Spahn Ranch was a movie ranch located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California. Originally used as a filming location for Western films and television shows, the property operated as a working ranch for the entertainment industry throughout the mid-20th century. It was owned by George Spahn, who rented out parts of the land to film production companies.
In the late 1960s, the ranch gained notoriety as the temporary residence of Charles Manson and his followers, later known as the Manson Family. During this period, from approximately 1968 to 1969, the group lived on the premises under informal arrangements with the elderly and partially blind owner. The site became indirectly associated with the Manson Family's criminal activities, including the infamous Tate–LaBianca murders in August 1969, although the crimes did not occur at the ranch itself.
Following increased media scrutiny and law enforcement investigations, the Manson Family was removed from the property. The ranch eventually ceased operations and was abandoned. Over the years, the site fell into disrepair and was ultimately destroyed by fire in the 1970s. Today, the original Spahn Ranch no longer exists, and the area has been redeveloped.
The name "Spahn Ranch" has since been referenced in various cultural contexts, including music, literature, and film, often evoking associations with the Manson Family and the broader cultural shifts of the 1960s.