Ken Lafler: The Peter Strauss Ranch, and Lake Enchanto, Malibu, By Kenneth Lafler.

Photography and Article

Kenneth Lafler.

The Strauss Ranch is located in Malibu, California. Once the home of Peter Strauss, the property was purchased in 1976. The Ranch was originally called,"Lake Enchanto"and was a resort at one time.

The ranch has a huge swimming pool with a small island in the middle which may still be viewed. During the summer months a band would play on the island. This was in the 1920's so mostly the band played swing music. This was also during prohibition so a large tower was constructed on the ranch a as look out for the police , liquor being available there most of the time.

The ranch also had a small metal dam to keep in the lake on the property. Some of the shots in this article are of what remains of the dam, the other's are from Google.

The dam was only about 10 to 15 feet high and was washed out in 1969 during a heavy period of rain. The more interesting dam is only about a mile away.

This would be the Rindge Dam. Built by the Rindge family in the 1920's the dam silted in just a few years rendering it useless. Today people use the dam to bungie jump from the structure which is actually quite dangerous.

The Strauss Ranch Dam was located about a quarter mile from the parking lot. The ranch was originally inhabited by the Chumash Indians for about 8,000 years. After the Spainish Conquest the ranch was named "Rancho Las Virgines" in 1850's, being part of a large land grant from Spain.

In the 1930's a man named Warren Shotbert purchased the ranch and renamed it "Shosen" and built the swimming pool and lake. He also built the dam. The ranch was a popular resort for a while but finally closed in the 1960's.