Mysterious doors beneath the Palisades north of California Incline (Santa Monica: earthquake, maintenance)

[Charles]

Originally Posted by irukandji

i live about 6 blocks from there. i'll go take a look (during the day) and report back.

to be clear, should i look north or south of the California Incline? and should i look at the base of the Palisades? or mid-way up? or? any help would be welcome.

i truly hope there are trolls or tiny men in caps and pointed shoes. i love those.

As you are walking down on the right side (east) of the road look to your right. The door is on the east side of the road.

It will be really interesting if you could post a photo. (Let us know if you need help posting photos.)

Thanks

[irukandji]

I just got back from looking at the "door." it is there. however, it is cemented shut. it is a tiny door, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was meant for little people. it is not north of the incline. it is ON the incline about 3/4 of the way down. it is between the pedestrian stairway (that connects the Palisades with the beach) and the traffic light at the bottom of the incline.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by irukandji

I just got back from looking at the "door." it is there. however, it is cemented shut. it is a tiny door, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was meant for little people. it is not north of the incline. it is ON the incline about 3/4 of the way down. it is between the pedestrian stairway (that connects the Palisades with the beach) and the traffic light at the bottom of the incline.

Yes, you are 100% correct. I was just going to post precisely what you wrote but you beat me to it. I was just there at the door last night around 630PM. (Vent: From Long Beach took 2:10 to get to Calabasas: Lakewood Blvd, 91, 110, 10, PCH, Malibu Canyon). I do remember doors north of the incline but I haven't seen them in many years. The only door I have seen recently is the one you just mentioned.

I brought my camera to snap a photo but I was in killer traffic and I slowed to shoot it and my camera took too long to focus in the dark. I missed the opportunity. Bummer. I'll be in LA again in a month. Probably head to the Santa Monica mall there and try a photo again, in the daylight.

[irukandji]

i hate to admit this, but i do not have a working camera. i want a digital SLR and have saved enough money for one, but have not got around to purchasing it. if i had one, i would snap a picture. the tiny door is literally less than a 1/2 mile from where i live. but i am without the means to capture it. sorry.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by irukandji

i hate to admit this, but i do not have a working camera. i want a digital SLR

I have a Nikon D50 SLR. Excellent camera. Highly recommend it. Never a bad picture. Batteries last forever even with many flash photos.

[ultide]

Originally Posted by Charles

As you are walking down on the right side (east) of the road look to your right. The door is on the east side of the road.

It will be really interesting if you could post a photo. (Let us know if you need help posting photos.)

Thanks

I grew up in the Malibu-Santa Monica area and those doors were an attempt at drainage in the hillside. What used to be really interesting was the fossil of a clam embedded in the hill at Temescal Canyon. I always wondered who harvested that. It disappeared in the 70's.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by ultide

I grew up in the Malibu-Santa Monica area and those doors were an attempt at drainage in the hillside. What used to be really interesting was the fossil of a clam embedded in the hill at Temescal Canyon. I always wondered who harvested that. It disappeared in the 70's.

Wow. Someone finally has info on this. So, behind the doors were utility pipes for drainage or something? This is as good an explanation that I have ever read or heard. Thanks.

[Lovehound]

Actually I recall seeing these doors many years ago. I assumed they had something to do with inspection hatches to check inside some of the cement works that hold up the bluff from collapsing. However I don't know for sure, but I really do recall seeing them. I haven't been there in a dozen or more years now.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I've just been watching this thread out of curiosity but one has to wonder why they would be cemented shut at this time. What ever their purpose was, why would they now be inaccessible?

[irukandji]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I've just been watching this thread out of curiosity but one has to wonder why they would be cemented shut at this time. What ever their purpose was, why would they now be inaccessible?

...to keep people from sleeping inside. The only people who would want entrance to that little hidey hole would be the homeless or someone wanting to keep out of sight. Whatever the motivation, the City does not want to have to police it, so they cemented it shut.