Whispers of sabertooth tigers linger here. Before Hollywood glitter, Toluca Lake was a prehistoric haven. These now-extinct creatures roamed this land. Imagine mammoths grazing where celebrities now reside.
Let’s fast forward. The Tongva people thrived here for 8,000 years. Their village, Cahuenga, traded with others along the Los Angeles River. They used reeds to build huts. The river teemed with fish.
In 1783, Mariano de la Luz Verdugo gained grazing rights. Spanish missionaries then established Mission San Fernando. An adobe dwelling arose near Toluca Lake. It stood on what became Campo de Cahuenga rancho. You can visit it today. It is near the Universal City Metro Station.
January 13, 1847, marked a pivotal moment. The Mexican-American War ended here. An agreement signed at Campo de Cahuenga ceded California to the United States.
Pio Pico sold land to James Lankershim in 1862. This included the southern San Fernando Valley.
Charles Forman arrived in 1887. He bought most of what became Toluca Lake. Stories say Lankershim’s family named it Toluca. They believed an ancient village once stood here. However, evidence is lacking.
The earliest mention of Toluca is in Forman’s post office application in 1892. The Toluca Post Office operated from Wilson C. Weddington’s store. This store sat amidst orchards.
By 1923, Toluca Lake bloomed with orchards. Forman’s ranch was sold. Investors planned a residential area named Toluca Lake Park. Forman claimed Toluca meant “fertile valley” in Paiute. The Toluca Lake Park venture failed. It was then revived as The Toluca Lake Company.
The lake lent its name to the new community. It began as a spring-fed swamp. It became a six-acre water feature. Residents enjoyed summers on the water. Amelia Earhart’s home was the first built on the lake shore.
Warner Brothers opened nearby in 1928. Hollywood’s elite discovered Toluca Lake. Expensive homes surrounded the water. The public can’t view it today. Toluca Lake remains a tranquil community.
The lake reaches ten feet deep. It is stocked with fish. The bottom is sealed with asphalt. The Toluca Lake Homeowners Association maintains the water level. They pump water from the Los Angeles aquifer.
Originally, Toluca Lake’s boundaries were Cahuenga Boulevard, Camarillo Street, Clybourn Avenue and the Los Angeles River. Today, boundaries depend on who you ask. The Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce serves Burbank and Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles considers Toluca Lake within its city limits.
The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake in 1958. Bob’s Big Boy opened in 1949. It is the oldest remaining Big Boy. The car-hop stalls are still there.
Toluca Lake has a unique history. It has evolved from prehistoric lands to a celebrity haven. It is a place where fertile valleys meet Hollywood dreams.