Historic Newcomb’s Ranch Roadhouse in Angeles National Forest Is Up For Sale

Ever pass by the busy roadhouse along Angeles Crest Highway and wonder what it would be like to own it? This is the chance for anyone willing to fork over $8.5 million to take stewardship of this historic property, which first opened in 1939. Over the years it’s become quite a complex with a cabin for staff, main building with a full restaurant space, two bars, and retail, plus six guest rooms and two bathrooms. The former restaurant, hotel, gas station, and brothel was a major stop for travelers going through Angeles National Forest and has been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

To this day, it remains the only privately-owned land along Angeles Crest Highway and technically has an address in the city of La Canada Flintridge almost 27 miles down the mountain. In recent years, car and motorcycle enthusiasts have gathered here as a stop along the highway’s curving roads in search of drinks and burgers. Previous owner Fred Rundall (who died in 2019) instituted some major changes to the restaurant in 2016, such as a $1 water charge and 18 percent service fee to help mitigate increasing costs. Anyone interested in the property can check out the brochure here and put in an offer.

In other news:

• Cinque Terre West operators Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni and Marlo Vinzono are about to open a new wine bar called Enoteca 5 in Pacific Palisades with 100 kinds of California and Italian wines, plus bites like charcuterie, pizzettes, and cheeses. Opening should be some time in July. [LA Times]
• Vegan sports bar Put Me In Coach has opened in the former Hinterhof space in Highland Park with hours from 4 p.m. to midnight from Tuesday to Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on weekends, according to Time Out LA.
• ABC-7 has a nice feature on the company behind Tapatio, which produces the iconic hot sauce in Maywood. The family-run business just celebrated its 50-year anniversary, starting with a five ounce bottle.
• Hermosa Beach will extend outdoor dining until the end of the year, according to the Daily Breeze.
• Echo Park’s Ototo is reopening for service tonight with a new sake list, new menu, and hours from 5 to 10 p.m.
• A herd of cattle must have been a sight to see roaming around Pico Rivera on Thursday morning. The cows escaped from Manning Beef, a slaughterhouse in the city. With TV news and social media capturing the incident, people were hoping the cattle would run to freedom. One cow had to be killed. [LA Times]
• Jennifer Pennifer Bakes is leaving its current location on National Blvd in Palms, but plans to reopen in another location only a mile away, though the reopening won’t take place until early 2022: