Cahuenga Peak
{{short description|Mountain in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cahuenga Peak
| photo = Cahuenga and burbank peaks viewed from northwest at dusk.jpg
| photo_caption = Cahuenga peak (left) and Burbank peak (right)
| elevation_ft = 1821
| elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}{{cite ngs |pid=EW7274 |name=Cahuenga 2 |accessdate=4 July 2009 }}
| prominence_ft = 1030
| prominence_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=25198 |name=Cahuenga Peak, California |accessdate=28 February 2014}}
| location = Los Angeles County, California,
United States
| range = Santa Monica Mountains
| coordinates = {{coord|34.136977578|N|118.325820847|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| topo = USGS Burbank
| type =
| age =
}}
Cahuenga Peak ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Cahuenga.ogg|k|ə|ˈ|w|ɛ|ŋ|ɡ|ə}}) is the 12th-highest named peak in the Santa Monica Mountains and is located just west of the Hollywood Sign. Cahuenga Peak is the highest peak in Griffith Park.{{cite web|title=Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee via Burbank Peak Trail and Aileen Getty Ridge Trail in Griffith Park|url=https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/cahuenga-peak-wonder-view-trail/|website=hikespeak.com|publisher=Hikespeak|accessdate=May 26, 2024}} It provides a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Los Angeles Basin and the San Fernando Valley for those hikers willing to climb the roadless peak.
History
Howard Hughes acquired the peak and surrounding acreage in the 1940s with plans to build a house for his love interest, actress Ginger Rogers. Rogers broke up their engagement, so the area was left undeveloped. In 2002, a group of Chicago-area investors named Fox River Financial Resources purchased the {{convert|138|acre|adj=on}} parcel along the ridge including Cahuenga Peak from the Hughes Estate for $1,675,000 according to Los Angeles County property records. The investors considered constructing five luxury estates on the property.
Conservation
File:View of peaks and Hollywood Sign from Hollywood Reservoir.JPG
Los Angeles city officials said City Hall had received hundreds of letters pleading for the peak's protection, which prompted a campaign by city leaders and conservationists to raise $6,000,000 which they thought would be sufficient to buy Cahuenga Peak and turn it into an extension of nearby Griffith Park.
{{cite web
| url = http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-peak24feb24,1,4019720.story
| title = Striving to Save an Iconic View
| first = Bob
| last = Pool
| date = 24 February 2006
| work = Los Angeles Times
| accessdate = 9 December 2009}}
On February 13, 2008, Fox River Financial Resources released plans to sell the property for $22 million.
{{cite news
|title=Hollywood Sign Endangered By Real Estate Deal
|first=Lisa
|last=Leff
|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/17/hollywood-sign-endangered_n_97176.html
|agency=Associated Press
|publisher=Huffington Post
|location=Los Angeles
|date=17 April 2008
|accessdate=18 December 2009
|url-status=live
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311174409/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/17/hollywood-sign-endangered_n_97176.html
|archivedate=11 March 2010
}}
File:Cahuenga Peak Dedication Monument.jpg
That same month, The Trust for Public Land launched the "Save Cahuenga Peak" campaign to purchase the land from the investment firm for $12.5 million. As part of the campaign they draped the Hollywood Sign so that it read "SAVE THE PEAK". On April 26 it was announced that the campaign was successful. Though funds came from many sources, including $1.7 million in public money, it was the final-hour donations of $500,000 from The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation and Aileen Getty and $900,000 from Hugh Hefner that enabled the purchase.
{{cite news
|url=http://bhcourier.com/hugh-hefner-saves-the-hollywood-sign/
|title=Hugh Hefner Saves The Hollywood Sign
|newspaper=Beverly Hills Courier
|accessdate=3 June 2010
|url-status=live
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314085507/http://bhcourier.com/hugh-hefner-saves-the-hollywood-sign/
|archivedate=14 March 2016
}} In July 2010, more than {{convert|100|acres}} around Cahuenga Peak was officially added to Griffith Park.{{cite web |url=http://laist.com/2010/06/18/its_official_griffith_park_grows_by.php |title=It's Official: Griffith Park Grows by More than 100 Acres with Addition of Cahuenga Peak |date=18 June 2010 |first=Zac |last=Behrens |publisher=LAist |accessdate=27 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510215412/http://laist.com/2010/06/18/its_official_griffith_park_grows_by.php |archivedate=10 May 2012 }}
The peak is home to the rare Plummer's mariposa lily, a population of coast horned lizards, and the echo blue butterfly.{{cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2010/05/10/100510ta_talk_goodyear |title=Hef's Peak |newspaper=New Yorker |date=10 May 2010 |first=Dana |last=Goodyear |accessdate=27 February 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222214611/http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2010/05/10/100510ta_talk_goodyear |archivedate=22 February 2014 }}
{{clear left}}
Hiking
The Aileen Getty Ridge Trail allows hikers to ascend Cahuenga Peak from the east or west approaches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.laparks.org/sites/default/files/griffith/pdf/GriffithParkMap.pdf|title=Griffith Park Trail Map|website=laparks.org/}} From the west, the trail approaches from Burbank Peak, from the east Mount Lee.
File:Aileen Getty Ridge Trail Sign.jpg
{{clear}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite gnis
| id = 239988
| name = Cahuenga Peak
| accessdate = 2009-07-04 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.spannertech.com/localhikes/hike6.pdf |title=Cahuenga Peak/Hollywood Sign |publisher=Oliver's Hikes |accessdate=2009-12-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204002/http://www.spannertech.com/localhikes/hike6.pdf |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}
- {{cite news
|title= For Sale: Parcel Near Big Sign. Views Are Nifty.
|first= Rebecca
|last= Cathcart
|newspaper= The New York Times
|date= 2008-02-14
|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/us/14hollywood.html
|accessdate=2010-08-16}}
- {{cite news
|title= Hiding a Hollywood Symbol, to Make It More Visible
|first= Jennifer
|last= Steinhauer
|newspaper= The New York Times
|date= 2010-02-11
|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/us/12sign.html?pagewanted=all
|accessdate=2010-08-16}}
Category:Santa Monica Mountains