Malibou Lake Mountain Club to celebrate 85th anniversary
Public invited to all-day event
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The 85th anniversary of the Malibou Lake Mountain Club will be a public affair, celebrated in style with an all-day event focusing on the history, mysteries and lore of the small lakeside community.

The educational event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., March 10 at the club, 29033 Lake Vista Drive, in the unincorporated area of Agoura known as Malibou Lake.

The day will kick off with a Chumash opening ceremony and a Native American exhibit, said Nan Kane, the event's organizer.

Ruth Kilday, director of the Mountains Conservancy Foundation and the Malibu Lagoon/ Adamson House, will discuss the area's settlement by natives of Spain and Mexico and present a vivid picture of life as a pioneer of the Santa Monica Mountains.

The allure and hint of mystery surrounding Malibu's May Knight Rindge and her Malibu tiles will also be examined. Rindge was an early Malibu resident who, with her husband, Frederick Hastings Rindge, owned 17,000 acres in the area that was once known as Rancho Malibu.

Frederick Rindge died in 1905, but May Rindge went on to build the Rindge Dam and influence the development of Malibu.

Christi Walden, a board director of the Malibu Lagoon/ Adamson House, will bring the Rindges' family history to light and talk about the artistry of Malibu Potteries' tiles.

Patti Colman, a professor at Moorpark College, will present information on John Ballard, Agoura's first African American homesteader.

National Park Service volunteer Mike Malone is scheduled to discuss Malibou Lake's rich film history during his "Movies in the Mountains" presentation.

Former Malibou Lake resident Brian Rooney will discuss the research he did when writing the book, "Three Magical Miles." The book chronicles the history of the area and how it became a sought-after spot for film producers and directors and the backdrop for myriad classic films.

Kathy Owen and Mike Rupp, longtime Malibou Lake residents, will speak on Malibou Lake's past and inform visitors about the lakeside community's present-day joys and challenges.

Several exhibits are planned. "A Juried Art and Photography Show" will feature the work of regional artists, focused on Santa Monica Mountains landscapes and wildlife. The Calabasas Library and Historical Society will keep children busy with a science activity center, and several environmental groups will be on hand to offer information.

"Exhibitors will distribute material relevant to every resident of our area," Kane said. The list of exhibitors includes the Mountains Restoration Trust, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Calabasas Library and Historical Society, Malibu Creek Watershed Advisory Council, Topanga Historical Society and Cornell Preservation Organization.

Malibou Lake's 1940s "poker room" will house a restored mural of the lake for all to see.

Kane created an 85th anniversary yearbook of the Malibou Lake Mountain Club, detailing the area's history through timelines, personal stories from residents, photographs and children's poetry. The yearbook will be on sale for $25.

A members-only dinner gala will be held at the club during the evening.

The event is free of charge and open to the public. For further information, call Kane at (818) 706-7606.