Old Trapper's Lodge: Kitschy Folk Art with a Nod to Knott's Berry Farm

[robertpaulsen]

In the interior of Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California, there is a fascinating collection of statues, fake tombstones and other examples of folk art.  These are what remain of Old Trapper’s Lodge. It was created by John Ehn (1897-1981), who was a trapper before moving to California, who opened a motel near the Burbank airport at Arvilla Avenue and San Fernando Road called the Old Trapper’s Lodge in 1941.  To attract business, this self-taught artist (according to unverified sources, he learned by watching Knott’s Berry Farm artist Claude Bell, who went on to build the Cabazon dinosaurs featured in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, and supposedly after hiring Bell to build the initial sculpture, Ehn built the rest himself) in 1951 began creating sculptures using family members as models. 

Though some of the sculptures may not seem very racially or culturally sensitive now, they do reflect the culture of the 50s as far as the TV perspective of the Old West and the tall tales they propagated. 

[pansypoo53219]

1. milwaukee had mary nohl.

[robertpaulsen]

3. Was Mark Nohl a photographer?

I found this link for his work:

http://www.photogenesisgallery.com/photos_contact.php?photographerid=4

[pinboy3niner]

2. I don't remember the Lodge, but it was just down the road from my dad's work

My mom also attended Pierce, but I never explored the campus so I guess I'm full of missed opportunities.

[robertpaulsen]

4. Well, it's a pretty difficult place to find.

We drove around for about 10 minutes before we finally found it. If you're ever in the area again, it's worth checking out!