Speaking of Box Canyon

If Chatsworth is anything, it is diverse.  From cookie cutter tract homes to one of a kind mansions, from well worn streets to wooded clusters of inaccessibility, Chatsworth hails as a community of secrets and treasures.  One of those treasures is an open secret.  Lots of people know about it, but a lot more do not.  

 I’m referring to Box Canyon, so called because its geography actually forms a box located between Chatsworth and Simi Valley.  It is a rustic conclave that includes very non-tract homes, bike and hiking trails, and some interesting history.  There are two ways to get to Box Canyon.  One way is to take the Santa Susan Pass to Box Canyon Road.  The other way is to take Plummer St to Lake Manor to Box Canyon.  Personally, I prefer the Santa Susana Pass entry.  But that’s me.

 Box Canyon is a lifestyle as much as it is a location.  People live in Box Canyon because they want seclusion but not isolation.  They want to be away but not far away.  Box Canyon Road itself is, of course, paved, but a lot of its tributary roads are not.

 In 1923 Box Canyon came into existence as a weekend getaway.  Over the intervening years it has evolved into a contemporary neighborhood sanctuary known for its serenity and tranquility.  But such wasn’t always the case.  Charles Manson roamed through Box Canyon for a couple of days on his way to Spahn Ranch.  Before that, on July 12, 1949, a commercial airline crashed near what is now Mesa Drive and Lilac Lane.  Thirty five people died.  Fourteen people survived, including an actress who was the stand-in for Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz.  On December 10, 1958, several members and ex members of a cult called Krishna Venta were killed in Box Canyon when 20 sticks of dynamite were detonated.  

The Box Canyon of today is a vibrant, nature based residential alternative that is attractive to many people.  Take a drive through the area.  Look at the wild life.  Appreciate the quiet.  You just might find out that you belong in Box Canyon.S

 Residences in Box Canyon range from luxurious estates to simple one bedroom, one bath residences.  As I write this, there are seven homes for sale in Box Canyon.  The list prices range from $264,500 to $750,000.  Since March 1, 2011, Box Canyon has seen six homes close escrow.  The sale prices have ranged from $170,000 to $390,000.