Treasure of the Santa Monica Mountains

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ROYALTY- Above left, Maddy Freeman and her grandmother, Frances Freeman, frolic at the newly opened King Gillette Ranch. Left, a magnolia tree blossom unfolds in the afternoon sun. Above, a pond in front of the Gillette mansion, designed by Wallace Neff, is home to King, a local swan, and other wildlife. Summer programs are now underway at King Gillette Ranch, formerly Soka University, near Calabasas.

Originally the estate of razor magnate King C. Gillette, the property is rich with natural beauty and vestiges of California's golden past.

Under the jurisdiction of The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, the 588-acre park is open to visitors.

For information call (310) 454-1395, ext. 106 or visit the website www.LAMountains.com.