Malibu Creek State Park

Malibu Creek State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving the Malibu Creek canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. The 8215acre park was established in 1974. Opened to the public in 1976, the park is also a component of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.GeographyMalibu Creek State Park stretches from below Malibou Lake in the west to Piuma Road in the east. It follows the creek down to the Pacific Ocean and includes the Adamson House and creek's mouth in the Malibu Lagoon at the beach. Tapia Park has recently been incorporated as a subunit of the park. The park includes three natural preserves: 730acre Liberty Canyon, 300acre Udell Gorge, and 1920acre Kaslow Preserve.HistoryThe land that is now Malibu Creek State Park was inhabited by native Chumash people for millennia. The site of a village called Talepop has been uncovered by archaeologists in the northeast corner of the park. By the 1860s a few homesteads existed, including the Sepulveda Adobe, which still stands.In 1900 a group of wealthy Los Angeles businessmen created the Crags Country Club and purchased 2000acre along Malibu Creek. In 1903 a 50ft dam was built nearby, creating a 7acre lake which was later purchased by 20th Century Fox and named Century Lake. The three-level, 7500sqft Crags Club Lodge was completed in 1910. Redwood trees were planted near the lake that same year, and today stand as the southernmost specimens in California. Also within park boundaries is the Rindge Dam in Malibu Canyon, built in 1926. The Crags Country Club ceased operations in 1936 and the lodge was torn down in 1955.