and Triunfo Creeks forms Malibu Creek. Here, the canyon floor widens into a valley that includes the lake, which occasionally dries out.
The lake is situated in the midst of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. The lake periphery measures and its shores are studded with many film settings and homes. The depth of water in the lake is ranges to 25 ft which provided the ideal location for the heroes of the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to jump from the top of a cliff. A similar stunt act of jumping into the lake was performed by James Coburn, for the film “Our Man Flint”.
The Santa Monica mountains and the Agoura hills, which form the catchment of the lake, and the creeks which drain into the lake are adjacent to Malibu Creek State Park. These locations were part of the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H and a ranch where Ronald Reagan came to relax.
A gated dam-bridge is located at the lake's southern end. When the area receives or more of rain, the lake often overflows. The water flows down Malibu Creek to the ocean at the Malibu Lagoon.

Film location

Malibou Lake has been used as a location or setting for many films and television programs. This location is and has been a popular location since the silent movie era for films. These include Hollywood movies, such as The Ring, a 2002 American psychological horror film, the 1931 version of Frankenstein, and the 1956 Oscar-nominated film The Bad Seed. Two famous actresses also shot movies at Malibou Lake. Claudette Colbert appears in "The Man from Yesterday" and Betty Grable appeared there in "Thrill of a Lifetime". The Postman Always Rings Twice, a 1946 movie starring Lana Turner and John Garfield, mentions Malibou Lake, but the lake does not appear in the film. Other notable films and programs include:
Malibou Lake holds more than a 100 film credits.

Notable people