The Tate-LaBianca Homicide Research Blog

Wavy's Hog Farm - Submitted by Lynn!

Lynn writes: "Here is an article about the Hog Farm".

http://www.arthurmag.com/2007/07/31/communes-in-sunland-ca-past-lives-of-new-yorker-art-critics/

"In the comments, you will find information on how to access the trails leading up to the Hog Farm.  I believe the house is still standing- the hillsides around it were engulfed in flames during the Station Fire in 2009.  The photos I found were actually more of the hillside (charred remains) than of the house.  I did however, locate this photo which was taken during the fires". 

Lynn continues: "Sunland-Tujunga is a funky little community.  It is an interesting area, considering it borders Burbank which houses many of the movie/TV studios and yet, it seems so far removed from the surrounding cities.  Tujunga is sort of Topanga without all of the money...folks with the same ideals, grass roots politics etc.  It is in the farthest corner of Los Angeles, nestled in the foothills of the mountains.  The community started out as a utopian society/commune.  It has never lost its character.  It is home to artists, bikers, former hippies and horse farms.  It once upon a time also had issues with drug dealers/meth labs.  Currently, Sunland-Tujunga serves as the community of Charming, in Sons of Anarchy.  Here is some info on the Hog Farm and Sunland/Tujunga aka "the rock".

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The farm, as Romney suggests, is more than a summer camp for misfits. It is a thriving spiritual community, an experiment in utopian living. You get the idea when you attend the highpoint (literally) of the Hog Farm day, just before bedtime in the cantonment’s biggest dome. Shrouded in parachute silk and brightly lighted, the dome can be seen for miles on a smogless night. You can only guess at what the citizens of Sunland-Tujunga imagine is possibly going on inside.  What is going on is this:

Inside the dome 30-odd men, women and children, lotus-squating, clad in an assortment of strange clothes. Eyes closed, hands clasped in two concentric circles, they are humming in unison...”Om.” “Om” is a loud resonant, brain-buzzing sound made by vibrating air in the sinuses. The choral hum is punctuated by improvisatory moans, pants, and clucks, it dissolves into an athletic chant: “HOG-HOG-HOG-HOG-HOG-HOG-HOG!” Then someone in a Donald Duck jersey stands and gently raises everyone, like a circle of dominoes in reverse. Climax! All fall down. “The Circle Joke” is over, and the Hog Farmers, spent and blissful, break the circle and retire to their sleeping bags for the night.

Avante Garde Magazine, Issue 5, by Peter Schjeldahl

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 A blogger gives directions to the Hog farm:

Jeff W, Wed Nov 17, 2010 at 09:50:16 PM

 

There were a couple of ways to get there.

1) you’d drive up into Riverwood Ranch on the other side of the wash at the base of Oro Vista before you drive into Big Tujunga. Anyhow, you continue on Oro Vista into Riverwood Ranch,turn L on Doane Cyn Rd., L again on Eby Cyn Rd, R on Doane Eby, and then a fairly quick left onto Dody Rd., heading into the foothills. You’ll come upon a house standing by itself. Doesn’t look to be the original house necessarily, but I’m sure that old house was incorporated into the footprint.

The other way to reach it was to go out Foothill Bl, heading towards Lake View Terrace . . . , cross over the second bridge, and turn right at the first opportunity, W.Connover St. which spills you onto a dirt road and within a couple of minutes you are on fire roads heading up into the hills. I wouldn’t know if the roads are still open . . . they were open or closed over the years based on the whims of the County. It wouldn’t be surprising if the place were still being used . . . As a matter of fact, I looked at google maps, and I see the house there.  The hillside has been terraced around it. I fished for an address and google offer up 9401 Tujunga Valley St. 91342. Since I know Tujunga Valley St is a little dead end street at the edge of the wash . . .I’m assuming the house address is linked to a mail box at the bottom of the road. The house is actually on Dody Rd. Go on Zillow.com to get a fairly decent picture of it. 

Jeff Warrender . . .S/T born and bred. 

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Lynn continues: "Almost as interesting as the Hog Farm, is the Verdugo Hills Cemetery. I have included a link here".

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7RH7_Verdugo_Hills_Cemetery_Tujunga_CA

"The Satanic rituals that they are talking about involved students from a local high school, who broke into the cemetery and were propping up dead bodies, putting cigarettes in the deceased mouth and having their pictures taken with them. The students were eventually caught".

Thanks Lynn!  You're Awesome!