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All the United States California Stevenson Ranch Mentryville Park

Mentryville Park

This park is home to California's first oil boomtown, with structures that have stood for more than a century.

Stevenson Ranch, California

Added By
Mike Ripley
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Abandoned oil drilling equipment.   heyripley / Atlas Obscura User
Superintendents house (Pico Cottage).   heyripley / Atlas Obscura User
Mentryville schoolhouse.   heyripley / Atlas Obscura User
Abaonded oil drilling equipment.   heyripley / Atlas Obscura User
  MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
  MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
Pico Cottage   MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
Mentryville barn.   heyripley / Atlas Obscura User
historical marker   Avoiding Regret
  MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
barns/storage   Avoiding Regret
Chicken Coop   MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
Interior Pico Cottage   MayaSeeMayaDo / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1876, oil was discovered in Pico Canyon making it the first successful oil strike in California. Charles Alexander Mentry discovered the well and became the superintendent of an oil company that would later become Chevron. A town was constructed around the well and took on the name Mentryville, named after Charles. The well itself was dubbed Pico No. 4.

With expert drillers arriving from Pennsylvania to work on the well, the population of the town exploded and so did the number of structures. The town grew to include bunkhouses, barns, machine shops, houses, a dance hall, and a schoolhouse. Around 100 families called Mentryville home, including Mentry himself, who maintained a 13-room mansion in town.

As oil production slowed during the 1920s, many of the town's residents left the following decade. However, caretakers continued to live onsite until the 1990s. This made Pico No. 4 the longest continually producing oil well in the world.

Today, Mentryville is located in a conservancy area, with trails and several structures still standing including Mentry's mansion, the schoolhouse, and a barn. There is also a camp and recreation area further up the canyon.

Exploring the area gives visitors an opportunity to discover the remnants of a once-thriving town and take a journey into the past. Mentryville has also been used over the years for scenes in various movies and television shows. 

Related Tags

Ghost Towns Movie Sets Oil History & Culture

Know Before You Go

There is a $5 fee for parking. An automated kiosk is located in the parking area. There is a paved road that provides access to most Mentryville areas. There is a portable restroom in the parking lot. Unfortunately, the structures are not open but you can peek through many of the windows. Trail maps are available online.

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heyripley

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Martin, Avoiding Regret, MayaSeeMayaDo

  • Martin
  • Avoiding Regret
  • MayaSeeMayaDo

Published

March 4, 2020

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  • https://scvhistory.com/mentryville/
  • https://mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/mentryville/
Mentryville Park
1804, 27201 Pico Canyon Rd
Stevenson Ranch, California, 91381
United States
34.379172, -118.611016
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