What's with the smiling face on that hill in Simi Valley?

If you live or have spent some time in Simi Valley, I’m sure you’ve driven westbound on the 118 and noticed the big happy face on the hillside. FOX 11’s Hal Eisner takes you back to the origins of the face with the Simi Valley mayor, and the one who created the face -- which started as a prank back in 1998. bit.ly/2NXprje

[@ramonlara2742]

Im 29 and its been around for as long as I can remember but how else remembers the hart that was on the other side?

[@Bella-pz3cx]

ramon lara yup

[@jonmacdonald5345]

ramon lara They should put a Weed leaf on that side now!

[@Dontrolling]

@99.9%ofHumanMalesareWhores doctors prescribe weed guy, it doesn't cause lung cancer.

[@LaFlare.]

ME

[@BonQy]

Remember it used to change from a heart to a star

[@Xazavia]

What happened to the heart that was on the other side

[@jonmacdonald5345]

jS R They should put a pot leaf where the heart was!

[@bytr011]

the heart was pretty nostalgic

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Judge Solomon Fine let's put a Budweiser symbol! now you can call me an Alcoholic right???

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Judge Solomon Drugs are Drugs better stop eating Sugar while you're at it!

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Judge Solomon Stop imposing your Racist imperialist views on to others! you use drugs now fall back with that nonsense! practice what you preach

[@CarmenLopez-oh1hf]

I live in Simi, and whenever I come back, I always see this smiley face

[@Maggie-uq5mj]

Konata Izumi same

[@briixannaaa]

Same

[@igotzucced6829]

Fellow weeb

[@CarmenLopez-oh1hf]

I Got Zucced I’m a weeb and I’m proud of it

[@benknox5876]

Same

[@speakyourtruth7872]

I love this happy face. I like going to Simi and seeing this silly smiling face. It makes me happy. I keep a happy thought when I see it.

[@beatlechick1]

I live in Simi and love seeing that happy face, especially in bad times.

[@felixhb12]

It used to have a heart on the other side x)

[@calvarycustoms6681]

I drive from San Bernardino to Oxnard and back, 3 or 4 times every week. Even when I’m not in the most upbeat mood, coming through the Santa Susana Pass, cresting the Rocky Peak and seeing that happy face always brightens my mood. Thank you, Sonny! 😊 And thanks to Simi Valley for maintaining it! 👍🏼

[@juliagillin-berman7110]

CalvaryCustoms yes! Many thanks!

[@calvarycustoms6681]

Julia Gillin-Berman I drove-through last Friday (12/27), and the whole field was green. Kind of made it harder to see ol’ Smiley.

[@prestonpetty9483]

@@calvarycustoms6681 Yes, it needs some maintenance.

[@MAGNUM05]

I miss Simi Valley, California so much. I lived there from the time I was 3 years old in 1996 to the time where I'm now 27 years old in 2020. I wish I never have to leave my beloved city that I've known for so long. I left Simi Valley just two weeks ago. I now live in Atlanta, Georgia and it's so much different then California. My life has been changed forever.

[@rafaelmartinez733]

It's not the same here no more , crazy people from the valley taking over

[@carl5192]

@@rafaelmartinez733 What crazy people? I was thinking of moving there one day.

[@realbrandonb]

The guy that did this, is without a doubt a great person

[@MrScaryPasta]

Don’t worry. Be happy. 😊 Very true words from a man born and raised in Simi Valley.

[@janethuffman5280]

It's nice to see positive reporting!!!

[@dubyredburn1537]

That has been there for years. I lived in Simi Valley Ca for 54 years. I used to see that every day coming home from work.

[@bigdickpornsuperstar]

In high school we worked on it for the bicentennial and it's been there ever since I first moved into the area back in 1972, so yeah... this guy may have restored it back in the late 90s, but he didn't create it.

[@armyretired8885]

@@bigdickpornsuperstar ive been there since 1955. Born and raised.....remember the bottle house?

