A fire broke out inside the historic Big Oaks Lodge in Bouquet Canyon late Saturday night, and by early Sunday, the popular 2-story wooden restaurant building was gone.
The fire also consumed a trailer that was parked behind the restaurant but was stopped before it could spread to the brush.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department assigned detectives from its arson bureau to investigate as a matter of routine. The 9-1-1 call came in from a late-night commuter who saw the fire and reported it as soon as cell phone reception was available, officials said. The California Highway Patrol reported the time as 11:34 p.m.
There were no reports of injuries.
Visitors to the ruins Sunday exchanged stories over the remaining patio tables and said it was “like losing an old friend.”
A teenage witness who lives on the property told a source close to SCVTV that the fire started in the kitchen while the restaurant was open and the owner was present. They quickly doused the fire, but it must have reignited, the girl said.
The history of the lodge goes back at least to 1932, possibly earlier, when it was a country store and cabin resort that hosted Saturday night dances. It was remodeled in 1939 and became the Big Oaks Lodge with its iconic rock perimeter wall. In the early 1980s prizefighter Jerry Quarry, who twice challenged Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title, established a boxing ring and training camp there. It became a popular place for bikers and operated recently as Cavi at the Big Oaks, which had shut down.
The lodge, like other businesses and residential cabins in the Angeles National Forest, operates on a long-term land lease from the U.S. Forest Service. The 3,000-square-foot building was listed for sale in March 2017 with an asking price of $449,000. It was described as having a full kitchen, bar, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, three rental units and a liquor and catering license. The current owners reportedly purchased the business in 2011.
As a filming location, the Big Oaks Lodge has been used for the TV series “Dynasty,” “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Melrose Place,” among others. Its current advertising as a film location listed a lodge, 9-stool bar, dining room, boxing ring, two cabins and restaurant with limousine access (although the boxing ring had been removed).
The historic Big Oaks Lodge on Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus, destroyed by fire late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, probably cannot be rebuilt at its current location because of permit and code requirements, Angeles National Forest officials said Monday.
The fire that destroyed the historic Big Oaks Lodge on Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus Aug. 11-12 was an accident, Sgt. John Hanson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Arson & Explosives squad said Friday morning.
Bouquet Canyon Road will be closed at 9 p.m. Thursday through at least Sunday afternoon due to rain in the area.
Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
The newly released Cal Fire 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps show the Santa Clarita Valley has increased in areas deemed to be Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The Santa Clarita Valley Spring 2025 Job Fair will be held Friday, April 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at College of the Canyons. The event is free and open to the public.
The California Department of Public Health has released its annual report on vaccination rates for California students. The 2023-2024 CDPH Kindergarten Immunization Assessment report shows that California immunization rates for kindergarten students remain higher than the national average.
College of the Canyons played to a 10-4 conference victory at Glendale College on Thursday, March 20 to snap a five-game skid, with Jeniece Jimenez and Avery Alvarez both blasting home runs in the decisive victory.
College of the Canyons men's golf won a second straight conference event, its fifth of the season, while seeing all six players finish in the top 15 of the field's individual standings during a productive day at Crystalaire Country Club on Monday, March 17.
The newly released Cal Fire 2025 Recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps show the Santa Clarita Valley has increased in areas deemed to be Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The Santa Clarita Valley Spring 2025 Job Fair will be held Friday, April 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at College of the Canyons. The event is free and open to the public.
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Council will host an in-depth discussion on best practices, proven strategies and real success stories in volunteer engagement and management on Wednesday, April 23, 9-10:30 a.m.
The California Department of Public Health has released its annual report on vaccination rates for California students. The 2023-2024 CDPH Kindergarten Immunization Assessment report shows that California immunization rates for kindergarten students remain higher than the national average.
The MAIN will host "Songs from the Saddle" during the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13, a foot-stompin’, heartstring-pullin’ celebration of the West in song and verse.
Our Community Salutes of Santa Clarita and the Kiwanis Club of Santa Clarita will host an enlistee recognition ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at Golden Valley High School Theater, to honor the 2025 high school seniors and families who will serve in the U.S. armed services.
The MAIN and Dig Deep Theatre will present the theatrical production "This is Our Youth," weekends beginning Friday, April 18-27 at The MAIN, 24266 Main St., Newhall, CA 91321.
More than 60 Double-crested Cormorant eggs and chicks were rescued from a failing tree in Marina del Rey and are now receiving intensive care at the nonprofit International Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center, thanks to a coordinated effort between the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors and Bird Rescue.
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the release of the fourth episode of Santa Clarita Voices, the city’s official podcast that highlights the stories, experiences and conversations from city leaders, businesses and organizations.
The Master's University track and field squads competed in two weekend meets, at the UCLA Bob Larsen Classic on Friday, March 21, and at the Westmont Collegiate Classic on Saturday, March 22.
The Master's University men's volleyball team welcomed the NCAA Division III Hobart College Statesmen for the first time on Bross Court in The MacArthur Center, getting a three-set win in the process on Friday, March 21.
The Master's University baseball team made the road trip to Prescott, Ariz. to play a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, taking a 12-2 loss and a 14-6 win Friday afternoon, March 21.
Logix Federal Credit Union partnered with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to support local relief and recovery efforts in response to the devastating wildfires in Southern California.
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of 10 productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 24 to Saturday, March 29.
Jack Lilley, renowned Hollywood stuntman and long-time Santa Clarita Valley resident, died Wednesday, March 19, he was 91. Lilley was enshrined on the Newhall Walk of Western Stars in 2008.
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
6 Comments
Oh no! ?
TERRIBLE
It’s demolished so very very sad
It’s demolished so very very sad
tragic ….many memories made there
?