The Hertz family has a long history at Paramount Ranch. After the film studio abandoned the movie ranch at the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age, David’s grandfather and father built Western Town with Paramount’s old prop storage sheds and a lot of imagination. The set has since been the site of many beloved films and series, most recently HBO’s Westworld.

Western Town at Paramount Ranch, part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, was destroyed during the 2018 Woolsey Fire. The immolation of this historic locale is a loss, not only for the movie industry, but the thousands of people who visited the ranch and wrote their own stories there too.

SEA is continuing the Hertz family tradition by assisting the fire rebuild of Western Town through architectural and administrative support. The new incarnation the ranch will be a more resilient destination with greater facilities for the public and film crews alike. Resurrecting this storied place is a community effort; please visit Santa Monica Mountains Fund to donate and find out how to get involved.