Paramount Ranch rebuild gets underway

Five years after Paramount Ranch was destroyed in the Woolsey fire, work is set to get underway rebuilding the site in rural Agoura, a mainstay of TV and film production for decades.

Source of this article, the Thousand Oaks Acorn, June 2, 2023

The National Park Service awarded a contract to Santa Clarita-based AMG and Associates to rebuild the park facilities at Paramount Ranch and Rocky Oaks Park in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area that were lost during the Woolsey fire in 2018.

LOOKING BACK— Four buildings will be rebuilt at Paramount Ranch. Nos. 1 through 3 will accommodate film operations and be available for public events. The new buildings for construction: 1: Pavilion, a covered event space with room for 265 people. 2: Prop shed, an indoor event structure with 100-person capacity. 3: Barn, an indoor event space with 200-person capacity. 4: Restrooms. Once the four new buildings are complete, the National Park Service will work with film companies, partner organizations and volunteers to build and add new movie sets.

The project is slated to begin June 12 with expected completion by fall 2024. Six new buildings will restore visitor services, employee housing, and administrative offices. Both sites will receive upgrades to utilities, and the new buildings will meet design codes and standards for accessibility and fire safety.

At Paramount Ranch, four buildings will be constructed in the footprint of the historic Paramount Studio buildings. Three of the buildings will accommodate film operations and will be available as indoor or covered event spaces. The fourth new building at the ranch will be a restroom.

Only the church and the train depot in Paramount’s old town were spared in the fire.

At Rocky Oaks, one administrative building and one multiplex housing unit will be constructed, officials said.

“Paramount Ranch is one of the only location film ranches that has been in continuous use since the golden age of Hollywood. It welcomed the dawn of television and the streaming era,” said David Szymanski, National Park Service superintendent.

“It is the National Park Service’s only site dedicated to interpreting American film history, and we are excited to bring the excitement back,” Syzmanski said.

Construction will occur five days a week—Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. No regular work will be performed on weekends or federal holidays unless there’s a weather delay or unforeseen situation.

Park officials will monitor fire weather forecasts and take necessary precautions during red flag days.

The Paramount Ranch trail system will remain open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians during the project, but the construction area will be closed to the public and surrounded by fencing.

Visitors will continue to park on the east side of Medea Creek and will be able to access the restrooms across the street.

Hikers and cyclists will be allowed access over the Medea Creek Bridge and guided around construction fencing to access the trail system.

Equestrians will access the trail system via the creek crossing north of the visitor parking area. The Medea Creek Bridge and the construction area are too hazardous for horse riders during the project.

There may be temporary closures of the Medea Creek bridge (up to 20 minutes) if the contractor is moving heavy equipment or supplies.

Rocky Oaks will remain open for recreational use. The construction project will take place in the already-closed administrative area to the west of the visitor parking and trailhead.

One trail segment will be closed that runs through the construction area, but the closure will not affect public access to the rest of the trail system.