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- Collection: Lower Topanga
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A long wave breaks in offshore winds at Topanga Beach
A long wave breaks in offshore winds at Topanga Beach. People walk on the rocks at low tide.
A loom stands in Coliene Rentmeester's house
Coliene Rentmeester's living room in her house at 3715 Rodeo Grounds is decorated with wooden furniture, carpets, and a loom.
A lost surfboard hits the rocks at Topanga Beach
A lost surfboard hits the rocks as three surfers take off on a wave at Topanga Beach.
A Makaha Skateboards ad features team riders
A Makaha Skateboards ad features team riders Joey Saenz, Danny Schaefer, Torger Johnson, and Woody Woodward.
Venice lifeguard Larry Stevenson (1930-2012) designed and manufactured the first commercial skateboards in 1961, under his brand Makaha,…
Venice lifeguard Larry Stevenson (1930-2012) designed and manufactured the first commercial skateboards in 1961, under his brand Makaha,…
A man boards the bus at Topanga Beach
Google Maps' street view shows a man boarding the Metro Line 534 at the bus stop on PCH at Topanga Beach.
A man carries a surfboard by bushes and flowers
A man carries a surfboard by bushes and flowers at Topanga Beach.
A man defies COVID-19's beach closure by surfing at night
A Topanga Beach surfer defies the COVID-19 pandemic's beach closure by surfing at night under a full moon. Red tide makes a wave glow blue.
A man holds a kitten in a house in The Snake Pit
A man holds a kitten in a house in The Snake Pit. He lies on a Persian carpet, on large pillows, beside a wood-burning stove.
A man holds a surfboard by the lifeguard tower
A man (in silhouette) holds a surfboard by the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower and watches another surfer ride a wave in an offshore wind.
A man holds his surfboard on the Topanga Beach bluff
A man in trunks crouches by his surfboard on the Topanga Beach bluff.
A man in a leather jacket buys fruit at The Fruit Stand, 1/2
A man wearing a leather jacket, sunglasses, and a peace-symbol necklace pays cash to a woman at The Fruit Stand at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and PCH. Behind them is a flatbed truck.
A man in a leather jacket buys fruit at The Fruit Stand, 2/2
A man wearing a leather jacket, sunglasses, and a peace-symbol necklace pays cash at The Fruit Stand at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and PCH. Behind them is a flatbed truck. He gives the peace sign.
A man in a Speedo swimsuit stands on the nude beach
A man in a striped Speedo swimsuit stands on the nude beach at Topanga Beach.
A man in a suit and a woman in a dress stand beside a cave
A man in a suit and a woman in a long dress stand beside a large rock with a shallow cave on Topanga Canyon Road in Lower Topanga.
A man is pulled across Topanga Creek in a basket chair
A man is pulled across Topanga Creek in a basket chair after a flood near Topanga Lane.
A man looks at the colorful sky at sunset at Topanga Beach
A man looks at the colorful sky at sunset while playing guitar. Other groups of people gather. A palm tree and the Topanga Beach bluff are in the background. Firewood is at left. Campfires became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic in this hidden…
A man looks through the window of a house in the Snake Pit
A man looks through the window of a house in the Snake Pit that has an Indian flag, a "Pacific Coast Highway" sign, and a curtain covering the door.
A man proposes to a woman on the Topanga Beach bluff
A man kneels to propose to a woman on the Topanga Beach bluff. He has brought a sign that says, "Marry Me," string lights laid out in a heart shape, and a bouquet of roses.
A man reads the newspaper in the Sherwood house
An unknown man reads the newspaper in the breakfast room of the Sherwood house at 18638 W. Topanga Beach Rd.
A man removes a wheel from a car after a flood
A man works by Topanga Creek to remove a wheel from a wrecked car in Lower Topanga after a flood.
A man runs with outstretched arms at Topanga Beach
A man runs with outstretched arms by arundo bamboo and the Topanga Beach groin.
A man shines a light on a grunion run at Topanga Beach
A man shines a light on a grunion run, revealing fish spawning at night on Topanga Beach.
A man sits in a bamboo tunnel in Michael Greene's yard
An unknown man sits cross-legged in an arundo bamboo tunnel in Michael Greene's yard in The Rodeo Grounds. He holds a mug.
A man stands by the cottonwood tree in The Rodeo Grounds
An unknown man stands by the cottonwood tree at the entrance to The Rodeo Grounds.
