The Old Trapper’s Lodge in Boot Hill, California
Among the most famous examples of Los Angeles folk art is the Old Trapper’s Lodge. Located in Woodland Hills, California, this 20th century monument represents the life and career of its creator, John Ehn (1897–1981).
The Lodge was created in 1941 as a motel near the Burbank airport, and was renamed to honor the man who envisioned it. It was filled with guns, memorabilia, and trapping paraphernalia. It was a gimmick to draw tourists. The building also housed a miniature Old West museum in the office. The interior was full of animal skins and tools. The complex had 78 buildings housing 400 people.
During the mid-1950s, John Ehn transformed the motel’s yard into an old west history theme. He hired Claude Bell, a sculptor who had worked at Knott’s Berry Farm, to build a giant statue of a trapper. The artist painted the statue in concrete, and incorporated memorabilia and family members into the design. The sculpture is surrounded by a fence, making it difficult to access.
The Ehn family had a large motel business, and they decided to expand the property by adding a small town of rental properties, including a village of rentals. They used their personal experience of the California Gold Rush as inspiration. The resulting complex included a mini Old West museum, and 78 buildings containing 400 residents. The main entrance was covered with tools and trapping paraphernalia. The building also served as a correspondence school for trappers. The interior of the building was decorated with Western memorabilia, and a collection of pelts, weapons, and trapping paraphernalia.
The Lodge was a renowned monument of twentieth century ideas, and it gained a reputation as a California folk art environment. It was featured in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Bicentennial exhibition. However, the monument has been threatened with demolition. This is a very serious matter. A state landmark should be saved, and the community should be involved in the conversation about the relocation of this important artwork.
While the Ehn statues were moved to Pierce College in 1988, the building was not demolished. In fact, the art was preserved from demolition when it was moved to the College, which then offered to install the artwork in Alvin Cleveland Park. The College has not yet discussed the reinstallation of the monument, and has not provided press coverage about the move. The College has not provided any information on opposing viewpoints or a plan for the relocation of the monument.
The Ehn family donated the artwork to the College, and the sculptures were placed on a long-term loan. The art is currently displayed on the grounds of the College, and is open to the public. There is also a faux cemetery with colorful epitaphs. The artist’s granddaughter, Tanya Ward Goodman, visited the campus and wrote a memoir about her family’s experience.
The Old Trapper’s Lodge is one of the three most well-known examples of Los Angeles folk art. It should be moved to an institution dedicated to preserving the monument and interpreting the life and work of its creator, John Ehn.