COLBY RANCH | HIDDEN GEM OF THE SAN GABRIEL | 4K

Date: May 25-26, 2024
Colby Camp And Retreat Center
Colby Ranch
23828 Colby Ranch Road
Palmdale, Calif 93550
In the hidden canyon nestled under the granite cliffs of Strawberry Peak lies the Colby Ranch. This historic homestead was once the hospitable home of Delos Colby, wife Lillie and daughter Nellie. Delos Colby started squatting in the canyon while prospecting for gold in 1891. He brought his family here and built a ranch that was carved from the mountain wilderness. In 1895, he built a two-story house of stone, logs and cedar shingles. They moved in the following year. Delos Colby was an adventurous man. When he heard about the Klondike gold strike, he left for Alaska and gone for two years. His only daughter Nellie married a young chap from Los Angeles but left for Spanish-American War a few months later. It was 1907 when Delos finally obtained his homestead certificate. In a tragic event, Nellie become ill from throat cancer and she died in 1914. One of his suitors by the name of Joseph "Joe" Argay promised Nellie to remain in the ranch and help take care of her parents. In 1918, Delos Colby died of stomach illness and was laid to rest alongside his daughter in a plot between the cabins and the woodlot. His wife Lillie lingered on for almost another decade feeling distraught and seemed to lose all desire to live. A couple of days before Christmas in 1927, Lillie (or Ma Colby) doused her house with kerosene, locked herself in and set the house on fire and shot herself. She was buried closed to her family, now an unknown location. It is to believed that the graveyard was moved to another location.
Through the years, the ownership change hands until 1945 when the old ranch was bought by the Southern California-Arizona Conference of the Methodist Church for the purpose of spiritual retreat like it is today. There is a rumor that the camp is up for sale. There is no confirmation to this effect. It is closed to public and the last recorded activity in the Colby Camp was November 2019.
If ever anyone of you would be able to visit the ranch, please leave the place as it is.. in a preserved state. The Colby Camp is such a gem in the San Gabriels.
Disclaimer: Some materials used in this video does not intend copyright infringement. It is primarily for educational purposes.
Thanks to Mr. Joey Vanoni for the invitation.
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Camera: Sony Alpha 6400
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Lens: Sigma 16mm f1.4
Music: Epidemic Sound

[@20robertang]

Please read the description for additional details.

[@PHARRAOH]

amazing how, THIS, right here, is how we ALL met. cheers my friend. Another one form the books

[@20robertang]

Well, thanks to you Alan.. you brought so many people together. You’re a pillar to this backpacking community of San Gabriel.

[@PHARRAOH]

@@20robertang cheers, thank you

[@davidb7699]

Killer video like always,,,I use to fish the creek back in the 80s when they stocked it,,,lots of rainbows …and some killer Hiking Trails back behind the ranch,,,love it up there

[@20robertang]

Thanks, David! I bet this place was once an important destination in the San Gabriel. Swimming pool would be great during the summer. Some of us tried fishing but nothing and our friend David tried to hike to Strawberry Peak from there but so overgrown. Nevertheless, a great place to retreat.

[@BrosephRussell]

WOW What a cool 😎 place thanks for the tour and the good times

[@20robertang]

You’re welcome, Broseph! Yeah, I was so excited upon learning that we can pay a visit to this ranch. Pretty interesting place.. 👍

[@crystaldunnfit]

Had a good time with all of you. Can’t wait to do it again and your food was AWESOME

[@20robertang]

Thanks, Crystal! Great meeting you out there and seeing Dan again after 8 long years.

[@davidfeiler1279]

That was a short but sweet trip. Thanks for documenting it. Tagay!

[@20robertang]

I was thinking the same, I wish I can stay more or better yet go back in summer and enjoy the pool. Tagay!

[@potatothorn]

wow wild story about the ranch origins// really cool it is in such great condition, thanks for showing us around

[@20robertang]

Super interesting place. Did you know that the daughter of Delos Colby, Nellie had a husband but when asked by her parents to stay and take care of her while she was ill.. he declined and was never seen again. Turned out, the father Delos shot him between the eye and buried him inside the ranch. Skeleton was found while digging the area for farming years after Delos have died.

[@potatothorn]

@@20robertang wow that is some real wild west stuff

[@markmutti]

Whoa! I’d wondered what that place looked like for years. Looks like a beautiful spot. Thank you for sharing

[@20robertang]

Same here. I’ve been passing thru the area and always curious how it look like. Now we know. But we have not enough time to explore the secrets of this place..

[@markmutti]

@@20robertang It's one heck of a compound! Awesome that you were able to give us a look

[@20robertang]

@@markmutti There’s more to explore but not enough time.. I am really hoping that I can go back one more time.. 👍

[@jimerhard4239]

That place is loaded with forgotten memories. Places like that are super interesting. Have you heard of the Murphy ranch? It's so cool how you made a meal that reminds you of your grandfather. You are a cool dude! Tagay!!

[@20robertang]

It was open and functioning not too long ago but seemed abandon place already. No idea about the Murphy ranch. Very few occasion that I make that meal, which I learned from my mom while we were still living with my Chinese grandpa. I’m trying to pass it on to my kids but no one seemed interested. Tagay!

[@earthhorse5127]

It was great spending Memorial weekend camping with friends. Always love the history associated with the places we visit. Cheers to making memories!

[@20robertang]

I’m glad I went, I’d have missed this great spot.. learned a lot. I still remember that salmon, yum!

[@danpayan9468]

Place was awesome in its hay day kinda spooky would need slot of renovation

[@20robertang]

Yeah, I did some extended research on this place and found out the it was busy not only during summer.. all year round. So many young kids and adults spent their retreat in this ranch.

[@devlyndarkly]

That was great fun with all of you! It was wonderful to learn about the history of the camp. Great video!

[@20robertang]

Thanks, Jen! What a lovely place for retreat, I wish I could go back there in the summer and enjoy the pool. Your jammin’ was pretty cool! 🎸

[@redwhiteblue7831]

Great video... well put together and narrated. Had a blast seeing everyone. Colby Ranch is definitely a bitchen place to have been able to visit. Thank you for sharing. Take care Robert... 5mm 🇺🇲

[@20robertang]

Thanks, Jason! The exploration is the bonus, the best part was at camp especially around the fire, and while cooking. Amazing group as always.

[@82powpow]

came here for a 6 grade field trip for a week

[@20robertang]

Awesome! Hopefully they will open it again..

[@dragonlo6514]

Manong, I just heard we need another pass besides the Adventure pass to park at Vincents Gap. I'm usually there for Badebn Powell and the mine and already have an annual pass. Is this the case now?

[@20robertang]

Unfortunately, that’s what I’ve read in the website. It seems true, but that’s some BS! It’s still part of ANF and we have the Adventure Pass already so it should be good enough. Never been back to VG so I still have to find out.

[@dragonlo6514]

@@20robertang I've been told if you park about 1/2 mile away adventure pass works no need to get robbed

[@AngryNotSoOldHippy]

You have an unsafe fire on ground that has not been cleared of combustibles.

[@20robertang]

Thanks for the comment. We cleared all of the litters on the ground. When we got there, the trash bin in that volleyball court was with trash left behind by the people before us including the fire ring. But those were put away properly, packed out all our trash because it’s required by the care taker.