A man stands on the balcony of The Yellow House
A man stands on the balcony of The Yellow House. Other residents sit on the roof or deck of their Topanga Beach houses.
A man stands with Laurie Lanaro by Topanga Beach houses
A man stands with Laurie Lanaro by Topanga Beach houses. Behind them is a catamaran.
A man swings on a rope at 3712 Rodeo Grounds
A man swings on a rope in the yard at 3712 Rodeo Grounds. A boy leans on a hammock.
A man walks across the Rodeo Grounds bridge in the rain
A man wearing a pancho walks across the Rodeo Grounds bridge in the rain. Soon Topanga Creek would flood and wash the bridge away.
A man walks across the street in front of the Malibu Feed Bin
A man walks across the street in front of the Malibu Feed Bin at 3931 Topanga Canyon Blvd. A banner says, "Pray for our Troops." The Moonfire Temple is on top of the hill.
A man walks on the Rodeo Grounds bridge
A man walks on the bridge over Topanga Creek in The Rodeo Grounds.
A man watches a house wrecked by the flood
A man watches a house that the Topanga Creek flood had carried for half a mile in Lower Topanga Canyon.
A man watches surfers from the Topanga Beach bluff
A man watches surfers from the Topanga Beach bluff. A palm tree casts a shadow.
Los Angeles County partially ended their COVID-19 pandemic, beach closure on May 13, 2020. Lying or sitting on the sand was still prohibited. Walking was only allowed…
Los Angeles County partially ended their COVID-19 pandemic, beach closure on May 13, 2020. Lying or sitting on the sand was still prohibited. Walking was only allowed…
A man with a daisy smiles at a Topanga Beach party
A shirtless man with a mustache has a daisy flower tucked in his hair, behind his ear. He smiles at another man smoking a cigarette at a Topanga Beach party.
A man with a guitar walks with a woman at Topanga Beach
A shirtless man carrying a guitar walks with a woman at Topanga Beach.
A man with a skull mask surfs a wave at Topanga Beach
A man with a skull mask surfs a wave on Halloween / Day of the Dead at Topanga Beach.
A masseuse massages Claude Bal, naked
A masseuse massages Claude Bal, naked, in Michael Greene's living room. A trombone lamp, designed by Rick Van Ness, is at right.
A metal sign marks the entrance to Topanga Beach, 1/3
A metal street sign marks the entrance to Topanga Beach in 300 feet. It is covered in graffiti and stickers. The sign previously said, "Topanga State Beach," but the word "State" was painted out when Los Angeles County took possession.
A metal sign marks the entrance to Topanga Beach, 2/3
A metal street sign marks the entrance to Topanga Beach in 300 feet. It is covered in graffiti and stickers. The sign previously said, "Topanga State Beach," but the word "State" was painted out when Los Angeles County took possession.
A metal sign marks the entrance to Topanga Beach, 3/3
A metal street sign marks the entrance to Topanga State Beach in 300 feet. It is covered in graffiti and stickers. The Topanga Ranch Motel and the Reel Inn are in the background.
A mortar and pestle were among the rocks at Topanga Beach
A mortar and pestle, possibly Native American artifacts, were found among the rocks at Topanga Beach.
A musician lies on green rocks at Topanga Beach
A musician lies near his guitar on tide pools and rocks covered in green, sea lettuce at Topanga Beach. A surfer rides a wave in the background.
A naked man plays guitar on the nude beach
A naked man plays guitar on the nude beach at Topanga Beach.
A naked woman wears a cowboy hat in The Rodeo Grounds
An unknown naked woman, masked by a kerchief, and wearing a cowboy hat and boots, raises a glass while sitting on Michael Greene's picnic table at 3726 Rodeo Grounds.
A Natural Progression surfboard has a rainbow logo
A Natural Progression surfboard, shaped by Robbie Dick, has a rainbow logo. It's for sale at Surfing Cowboys, with a note that says, "Is there another 1970s outfit that evokes a more local, Topanga, Malibu, Santa Monica vibe?"
A neon sign in the shape of an arrow says, "Topanga Beach"
A neon sign in the shape of an arrow advertises the Topanga Beach Auto Court, aka the Topanga Ranch Motel.
A new coast road is built through Cooper's Camp
A new coast road is built through Cooper's Camp, and over a Native American burial mound.
