Vasquez Rocks

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Vasquez Rocks
(U.S. Registered Historic District)
Vasquez Rocks
Vasquez Rocks
Location: Agua Dulce Rd
Nearest city: Agua Dulce, California
Added to NRHP: June 22, 1972
NRHP Reference#: 72000228

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 905 acre (3 km²) northern Los Angeles County, California USA park acquired by LA County government in the 1970s. It is in the Agua Dulce vicinity between the Antelope Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley just north of Los Angeles and seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway. Vasquez Rocks have been used innumerable times in motion pictures, various television series and in moving and still photography advertisements, and continues to be used in them today.

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[edit] History

The rocks were formed during the middle-Cenozoic, approximately 25 million years ago when the sandstone rocks were uplifted at a picturesque angle, showing their jagged red features. The rock formations are part of the San Andreas Fault.[1] In 1873 and 1874 Tiburcio Vasquez - one of California's most notorious bandits - used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature.

Vasquez Rocks was added to the National Register of Historic Places (site #72000228) in 1972 due to its significance as a prehistoric site for the Shoshonean and Tataviam peoples.[2]

Vasquez Rocks
Vasquez Rocks

[edit] Role in entertainment

[edit] In films

The Vasquez Rocks have been used as the setting for key scenes in a relatively large number of motion pictures produced by many Hollywood filmmakers, including:

[edit] In television

Television series productions which have used the Vasquez Rocks include:

[edit] In music videos

Music video production done at Vasquez Rocks include:

The Rocks were even drawn into the animated series Futurama, depicting various alien landscapes as they did in the other science fiction shows, and they were also animated in Shrek.

[edit] In video games

Videogames with usage of Vasquez Rocks:

[edit] What to do at the rocks

Climbing the large sloped rocks is the most popular activity. Other activities include a history trail tour of its previous visitors, the Tatavian Indians and Spanish settlers. Additional activities include campfire nature talks, hiking (including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail), horseback riding and other equestrian programs, an Easter sunrise service, and picnic lunching at picnic areas in the park. School tours and organized youth group campouts require a reservation from the park management, reachable by telephone at (661) 268-0840. Other uses the park allows are motion picture filming, weddings, and large picnic and party groups, which must be arranged in advance.

Star Trek fans sometimes recreate the events that transpired at Vasquez in the Original Series' episode "Arena", even going as far as donning masks of the reptilian creature in that episode, the Gorn.

Vasquez Rocks is a popular site for orienteering, where participants find locations within the park's rugged terrain using map and compass. The Los Angeles Orienteering Club sponsors several events each year at this location.

It should be pointed out that great caution should be taken in hiking this area. Always bring a good map (do not rely on the free map given to visitors at the location) and a supply of water. It is very easy to become lost. If a hiker becomes lost he/she should climb to the highest point available and look at the surrounding area for a direction, but this isn't always helpful. A map then becomes essential.

[edit] Directions

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From Los Angeles, drive north on Interstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway) to State Route 14/Antelope Valley Freeway, which meanders northeast. After you leave the Canyon Country portion of Santa Clarita take the exit at Agua Dulce Canyon Road. At the end of the offramp turn left. The road passes through the southern part of the rocks, then makes an abrupt right turn. A short distance further, Agua Dulce Canyon Road makes an abrupt left turn, but the park entrance is straight ahead on Escondido Canyon Road. The park entrance to the immediate right. Parking and use of the park is free.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Frizzell, VA, Jr & Weigand, PW (1993). Whole-rock K-Ar ages and geochemical data from middle Cenozoic volcanic rocks, southern California: A test of correlations across the San Andreas fault in: The San Andreas fault system: displacement, palinspastic reconstruction, and geologic evolution (Matti, Jonathan C.; Powell, R. F.; Weldon, R. J.,eds). Boulder, Colo: Geological Society of America. ISBN 0-8137-1178-9. 
  2. ^ CALIFORNIA - Los Angeles County. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.

[edit] External links

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