High atop a hill overlooking the San Fernando Valley stands Tarzana Ranch also known as Casa Mil Flores. This isn’t just any ranch. It’s a piece of Hollywood history a testament to the man who created Tarzan.
Tarzana Ranch’s story begins long before Edgar Rice Burroughs. General Harrison Gray Otis founder of the Los Angeles Times built a rustic log and stone house there. He called it Coonskin Cabin. It served as a hunting lodge and a place to entertain friends. The land was part of the San Fernando Mission established in 1797 by Spanish settlers and missionaries. Later it became part of a vast cattle ranch before being subdivided.
In 1919 Edgar Rice Burroughs author of the wildly popular Tarzan novels purchased the 550-acre ranch. He renamed it Tarzana Ranch after his famous creation. The main house a 4500-square-foot hacienda with twenty rooms became known as Casa Mil Flores meaning “thousands of flowers”. Burroughs envisioned a self-sufficient ranch. He raised goats hogs cattle and chickens. He even planned a golf course swimming pool and tennis courts. This was far from a simple farming operation. It showed the vision of a man who wasn’t just a writer but also a shrewd businessman.
Burroughs’ ambitious plans didn’t fully materialize. Farming proved difficult. He eventually subdivided much of the land creating the town of Tarzana. He cleverly used his fame and the name recognition of Tarzan to market the land. The community quickly grew and adopted the name Tarzana when incorporated in 1928. The ranch’s legacy lives on. It stands as a symbol of ambition a touch of Hollywood glamour and the enduring appeal of Tarzan himself. The town of Tarzana still thrives a testament to Burroughs’ vision. The name Tarzana is a direct reflection of the man and the fictional character he created.
Today as you stand before Tarzana Ranch you can almost feel the spirit of Burroughs. You can imagine him riding through the hills. You can see him planning his empire. His legacy is woven into the very fabric of this place. The ranch is more than just a house. It’s a living testament to the power of imagination and the enduring legacy of the King of the Jungle. Tarzana Ranch a place where fiction and reality beautifully intertwined.