Rick Wallace/Special to The Malibu Times
Along the PCH
For 27 years, I could count on pizza out of the old Pizza Hut location next to Ben & Jerry’s. During the ’70s, it was the Pepperdine hangout on Thursday nights. For many years, Pizza Hut served all the pizza you can eat for lunch buffet. According to the banner, a new restaurant, Casa Escobar, will be opening soon at the location.
Malibu’s first jail cell was in the original courthouse building at PCH/Rambla Vista, in 1933.
Would you like to go on a lovely sunrise hike? Is this something you never do, but have some craving for? Malibu is full of inviting trails.
For example, drive to the end of Bonsall about a half hour before sunrise and park in the large dirt lot at the head of Zuma Canyon. Walk about 1/4 mile in and stay to the right. Take the “Ocean View” trail up the hill to the right. It is slightly strenuous on a good, wide path. Go about 1 mile. At the top of the ridge, you can see the sun rise over the bay to the east. Hopefully, you will pick a beautiful morning.
Continue up the hill and stay to the left, down the Canyon View trail that connects to Zuma Canyon below. The entire hike will be about an hour-and-a-half, without rest stops. Your day will be inspired.
Quiz time: Within 20 years, can you name the year that the first visitor (who was not a Chumash Indian) stepped foot upon Malibu after Juan Cabrillo’s visit in October 1542? (Answer below.)
It appears that Sara Wan and the Coastal Commission have joined the permanent list of Malibu’s historical enemies. Over the years, many individuals and government agencies have tried to force their personal and bureaucratic agendas upon us. The list includes Deane Dana and L.A. County, which tried to ram a sewer system down our throats; Caltrans, which kept the highway closed for unnecessary periods after rockslides in the ’70s and ’80s and once proposed a Malibu freeway; and the energy people who proposed a nuclear reactor here.
The geographical center of the Malibu community is approximately the intersection of PCH/Escondido Beach/Malibu Cove Colony/Via Escondido. About half the existing homes in the Malibu 90265 postal zone are west and half are east of that location.
I recently visited the factory that makes Malibu Rum, in Barbados. The use of the Malibu name has been used since 1985, but the company that makes rum at the site has been in business since 1893. That company, in a smaller facility than you might imagine despite growing worldwide popularity, is named The West Indies Rum Distillery. The coconut rum is famous, but a new lime rum is being tested. During the tour, the guide stated there was a place in the U.S. that is called “Malibu” and as far as she knew, permission was granted to use the name. I scoffed at that but told her I know the Malibu mayor personally, and write for the Malibu newspaper, and as far as I was concerned, they can keep using the name.
The huge 1970 fire was in September. The devastation of the 1978 fire occurred in October, as was the 1982 blaze. The 1993 fire was in early November. So this early January fire created a whole new parameter to the fire season, coming more than 100 days after “summer” had ended.
When the old Getty Malibu Museum re-opens, it will feature Greek and Roman antiquities. It was originally opened in 1971 and was the wealthiest museum in the world even before it moved to its current location.
One more year ’till our next election campaign, with a majority of three spots available. Start your fundraising soon. It will be the ninth time Malibu has had an election with city council positions at stake. Over the years, there have been 21 winning candidates and 50 losing candidates (mostly from the first election in 1990 that had 28 losers seeking the original five spots).
In 1776, an expedition of Spaniards, led by Juan Bautista de Anza, charted the California coast heading north from Mexico. It was the first time in more than 200 years that Malibu was visited by outsiders. The purpose of the trip was to establish settlements, securing Spanish claims on the land. Among the dozens of travelers with de Anza was a boy named Jose Tapia, who later became the first official deeded owner of the Malibu area.
The two-story Malibu Shores Motel across from Surfrider Beach was established in 1953 and saw first-hand the surfing boom in America in the 1950s and 1960s.
If you drive along the PCH down the coast in the left lane and never change lanes, you will exit the Harbor Freeway at 6th Street and drive right into the center of Downtown L.A.
Did you know that her name is Lisa? You have probably seen her. She is the walking woman. Seven miles from Point Dume to work at the Malibu Library in the morning. Seven miles back again in the afternoon. I estimate she has traveled more than 20,000 miles walking the highway since her routine began in 1995.
Soon we get our pier back!