Rogers’ House a Chatsworth Landmark

The legend of the King of Cowboys lives on in the rocky crags of the hills here.

Even though Roy Rogers moved from the San Fernando Valley more than three decades ago, his mark is still visible, particularly at the sprawling pink ranch house at the top of Trigger Street.

Once a 300-acre ranch, most of the property is now developed with luxury custom homes, many with commanding views of the Valley below. But the huge rocks that dot the Chatsworth hills--familiar backdrops in countless western movies--still decorate the landscape.

One of the rocks, over which gushes a waterfall seen in many of Rogers’ films, is in the backyard of his former home. A deck is now built on top, offering a full panorama.

Jerry Farris, a vitamin manufacturer who purchased the house three years ago, on Monday offered a tour of his renovation work to neighbors Elliot and Patricia Mininberg as they reminisced about the famous former occupants.

Rogers and Dale Evans greatly expanded the house when they lived there from the mid-1950s to 1965. An avid hunter and co-owner of a nearby skeet club and shooting range, Rogers built one room of the house for use as a meat locker.

A giant recreation room added by the couple overlooks a pool and spa. Embedded into petrified wood surrounding a fireplace are spurs, horse shoes, bridle bits and other equestrian tack. Still visible in the terrazzo tile floor are the fading initials of Dale Evans, Roy Rogers and six of their children.

Virginia Watson, volunteer curator of the Chatsworth Historical Society, said the deeply religious Rogers often entertained teens from the local church at the house, and the recreation room was the gathering place.

“This was the queen’s bedroom,” said Patricia Mininberg as she walked into the original master bedroom. Down the hall is a massive master bedroom, with large his and hers closets built by Rogers and Evans for their large wardrobe of western outfits.

“I’ve tried to keep everything pretty much original,” said Farris, pointing out the pink tile in the master bathroom--a popular decor in the ‘50s.

Farris said he only recently discovered a wine cellar because the house was in extensive disrepair when he purchased it. The landscaping on the almost five-acre parcel has been restored, with weed-choked fields sculpted into colorful, meadow-like gardens.

*

After they lost a child in a bus accident on a church outing--their third child to die--the couple in 1965 sold the property, saying it held too many sad memories for them.

“They were very happy in Chatsworth and were very much a part of the community,” Watson said, pointing out that Rogers donated funds to start a drive to move the Pioneer Church from its original location to Oakwood Memorial Park, where Roy Rogers’ parents are buried. The Rogers-Evans team last appeared in Chatsworth a year ago for the dedication of the Chatsworth Rail Station, singing “Happy Trails to You.”

The ranch was purchased by Eugene D. Kilmer--an industrialist, Valley real estate developer and father of actor Val Kilmer--who died in 1993 in dire financial straits following the real estate downturn during the recession. The senior Kilmer’s wife, Senga, continued to live in the house but closed off all but a small portion because of her inability to care for it, Farris said.

Farris said portions of the roof and ceilings had collapsed from lack of repair. Two weeks ago, he hosted a family reunion at the ranch. More than 70 people came, including one of Roy Rogers’ daughters and her children, who came to pay tribute to the restoration work.

Patricia Mininberg, 60, said her husband called her Monday to tell her the news of Rogers’ death. “I cried a whole bunch of tears,” she said. “He was part of my childhood--the war and the man in the white hat.”

On Monday, she pointed out the birdbath in her rose garden that came from Rogers’ ranch. “There’s history here,” she said.