Lyon Canyon, Santa Clarita, California
Looking a little south of west in Lyon Canyon. In the distant middle right on the road you can see the supports for the drawbridge from the movie Nothing But Trouble. (Photo taken on 10/6/2013)
Lyon (and not Lyons) Canyon is located north of Towsley Canyon, east of Dewitt Canyon, south of Pico Canyon, and west of Interstate 5. In 1880, Sanford Lyon purchased land at the mouth of the canyon from the government. Eventually, the canyon became Lyon Canyon. The early history consists mainly of ranching and agricultural uses. In recent times, the canyon was used for filming, such as the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. The oil history for the canyon doesn't start until 1922 and, of the nine wells drilled, only three found oil.
Unlike the other canyons, Lyon Canyon is fairly open. Since it is private property, it is fenced off from the Old Road. However, it can be accessed from the trail beginning at the Taylor Open Space parking lot, which is just north of the Towsley/Wiley Canyon parking lot.
Since about 2002, Lyon Canyon has been under threat by the Lyons Canyon Ranch housing project. In 2009, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the project (the canyon is not in the City of Santa Clarita). The project was evidently put on hold for many years, until recently, when the developer asked for an extension. In January of 2017. the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning gave the developer a one-year time extension to proceed with their plans.
On September 23, 2014, the Santa Clarita City Council voted to purchase property between Lyon Canyon and the project. Escrow closed on that in late October and the dedication occured on December 3, 2014. It was named the "Taylor Open Space" after the family who had owned it.
Dukes of Hazzard: At the Boar's Nest (1983) .........Lyon Canyon: After the 2016 Sage fire