A non-native tree is sprayed with blue herbicide Roundup
A non-native arundo tree is sprayed with the blue herbicide Roundup by State Parks in the lower Topanga Creek bed. The health impacts of the glyphosate-based Roundup, as well as its effects on the environment, have been at the center of substantial…
A palm tree at Topanga Beach stands out against a blue sky
A palm tree at Topanga Beach stands out against a blue sky, which is colored pink at the edge by a lens flair.
A party in Michael Greene's art studio, 1/3
People have a lunch party in Michael Greene's art studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds.
A party in Michael Greene's art studio, 2/3
People have a lunch party in Michael Greene's art studio at 3726 Rodeo Grounds. Claude Bal and Pablo Capra sit behind the candelabra at the end of the table.
A path is overgrown with branches in The Rodeo Grounds
A path is overgrown with branches and nasturtium flowers in The Rodeo Grounds.
A path leads to the Casser family's Rodeo Grounds house
A steep path leads to Ray Casser and Renate Casser's house at 3703 Rodeo Grounds.
A person carries an umbrella on the Rodeo Grounds bridge
A person carries an umbrella on the Rodeo Grounds bridge over Topanga Creek. Above are houses on Topanga Canyon Blvd.
A pink Cadillac parks at the Arco gas station at sunset
A 1959 pink Cadillac convertible car parks at the ARCO gas station (18541 PCH) at sunset.
A pirate climbs a ship's mast at a Las Tunas Beach house
A pirate mannequin climbs a rope on a ship's mast with a knife in his mouth. The scene was constructed on the roof of a Las Tunas Beach house at 18948 PCH.
A plastic curtain protects the Topanga Beach Bus driver
A plastic curtain protects the driver of the Topanga Beach Bus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A police car drives by the GO-LO gas station
A police car drives by the GO-LO gas station. Mudslides have closed PCH. There is a roadblock at the Topanga Canyon Blvd. intersection.
A postcard shows the pool of the Las Tunas Isle Motel
A postcard shows the swimming pool of the Las Tunas Isle Motel at 18904 PCH (Las Tunas Beach).
A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang
A prison camp in Lower Topanga housed a chain gang while they built the Topanga Canyon Road.
"The great dormitory sits in the center of what will soon be a beautiful garden. The prisoners have already marked off the plot for flower…
"The great dormitory sits in the center of what will soon be a beautiful garden. The prisoners have already marked off the plot for flower…
A rainbow descends behind the Reel Inn
A rainbow descends into The Snake Pit, as seen from the patio of the Reel Inn at 18661 PCH. The sign on the fence says, "Sand Canyon."
A rainbow descends into The Snake Pit
View from the lifeguard tower shows a rainbow descending over Topanga Beach Rd. and into The Snake Pit.
A red bougainvillea blooms at Topanga Beach
A red bougainvillea flower blooms at Topanga Beach. Waves make lines as a set approaches.
A red computer sits on the desk in Pablo Capra's greenhouse
The computer monitor is painted red on the desk in Pablo Capra's greenhouse at 3712 Rodeo Grounds.
A Reel Inn sign points to Claude Bal: "Hippies Use Backdoor"
Claude Bal wears sunglasses and stands by a sign at The Reel Inn seafood restaurant that says, "Hippies Use Backdoor. No Exceptions."
A resident digs in the mud for belongings after a flood
A Lower Topanga resident digs in the mud for belongings beside a wrecked car after a flood.
A rocket leaves a white trail at sunset at Topanga Beach
A SpaceX rocket carries 10 satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base. It leaves a white trail in the sky at sunset at Topanga Beach.
A seagull sits on a pink buoy offshore from Topanga Beach
A seagull sits on a pink buoy that floats in the water 1,000 feet offshore from Topanga Beach.
"That was the cove buoy. Far enough out to not attract poor swimmers. Wherever I worked, I put out a small buoy of some kind."
-- Sam Bertolet,…
"That was the cove buoy. Far enough out to not attract poor swimmers. Wherever I worked, I put out a small buoy of some kind."
-- Sam Bertolet,…
A seal by the showers looks at a surfer at Topanga Beach
A baby seal by the showers looks at a surfer wearing a wetsuit and a hood at Topanga Beach.
A set approaches the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower
Waves make lines as a set approaches the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower
A shelf holds mailboxes for Brookside
On Topanga Canyon Blvd., a shelf holds the mailboxes of residents of Brookside. The shelf has been painted with flowers. This photo was taken when Brookside was almost empty due to the eviction of Lower Topanga by State Parks.
