Owl Falls

I had no idea this was here.

For all the time we've lived in Topanga, we've driven past the property where Amerigas, a bottled propane vendor, had an office building. It's right across the street from the lumber yard. The stone cliffs rise behind it and shelter the place where it's flat enough to store some tanks and trucks beyond a chain link fence.

Sure, in spring I'd notice that a stream of run-off water poured down the cliffs into a culvert below, but I never thought anything of it.

When Amerigas closed down, the property was bought by Jalan Jalan Imports, a business that imports decorative art from Indonesia and the South Pacific. They clearly had plans to improve the property - over the last month or so we've watched the chain link come down and a decorative iron fence go up; we've watched huge sandstone Buddha heads off-loaded on pallets, and a redwood gazebo go up.

This weekend, the place opened for business. The store and outdoor displays of statuary and fountains were open, and a musician played from the gazebo. A food stand sold vegan Indonesian treats.

But what was a huge surprise to me was the back of the property, where the water ran off the cliffs. I had no idea it was even here.

This is Topanga's Owl Falls. The water is the right height for wading. There are stones to sit on. You can climb around the side and walk beneath the falls themselves.

What's even more amazing is what you see when you step back a bit. This native California sycamore tree curves over, like an archway that opens onto a cool oasis.

The proprietors plan to offer the site as an event space, as well as a beautiful location to shop for imported garden artifacts.

Aren't we Topangans lucky to have this given back to us, after all those years hiding away behind Amerigas?