For nearly 100 years, Paramount Ranch has set the scene for hundreds of movies, television and photo shoots, among them a number of monster, paranormal and other supernatural films and shows, such as The Forbidden Trail (1932), Van Helsing (2004) and episodes of the “X-Files” and HBO’s “Westworld.”
In keeping with that theme, the National Park Service (NPS) will host a first-of-a-kind event on October 27 called Scare-amount Ranch, a family-friendly Halloween event that combines elements of film history and nature.
Kids activities will include making fake movie blood and nocturnal animal-themed crafts. Groups can choose from two self-guided hikes into the backlot woods, one which will be family-friendly, the other for those looking for something scary.
Other activities will include a screening of the 1966 classic Munster, Go Home, which was shot at Paramount Ranch; selfies in the jailhouse; a spider zoo and bug trap; and ranger stations throughout the ranch grounds.
The free event with complimentary parking takes place from 6-10 p.m. Flashlights and a jacket are recommended.
Paramount Ranch is located at 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura, CA 91301. For more information, please call the visitor center at 805-370- 2301.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country, encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological diversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.