The addresses shown…
The addresses shown…
A shelf holds mailboxes for The Snake Pit
At PCH, a shelf holds the mailboxes of residents of The Snake Pit (Topanga Lane). The biggest mailbox on the left by a cactus belonged to the Frank Lamonea and the Wisdom family. This photo was taken when The Snake Pit was almost empty due to the…
A shirtless hippie leans on a pickup truck in The Snake Pit
A shirtless hippie leans on a pickup truck in The Snake Pit. Hibiscus flowers grow behind him.
A shirtless man carries two children on his shoulders
A shirtless man carries two children on his shoulders, one with a red umbrella, in the yard of a house on Topanga Lane (The Snake Pit).
A sign advertises Las Tunas Beach
A sign in the shape of an umbrella advertises Las Tunas Beach by the Las Tunas Isle Motel (not pictured) at 18904 Pacific Coast Highway.
A sign after the flood says, "Keep out. Looters are shot."
Mike Bundy, Tom DeWitt ("Dewey"), and Thea Armand stand by Topanga Creek in The Rodeo Grounds. A sign posted by residents after the flood says, "Keep out. Looters are shot. This is not Disneyland. Sightseers beware."
A sign at PCH marks the end of California State Route 27
A street sign marks the end of California State Route 27 at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and PCH.
A sign at the Topanga Beach stairs shows COVID-19 rules
Two weeks after Los Angeles partially ended their COVID-19 beach closure on May 13, 2020, a sign at the Topanga Beach stairs shows new pandemic rules. The sign says, "Beach responsibly. No picnicking. No canopies. No coolers. Physical distancing of…
A sign at Topanga Beach says, "Longboarders beware!"
A sign made from a broken surfboard rests on tree branches by the Topanga Beach parking lot. The sign says, "Longboarders beware!"
A sign at Topanga Beach warns "beginners and kooks"
A sign made from a skimboard is posted on a tree by the Topanga Beach stairs. It says, "Warning, beginners and kooks. South of tower (that way ←). Please respect. You give, you get." Graffiti says, "No longboarders."
Los Angeles County partially…
Los Angeles County partially…
A sign found in The Rodeo Grounds says, "Rancho Rodeo"
An old sign with a horseshoe says, "Rancho Rodeo." It hung on the Casser family's house at 3703 Rodeo Grounds. Before that, it hung on the Pascal family's house at 3707 Rodeo Grounds. It may date back to the rodeos that were held there in the 1920s.
A sign marks the entrance to the Topanga Beach parking lot
A wooden street sign marks the entrance to the Topanga Beach parking lot at 18700 PCH. The sign previously said, "Topanga State Beach," but the word "State" was painted out when Los Angeles County took possession.
A sign protests the Topanga Lagoon Restoration project
A sign on a surfboard, held up by arundo, says, "No Lagoon Project." It protests the Topanga Lagoon Restoration project proposed by the Resource Conservation District.
A sign says, "Kooks and longboarders, please go to Sunset"
A sign posted by surfers in the Topanga Beach parking lot says, "Kooks and longboarders, please go to Sunset."
A sign stands by the abandoned Topanga Ranch Motel
A sign stands by the abandoned Topanga Ranch Motel at 18711 PCH.
A sign warns, "All beaches in Los Angeles County are closed"
The gate to Topanga Beach is closed during the pandemic and a sign warns, "Attention. By order of the health officer related to COVID-19: all beaches in Los Angeles County are closed to the public."
A smoke plume rises from the 2019 Pacific Palisades Fire
A smoke plume rises from the 2019 Pacific Palisades Fire, behind the Topanga Beach lifeguard tower.
A spiral staircase leads to the top of a burned beach house
A spiral staircase leads to the top of a Las Tunas Beach house burned by the Palisades Fire.
A surf app tracks 10 waves caught at Topanga Beach
A surf app tracks the paths of 10 waves caught in a two hour session on the Fourth of July at Topanga Point (Topanga Beach). The longest ride was 304.9 feet.
A surf-rock band plays at Topanga Beach, 1/2
A surf-rock band plays in the backyard of a Topanga Beach house. The drummer is Dwight. The guitarists are Mike Tozzi (in the shadow) and George Trafton (straw hat).
In the audience are Lizanne Strode (red hat), John Fowler (yellow shirt), Paul…
In the audience are Lizanne Strode (red hat), John Fowler (yellow shirt), Paul…
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