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Echo Mountain, amid the 700,000 acres of national forest that is L.A.’s backyard, was once a playground for the well-to-do.
More than a century ago, the barren mountaintop above Altadena was transformed into a resort where the wealthy came to party in a civilized manner, breathe fresh air and immerse themselves in nature all without setting foot on a trail. Some ruins remain, giving modern-day hikers a glimpse of what passed for luxury back in the day.
An incline car approaches Echo Mountain House.
(Los Angeles Public Library)
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The sprawling four-story Echo Mountain House opened in 1894 at the dawn of L.A. s great hiking era, when thousands of Angelenos became enthralled with exploring their wild backyard.