Lost Landmarks of Orange County - by Chris Epting (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Since forming in 1889, Orange County, California has become famous all over the world for being home to such popular attractions as Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. But there are also many other places that helped establish the county as not just a popular tourist destination, but also home to countless cultural landmarks that served the local communities for generations.

Stretching across the 34 cities that comprise "The OC," Lost Landmarks of Orange County brings back fabulous memories of music venues, restaurants, theaters, theme parks, attractions, and more.

Everybody knows the aforementioned Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but Orange County was also home to Lion Country Safari, the California Alligator Farm, the Buffalo Ranch, Japanese Village and Deer Park, Movieland Wax Museum, the Orange County International Raceway, and many other large-scale attractions.

Concert venues including the Golden Bear, Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, and the Cuckoo's Nest all featured some of the biggest names in rock and roll and popular music. Tiki bars, airports, drive-in movie theaters, themed restaurants . . . these were the places where generations of OC natives and visitors from around the world created memories that would last a lifetime.

Today, all of these locations are gone, but utilizing firsthand accounts, rare photos, artifacts, and other resources, Lost Landmarks of Orange County keeps the colorful memories of Orange County's past alive.

Review Quotes

"Complete with rare photos, the book is both a love letter to O.C. and a guide of sorts to beloved and curious places that no longer exist. Epting recalls former theme parks such as Newport Beach's Buffalo Ranch; theaters like Orange's Cinedome; restaurants such as Karam's on Balboa Island; and even racetracks like the Orange County International Raceway."--Westways magazine

"A gem of a book about the forgotten gems of the OC. Lost Landmarks of Orange County recalls the days when alligators, buffalo, movie stars (in wax), and rock stars (in progress) dotted the landscape all across the area from Brea to San Clemente. . . . Epting's writing (and research) is engaging and far-reaching; his prose is composed with a twinkle in his eye. For those who might think of the OC as a bland land of pink stucco condos and never-ending freeways, here is the antidote to point out that Orange County has long had its quirky corners."--Orange County Tribune