[@armyretired8885]

Remember when going to the valley was called going "over the hill"? I remember having to use the Pass road to get to the valley.

[@bigdickpornsuperstar]

@@armyretired8885 ~ I was a child living in Camarillo (in the early 60s) when the 101 freeway ended in Calabasas. Highway 101 was a two lane road. "Going over the hill" had a completely different context.

[@armyretired8885]

@@bigdickpornsuperstar like coming down the 3 mile grade into oxnard?

[@danam.7233]

Woaaaa I used to live in Simi Valley and drive by that smiley face all the time. Sometimes at night it would light up and brighten my mood. I always wanted to say thank you to the person who truly made it. Oh and ya what happened to the heart on the backside. I NEVER expected it to be on the news.

[@cynthiahiebert5023]

Love the smile! Thank you Sonny!

[@sophieh9387]

I moved to Simi Valley in 1991, Smiley face always made me smile; driving home from work up and over rocky peek....

[@shiraziwineco.6683]

My grandma lives in Simi, I live in Virginia, but I come once a year, and everytime were taking the freeway back from L.A.X., and I always see it lol, it’s a great greeting from the place that I used to call home. I get to come back in 3 weeks to stay for a week and am so excited

[@jackiec7069]

It’s funny cause it appeared on my recommendations and I finally know the history after passing by it for years 😂

[@peteandelman7093]

Sonny may have added the smile and eyes but the original circle was created by some dirt bike riders that lived in the housing tract at the bottom of the hill. How do I know? I lived and rode there since 1965 ;-)

[@prestonpetty9483]

Cheers for you Pete! You really got something started :-)

[@relaxflow7587]

Took me 25 years to know the background about it damm.. lol

[@Mr_brut3]

What's crazy is I drove by there 5 days ago and was wondering who did that and why, today I get a recommendation about the happy face 🤣

[@uncle1886]

Google owns our thoughts.

[@DundyMuffs]

The force be with you 🖖

[@amberreeves367]

It’s been there for years!!! The best part of simi!!!!

[@bb0123]

Ohhh thats too cool!!! Ty. Yes i was wondering. 💕💕 congrats Sonny on your world changing for the good. You deserve it. 👍

[@Powurd_]

i live in Simi, off the same off-ramp. Simi is perfectly represented with it. now who wants to team up and get the heart on the other side of the hill looking good again?

[@brandiz5415]

I remember the heart on the opposite side and they both used to light up.

[@anthonycirocco2352]

I remember seeing it as a young kid. That is funny.

[@jaysoddfutr1136]

Love from Simi Valley🤙

[@kronikevin]

For the non locals The Charles Manson caves are just above these hills.

[@dapushaman5819]

Kevin Patri I heard they closed them? Is it true?

[@jimbo0o0o]

Chris S Yeah it’s super close, when he is going by the sign it’s to the left

[@kronikevin]

@@dapushaman5819 The caves might have been, Ive never found the caves just the rock spot he went to. That might be why It was hard to find

[@codycarris627]

lol kevin patri obviously has never been to or thru the manson caves.... this panzy wldnt even go thru it i guarantee . I have tho over 10 times and there no where near the smile. it is right before box canyon , the first right after the cantina. go up about 100 feet and park , then go up the hillside to ur left. follow trail till u see a whole in a rock. or u can go in thru the exit. Yes the manson rock bong is real and still there.

[@kronikevin]

@@codycarris627 yea CODY that's why I said above, as in over looking in elevation. The only pansy in life is you tough guy keyboard warrior.

[@josh26050]

We go to Simi every few years from Ohio to visit family and this is the first thing I look for when we get there!

[@gabrielas3793]

Lol I drive by that happy face everyday

[@gia29]

I saw that every time i drove in simi Valley it make me happy to see it.

[@AndrewGancia]

I love my town!!! #simivalley #ilovesimivalley

[@tianachavez4156]

Same! I'm happy to be back.

