I lived in Altadena during the massive fires of January 2025. My community and the Pacific Palisades were flattened. One house on our property was lost, and the adjacent ADU (additional dwelling unit) where I lived was damaged but is still standing.
We received an evacuation order at 3:30 am on January 7th, and I hurriedly escaped to my daughter’s house in the Valley. Our cul-de-sac was on fire soon afterward.
Over 12,000 homes, businesses, and structures were lost in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and other areas of L.A. when 70 – 100 mile per hour Santa Ana winds ravaged L.A. County. This includes schools, 100 + year old churches, temples, historical markers, treasured restaurants, and more.
Below is a running list (to be updated) of iconic landmarks we lost.
Eaton Fire – Altadena
Altadena has historical significance. It is one of the first areas of Los Angeles where blacks were welcomed after being turned away from purchasing homes in Pasadena and other areas of Los Angeles. It has been the home of many activists, artists, community leaders, and even a few outlaws.
It is nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains north of Pasadena and was originally Tongva Indian Territory.
Read more about Altadena history here.
The Bunny Museum in Altadena was a quirky and much-loved little museum with a large collection of bunny memorabilia.
Altadena Country Club dates back to 1910. It had two nine-hole courses and was used for special events and meetings. The buildings were destroyed, but the tennis courts are intact.
The Andrew McNally House was a 22-room mansion built in 1887, designed by Frederick Roehrig in the Queen Anne style. McNally was a co-founder of Rand McNally Publishing. The home was often used as a filming location for shows like Hacks starring Jean Smart.
The Zane Grey Estate was a 1907 Mediterranean Revival mansion owned by writer Zane Grey. It was said to be the first fireproof home in Altadena, built of reinforced concrete. Sadly, it was destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
Zorthian Ranch was a haven for artists and bohemians in Altadena for over 70 years. Jirayr Zorthian was a Turkish Armenian and survivor of the Armenian Genocide. He was an artist and sculptor. It often held events for poetry readings and art-related activities.
Scripps Hall and the home of the Pasadena Waldorf School were built in 1904 by Architect Charles W. Buchanan in the Arts and Crafts Craftsman style and were built by William Armiger Scripps. The buildings were heavily damaged.
Christmas Tree Lane on Santa Rosa Ave. in Altadena has hosted a Christmas lighting display for 140 years. City founder Frederick Woodbury planted 150 deodar cedar trees on the block in 1885. The cedar trees miraculously survived and protected most of the homes on the street.
Farnsworth Park and the Davies Memorial Building. The cobblestone Davies building and the park were destroyed in the fire. The building, constructed in 1934, was adjacent to the amphitheater. Meetings were held in the building, and concerts and musical productions were performed in the amphitheater. It will be sorely missed.
Long-standing restaurants like Fox’s and Little Red Hen (a black-owned restaurant) were destroyed, and many other businesses.
Pacific Palisades Fire
The Pacific Palisades was home to celebrities and notables who lost multi-million dollar mansions, including Mandy Moore, Anna Faris, Milo Ventimiglia, Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Bozoma Saint John, Mel Gibson, Billy Crystal, Eugene Levy, Diane Warren, Maria Shriver, Steve Guttenberg, and others. But they were not the only ones. Those less fortunate who lived in nearby areas lost their homes and livelihoods.
Will Rogers Ranch House and other historic buildings in Will Rogers State Park. Will Rogers was a cowboy entertainer. He lived in the house from 1928 until he died in 1935. It was a 31-room home with a polo field nearby in the park.
Topanga Ranch Hotel in Topanga State Park was built in 1929 by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst.
Villa de Leon was located near the Getty Villa in Malibu, Villa de Leon is a 35-room historic estate designed by local architect Kenneth MacDonald Jr. The home has been used as a filming location for several music videos and advertisements, including Beyoncé’s “Haunted,” “Love On” by Selena Gomez, and “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga. Thankfully, the Getty Villa survived.
Reel Inn was an iconic roadside seafood restaurant. Known for its fresh fish and laid-back coastal atmosphere, it has been a staple along the Pacific Coast Highway for decades.
Moonshadows was another cherished Malibu restaurant in the area since the 1960s.
Rosenthal Wine Bar was a popular watering spot for locals, serving wines grown in the canyons of Malibu.
My Personal Experience in Altadena – Video
In the short video below, I take you through our damage during the Eaton fire in Altadena while trying to stay positive.
I am so happy you are okay. I am praying for everyone having to suffer through these fires. I wrote you earlier about Mary’s Cafe / Market in Sierra Madre. I hope it still exists! God bless you and yours in these difficult times!
Thanks, Matt. It is devastating. I think Sierra Madre is okay but not sure.
Beyond sad. Stay safe, Rebecca. So poignant to see these wonderful properties swept away by fire. One more place in the world to make us cry.
Thanks, Laurie. It’s so awful but we are coping.
All so very heartbreaking.
It’s like Armageddon. But the community has come together and are amazing!
Entire neighborhoods gutted, landmarks gone, so many folks will have to start over again. I feel so sad for folks whose lives are upended and may never fully recover.
It’s tragic. We are lucky to have one house survive with damages. But all our stuff is fine. My friend, who owns the property and lives next store lost everything.