Historic Will Rogers Home Destroyed in Devastating Palisades Fire

The historic home of the late actor Will Rogers was lost in the Los Angeles fires.

As the fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, one of several wildfires ravaging Southern California, spans 17,000 acres, exacerbated by hurricane-like winds, more than 2,000 structures burned in its wake. And those missing in the devastation include American vaudeville performer's 31-room ranch, among other historic buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park.

“California State Parks is mourning the loss of these valuable natural and cultural resources, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area,” said California State Parks Director California. Armando Quintero said in a Released January 8. “As of yesterday afternoon, we are devoting all available resources to emergency response efforts and working to secure and protect impacted nearby state parks as much as possible.”

Rogers was one of the most popular actors of the mid-1930s after his vaudeville performances catapulted him to stardom. He later became known as a radio personality, movie star and aviation enthusiast. And the Hollywood icon – who died in a plane crash in 1935 at the age of 55 – had come to build a ranch that spanned 359 acres in Pacific Palisades, consisting of a huge ranch house, trails equestrian, stables and even a golf course.