[@uziovercarti2119]

I live in Calabasas i see it when i vist my mom makes me happy🤗

[@sergioelizondo8304]

O Legend awwww

[@sofia-dy3qh]

My question is...What about the heart?

[@arandominternetuser4507]

Oof

[@rockhardabs2548]

It has been gone since I have been gone most likely since 19 something because of the earthquake and fires

[@PapaMike99]

Love the story.. Makes me smile

[@johndillinger3988]

It’s like the red , white , and blue “ LA” sign heading westbound on the 60 freeway nearing the 605 on ramp . I believe the city is City of Industry by the Frys Electronics .

[@Vancouversour]

I moved from simi in 99. That smile was around long before that.

[@mikkoo0076]

That Sonny is full of shit

[@a3171-c9z]

For people that are arguing if the face was there before, I'm not from Simi Valley, but if you go on Google earth, the earliest images from the area are from '94, where there is no smiley face, and the next one, 2002, there is. I'm not saying it didn't exist before, but for sure around the time he is claiming it was re-made. Also, the heart is still there, it's just extremely faint and hard to see and grown over (as of 11/2018).

[@enriquehurtado3911]

Beautiful valley simil desde fusagasuga cundinamarca colombia

[@biggus6633]

Anyone else got the recommendation and don’t even live near Simi Valley?

[@uncle1886]

Is northeast Texas near simi? 😂

[@jackiec7069]

Mike Rotch nope simi is in California 😂

[@uncle1886]

Jackie C wooosh eh?

[@SoCalMom100]

I feel like it was there before 1998. We moved to Simi in 1983 and I'm sure I saw it way before '98.

[@olicc]

I moved to simi in 1980 and the face and heart were both already there. So either this story is not accurate or mandella effect.

[@mikkoo0076]

@@olicc that Sonny is full of shit... I moved to Simi in 1977 and grew up with that face on the hill

[@MrJosh5191]

I am a proud southern California guy in the San Fernando valley. Just checking if the face is still there after the fires 😌

[@Jrt804]

Saw it today. Grass around it isn't charred.

[@MrJosh5191]

@@Jrt804 thanks :)

[@NitroDrifter8864]

What about the heart on the other side?

[@tim2230]

it’s still there just more faint

[@luxiously]

When the news guy put his hand on the guy it was a lil weird and cringe

[@PierreCalifornia]

Lmfao LAME BEEN THERE NO ONE IS HAPPY 😂

[@lucreciaolivares7351]

LOVE THA HAPPY GAVE IT REALLY BRING A SMILE....LOVE IT..🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂💕💕💕

[@shelenagibbons9353]

I said the same thing he's lieing cause it's part of history and the heart is missing

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Shelena Gibbons Kick his ass!

[@xaragona1993]

I noticed that too! I live in Simi and I always ask my mom what happened to the heart

[@EyeCeee]

My grandma lives near here and when we visit I always see that smiley

[@melaniegraywolf3823]

Pretty sure I saw that face (minuscule back then) going to High School in the 80's, Simi High, when it was on Cochran St. It was just as big around but not as prominent.

[@kestrelhawkins6078]

I moved away from the area in 1989 and don't remember it from that time. I think the first time I saw it was when I visited family in 2001.

[@zacharycarasco3184]

This has been around for so long!

[@Haffofthesun]

What’s really ironic about all this is my name is Sunny- I was born in 1998… at the Simi Valley hospital… hahaha

[@Furball2k]

I look for it everytime I drive down the 118!

[@PuttinOnTheRiffs]

Grew up in simi and remember happy face hill being there before 1998. I’d guess it pre dates 1997. Maybe as old as 1995

[@JimCTSCLO]

I see that face all the time when heading back north. Nice to know the background.

[@beco4690]

I been seeing that happy face for many years, I Never knew it was pretty important :)

[@Julia-eb6vx]

Because we're Happy here!

