The beloved “Cowboy Philosopher” was as honest, genuine, witty and wise as it gets, not to mention his extraordinary talent that never failed to wow once he was sat atop his horse, lasso in hand. As the highest paid actor in the 1930s, he could certainly afford to build himself an impressive ranch that has now been preserved as this state park.

Tour the rooms of the ranch house that the biggest names in the industry like Walt Disney, Clark Gable and Charles Lindburgh cozied up in the parlour belting out jaunty tunes, sharing a delicious meal at the table and simply enjoying the sea breeze on the porch. Its interior holds the largest collection of Western art in the California State Park System including Native American textiles and artifacts, as well as California craftsman-style furnishings. Memorabilia, photographs and books, as well as the mini-theater in the garage provide a window into the mind of this one of a kind individual.

To the charms of the great outdoors, explore the park on top of the man’s favourite animal in one of the horseriding lessons, or go on either the challenging Backbone Trail that extends almost 68 miles into the Santa Monica Mountain range, or simply head to the two mile loop to Inspiration Point where you can embrace spectacular views of Catalina Island, the Los Angeles Basin, and the curved shore of Santa Monica Bay.

Ever since his tragic death in a plane crash all those years ago, this man has not been forgotten in the hearts of the California people, and his legacy lives on forever in this state park that reflects the soul of this cultural hero.