The Endangered History Project, Inc.

50 years ago today. Please share your story.

The Old Trapper’s Lodge Memorabilia Exhibit John Ehn was born in 1897. Before moving to California, he was a trapper, but upon moving to the state in 1941, he o...pened a motel in Burbank near the Burbank Airport at Arvilla Avenue and San Fernando Road and called it The Old Trapper's Lodge. Ehn filled it with western memorabilia, weapons and pelts that represented his earlier vocation, hoping to attract tourists with a slick gimmick. When his gimmick failed to bring in the desired amount of business, John Ehn decided to go big. Local legend has it that he decided giant statues were the way to go, and hired sculptor Claude Bell of Cabazon Dinosaur and Knott's Berry Farm fame to make a few for him. After observing Bell's technique for a few days, he decided it wasn't rocket science and he could easily finish the job himself. For the next 30 years, Ehn filled the property with crudely-made cowboys, Indians, miners, saloon girls and an entire cemetery scene depicting his version of a Boot Hill. The entire site became California Historical Landmark Number 939 in 1985. Around that time, the land the motel was on had been sold to the nearby airport. The motel was torn down, but luckily most of the statues and other folk art were saved and transferred to Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Now the area near the Animal Sciences Building is filled with strange faces peering out from the ground and bizarre scenes of the old west. Now you can see other memorabilia from this legendary motel on exhibit at Valley Relics Museum! Visit our Open Air Museum Fridays & Saturdays 6 pm to 9 pm. *Masks and social distancing are required.

Look for the blonde woman with a blue and white dress. She talks about being weak from beri beri. She’s 96 now. She called me because she wants to see the fini...shed documentary before she’s gone. She’s the only one of the prisoners and rescuing soldiers who is still living. Come hell or high waters or this pandemic, I’m going to finish this as soon as possible. You can help by telling me that this a film you may want to see.

A personal story and a search more than 50 years later.