tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post5970340221937816389..comments2024-03-27T15:44:43.564-08:00Comments on What Do I Know?: LA's Old Zoo Then and NowStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-91472383981365714302017-08-24T21:20:41.995-08:002017-08-24T21:20:41.995-08:00Thanks CF for all your great stories, they're ...Thanks CF for all your great stories, they're all new to me.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-65757598029095292582017-08-24T20:57:53.291-08:002017-08-24T20:57:53.291-08:00I am fascinated by the local folklore of Los Angel...I am fascinated by the local folklore of Los Angeles and spend a good deal of time "collecting" stories and reading articles, posts, etc.<br /><br />That said, here are my favorites:<br /><br />Griffith Park -<br />-Creature: multiple sightings and stories of "dog-men" or a man coated in red fur with canine features. Usually spotted in the southwest region of the park.<br />-La Llorona/lady in white: climbing or walking through the brush at the base of bee rock. Bee rock and the trails leading up to it are often claimed to be the site of paranormal and bizarre occurrences, mostly people feeling watched. I've heard of hikers finding animal skeletons at the top, fenced-in area, allegedly as an "offer" to...something.<br />Side note: I once saw a silhouette/figure scaling bee rock in the dark, though I couldn't confirm, it did not seem to be using gear. No question that some strange things happen in that park.<br />-Abandoned Pool/Poolhouse: apparently it doesn't matter what time of day you go, the feeling of being watched is strong here. Its been said to be a site for sacrifices. My only visit there last year didn't feel that way, however, I did find a lot of bizarre artwork, including a drawing carved into the exterior of a baby in flames that said "RIP ninos" and lots of broken glass. Oh and lots and lots of bees.<br />-Ranger's Quarters/Shack: Up around the bend above the old zoo enclosures in a run down, graffiti-covered structure (popular with stylists and photographers). Several times a noose has been found hanging from the exposed rafters. There is a "loft" in this structure, it is very difficult to get up into but there is a beam with tally marks scratched into it, many people think this is related to the nooses that occasionally show up.<br />Travel Town<br />-Drifter with monkey: I've heard/read several stories involving a uniformed man roaming the park grounds at night with an ill looking monkey on a leash. Possibly related to the stories of zoo abuses.<br />-Trains moving by themselves: Some people claim Travel Town used find that the trains would have moved an inch or two by themselves overnight, every now and then. This is usually accompanied by claims of child fingerprints found on the back of the trains.<br />L.A. River<br />-Burnt man: several signs and flyers warning bicyclists of a deformed man leering through the river brush and appearing behind people walking the path used to be found all over the river, griffith park and forest lawn areas. This one seems to go back quite a long way as I can recall hearing stories of this guy (or close variations) in the early 2000s too.chickenfoot1978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-26208972408701624232010-12-28T22:48:47.444-09:002010-12-28T22:48:47.444-09:00Thanks for the various comments.
Anon 10pm - the...Thanks for the various comments. <br /><br />Anon 10pm - the real test is whether your horse was spooked. The 'new' zoo is much better, but they do seem to have problems with elephants. It's clearly a dilemma, but the chance to see some of these animals live and close up is something most wouldn't otherwise have. And to the extent that knowing the magnificence of wild animals motivates people to help protect habitat, they can play a positive role. <br /><br />NSWFM, if you mean, by Jungleland, the place where they kept the animals used in the movies, yes, my Dad took me there once. Very cool. And clearly these animals had much more human-animal bonding.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-2927845060681905022010-12-28T17:10:01.262-09:002010-12-28T17:10:01.262-09:00Thank you for this amazing LA memory. I grew up in...Thank you for this amazing LA memory. I grew up in Burbank but was born in 1964 so I don't think I ever went to this zoo. Believe it or not, I think I have only been to the other LA zoo about twice in all my years because I just hate to see the animals caged. I remember riding my horse in the hills near the old zoo and there were all kinds of great urban legends. Folks used to say the cages were haunted and also that, late at night, some sort of satanic cult had rituals there. Sometimes when I would ride by I could swear I heard chimps screaming! Ha ha. The power of suggestion. Anyways, it is great that they have preserved the old zoo for all to see. Next time I am down there I just might go over and take a look.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-46433452704177563302010-12-28T17:02:30.466-09:002010-12-28T17:02:30.466-09:00Did you ever go to Jungleland in Thousand Oaks?Did you ever go to Jungleland in Thousand Oaks?nswfmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-78745080592128059552010-12-28T11:37:09.303-09:002010-12-28T11:37:09.303-09:00I love how you find these gems of places to go see...I love how you find these gems of places to go see!<br /><br />When I was little, I saw a giraffe for the first time and started to cry. There was no room for him to lie down. The person there said that no one had ever done that and my parents were bewildered, but I was inconsolable. Giraffes don't belong in cages. The giraffe looked at me and I knew it was sad. Everyone was bothered by the three year old articulating this and I think I probably marred a few people's day with my observations.<br /><br />I saw an alligator in a cage but my momm worried about a crying spell, said to me, "Look how happy he is! He gets fed all day! And those turtles are his friends!" The gator was smiling at me and I knew he wanted to eat my fingers. I didn't feel sorry for him.<br /><br />Later I was in Munich and saw giraffes on an island that sat in a pond. It was a nicer place and the giraffe would probably die of old age and be pretty happy, more so than in the wild. When I saw the alligators there, I still wasn't worried about them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-21161221107252551482010-12-28T06:44:08.889-09:002010-12-28T06:44:08.889-09:00Wow. I've lived in southern CA all my life an...Wow. I've lived in southern CA all my life and never knew about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com