[@fonzy7461]

Why is the circle so perfect?

[@ulrichwarthen]

That smile has been there since I was a kid and when people older than me were kids so why is Fox just now posting this video, this ain't news we all know about this

[@goldheartmj2327]

God bless that man!

[@mariaescobedo1900]

Thank you...that happy face make the difference

[@lilwoofer]

You know you’re home when you see happy face mountain

[@ericschmidt1987]

Love that sign

[@notoriouscollector127]

Love our Happy Face Hill ❤️

[@daytriptv655]

I know who remade it! It was my mom’s friend and her son.

[@gracieacosta8598]

Actually no

[@hallinden3942]

That is Red John letting us know what city he lives in

[@jaysoddfutr1136]

I love this

[@oogabooga4498]

I always rememebr seeing it coming back home from vacation! Good know that theres a reason for it! Haha

[@jaex26]

Everytime I go down that slope, I stare at that smiley face every....damn....time :)

[@realf1rme]

Haha wtf out of the Nowhere KZbin recommends me this video I am a truck driver and I always pass through there and I see that smiling face all the time this is actually scary for me that KZbin recommends me this as if it knows that I passed through there all the time

[@OmegaHellHound543]

I see it a lot. I see it every time I go to the Walmart. Now I know where it came from

[@JamieAlemann_]

I'm not crying ur crying 😢☺️☺️♥️♥️

[@tyson6819]

I live right across the Freeway from that😊

[@incrediblesrinkingman293]

There was a peace sign on the back of the hill back in the day too

[@jonmacdonald5345]

Todd Ramey Yeah that's where all the commie hippies would Smoke their dope probably still do!

[@Nathanity]

I see this alot as I live in simi

[@skoolsux903]

Best part of living in Simi

[@Cara710]

Best thing about Simi Valley 😄

[@johnsmith-dh5iz]

Something to smile about after a long hectic night at JHA EV

[@tayler4925]

Great reporter

[@fabriziofabrizio3124]

If a happy face on the hill makes you happy you are weird

[@slowedversion6393]

That’s been there for at least 15+ years maybe more. I’m 22 and have always seen it

[@Gabbs_0.x]

What, no shout out to the heart on the other-side? alright. Lol.

[@jenniferranson8796]

oh my god i can’t believe our city was on the news hahahah

[@alexanders562]

I recall it was a peace sign before a face

[@ruthmccambridge62]

10/31/19 Did the Fires burn The Simi Happy Face?

[@warhorsemma]

Ruth Mccambridge no way,I live there and on Halloween the happy face was still going strong

[@kristinawashington1773]

awesome. Thanks a lot. :D

[@MrJckpttsn]

Welcome to Smiling Valley. I mean Simi Valley.

[@captbeauner5396]

I went by here and its nice :)

[@makaylabell9501]

What's funny is that I live here lmao XD

[@uncle1886]

Why’s that?

[@BonQy]

Same

[@Tony-my3sy]

Yees i would see it every-time we would go see my family in Oxnard lol

[@albertotero7711]

Albert use to see that happy face on his way to oxnard.

[@IamTuxedo]

Its obviously a crop circle 👽😂

[@marcogalvan9011]

I see it every day by my work place CPI ❤

[@tracyjackson2645]

Its a Simi reunion here on KZbin :)

[@disiamtheillusion]

It's a trick cuz once you go over the grade it's poor people til you hit santa barbra

[@kimberlysugia2865]

What about the heart?? I live in simi and it is a happy place☺️

[@milesmayhem5440]

The smiley face was left there by Dr. Manhattan.

[@snake21ab]

Red John?

[@joshakaoger69]

Lol no other stories 🤔 a happy face on a hill...

[@pesetamaya3509]

Way to go captain

[@mikesi299]

Thank you !!! I see it almost daily. It is a part of Simi :-)

[@TheCaptainSplatter]

Needs lights for the circle

[@takenotez808]

Mr. Nice guy