Mentryville, California’s first oil boomtown, flourished after Charles Mentry struck oil in 1876. You’ll find this ghost town in Pico Canyon, where over 100 families once enjoyed gas-lit streets and modern amenities. Following Mentry’s death in 1900 and depleting oil reserves, the community gradually emptied, becoming abandoned by 1932. Today, you can explore preserved buildings including Mentry’s mansion and the Felton School. The site’s rich history holds more than just abandoned structures.
Key Takeaways
- Mentryville was California’s first oil boomtown, established in 1876 around the successful Pico No. 4 oil well.
- Once home to over 100 families with modern amenities, the town declined after Charles Mentry’s death in 1900.
- By 1932, Mentryville became a ghost town as oil deposits depleted and residents relocated during the Great Depression.
- The site contains preserved structures including Charles Mentry’s mansion and the Felton School building.
- Now managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Mentryville reportedly experiences paranormal activity.
The Birth of California’s First Oil Boomtown
While many know California’s gold rush shaped the state’s early development, it was the discovery of “black gold” that would establish another pivotal chapter in Western industrial history.
Mentryville’s history began in 1876 when French immigrant Charles Mentry, armed with Pennsylvania oil drilling experience, struck success with Pico Number 4—California’s first commercially viable oil well. Unlike earlier attempts by Wiley, Lyon, and Jenkins that lacked technical prowess, Mentry’s expertise transformed the region.
The oil boom that followed wasn’t just extraction—it was infrastructure creation. Mentry built California’s first oil pipeline from Pico Canyon to Newhall, circumventing railroad price gouging.
The California Star Oil Works established the Pioneer Refinery, processing the emerald-green crude into valuable kerosene and benzene. “Pico Camp” quickly grew into a thriving community of over 100 families—America’s westernmost oil boomtown. The town boasted impressive amenities including gas-lit tennis courts and croquet fields for residents’ recreation. Remarkably, Pico Number 4 remained operational until 1990, earning its distinction as the longest-running oil well in the world.
Life in Mentryville During Its Golden Era
As black gold flowed from Pico Number 4, Mentryville transformed from a mere drilling site into a vibrant community with a distinctive character.
By the 1880s, you’d find over 100 families enjoying gas-lit streets and modern amenities uncommon in frontier settlements.
Despite grueling labor conditions—12-hour workdays, seven days a week—residents enjoyed a rich social life.
Life thrived beyond the wellhead, where exhausted workers found connection despite relentless toil.
You could attend Saturday night dances, watch performances by visiting musicians in the social hall, or join community events at the company-built park.
Children swam in Pico Creek while adults competed on tennis courts and croquet pitches.
The Felton School, blacksmith shops, and the Cochem family bakery provided essential services, while residents supplemented their oil incomes by raising livestock—creating a self-sufficient community where fortunes were both made and lost.
Neighbors formed strong bonds and often cared for each other’s families during times of need, exemplifying the tight-knit community spirit of early oil settlements.
The town was founded by Charles Mentry in the 1870s after California’s first commercially successful oil strike in the region.
The Gradual Decline and Abandonment
When Charles Alexander Mentry died in 1900, Mentryville’s golden era came to an abrupt end.
Workers began abandoning the town as the richest oil deposits in Pico Canyon had already been depleted. Economic decline accelerated as promising new oil fields in Ventura and Whittier attracted laborers away, causing rapid population migration. The thriving community that once included a school and bakery gradually disappeared as amenities closed.
The Great Depression of the 1930s delivered another blow to the struggling community. Most residents dismantled their homes, taking materials for scrap or relocating entire structures. The town that once boasted 74 oil wells producing 100,000 barrels annually had dwindled to just a handful of operational sites.
By 1932, Mentryville had transformed into a virtual ghost town, with only head foremen and their families remaining until 1938.
Though oil production continued at a reduced rate, Pico No. 4’s closure in 1990 marked the end of the longest-running oil well in the world at 114 years.
Hollywood’s Hidden Filming Location
When you visit, you’ll notice:
- The façade house built for “Return to Green Acres” (1980), now decaying but once featuring a working faux living room.
- Charles Mentry’s mansion and the schoolhouse, preserved as authentic set pieces.
- Diverse terrain offering filmmakers varied backdrops from historic boomtown to rugged chaparral.
This versatile filming location continues to attract productions seeking authentic historical settings without extensive modification, keeping Mentryville’s legacy alive through the camera lens. Popular television series like The X-Files have utilized Mentryville’s ghost town atmosphere to create compelling scenes. In 1990, the site gained additional historical significance when Pico No. 4, the last operational oil well in the area, was finally capped.
Preservation Efforts and Paranormal Encounters
Following the closure of the oil town, preservation efforts emerged as essential guardians of Mentryville’s rich history. In 1995, Chevron donated the site to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, which now manages the historic buildings including Mentry’s 13-room mansion and the one-room schoolhouse.
You’ll find preservation challenges have been substantial—the 1994 Northridge earthquake, 2003 wildfire, and 2004 flood all damaged key structures. The Pico Cottage was severely damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The town’s decline started much earlier when oil production decreased significantly in the 1930s.
While volunteers and nonprofits like Friends of Mentryville coordinate tours and restoration work, many buildings remain fragile, requiring ranger escorts to visit.
The passion of volunteers keeps Mentryville’s story alive, though its delicate structures still whisper secrets only rangers can safely unlock.
Beyond the visible history, Mentryville harbors darker attractions. Ghostly encounters are frequently reported in the original buildings, with visitors describing unexplained footsteps, disembodied voices, and mysterious handprints appearing in the mansion and red barn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mentryville Accessible for Overnight Camping or Ghost Tours?
You can’t camp overnight at Mentryville. Camping guidelines prohibit this activity, and official ghost tour experiences aren’t currently available. You’ll need to visit during daytime hours only.
What Happened to Charles Mentry’s Descendants After the Town’s Abandonment?
Like guardians of a fading flame, Mentry family descendants continued living in the mansion, sharing descendant stories while restoring the townsite, preserving their heritage despite earthquakes, fires and floods that challenged their stewardship.
Were Any Valuable Artifacts or Oil Equipment Recovered From Mentryville?
You’ll find numerous valuable artifacts were recovered during restoration, including rare Tippecanoe bottles and fine china. Oil equipment recovery included remnants from historic Pico wells and steam-powered rigs from the 1870s.
Did Any Indigenous Communities Occupy the Area Before Oil Discovery?
Like ancient stewards of the land’s resources, you’ll find the Tataviam and Chumash peoples occupied this area for millennia before oil drilling began, harvesting natural petroleum for waterproofing baskets and medicinal purposes—a significant indigenous history.
How Did Mentryville’s Oil Production Compare to Other Early California Wells?
Mentryville’s Pico Number 4 outperformed its competitors during California’s early oil boom, producing continuously for 114 years with superior production techniques including the first pipeline while others quickly failed.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jEAZNJUXnI
- https://wheregalswander.com/mentryville-oil-ghost-town-rich-in-history/
- https://valleyrelicsmuseum.org/general-museum-news/mentryville-remnants-of-valley-history/
- https://www.islands.com/1937427/abandoned-california-mining-ghost-town-outside-los-angeles-mentryville-canyon-once-thriving/
- https://etandoesla.com/11-mentryville-pico-no-4-santa-clarita-los-angeles-history/
- https://ericbrightwell.com/2024/05/29/california-fools-gold-exploring-mentryville/
- https://scvhistory.com/mentryville/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentryville
- https://daydreamunderthestars.com/2021/01/30/mentryville-the-french-oil-boomtown/
- https://scvhistory.com/mentryville/mstory.htm
