Popular Stallion Springs viewing bench removed
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Nick Smirnoff (NPPA)
Chuck Mc Collough and friend Jim Keller pose for a photo opportunity with the bench. On a happy note the bench will live on as it is destined for the backyard of Chuck and Lorraine's daughter, who lives along the Central Coast.
The well known viewing bench on Tejon Drive in Stallion Springs was removed on July 13 because of high fire danger from the unprecedented weed growth and concerns about liability. A private property/no trespassing sign at the path to the bench has been torn off the chain twice by persons with no regard for private property. With the property clearly posted, the Stallion Springs Police are ready to arrest trespassers. This includes people going to the big rocks down slope on the same property.
Over its 21-year existence untold numbers of people have enjoyed the gorgeous views. Families have come with children to have the young ones gain an appreciation of nature. A number of romances may have bloomed in such an inspiring setting. A dressed up bride-to-be and her court had her engagement photos taken here.
Then there are those who came to drink, smoke, and party. Their cans and bottles would be tossed down the steep slope, and cigarette butts and other trash all left for the owner to clean up.
The bench has seen tragedy. On Father's Day, 2010 a NASA flight test engineer was killed on impact when his light plane flew into the steep hillside 40 feet from the bench. He and his wife had both just retired, and he was returning from a flight to Santa Barbara to look at possibilities for their new dream home. It probably seemed like tragedy on a fourth of July for some girls who were fined $3,300 by the fire department for launching bottle rockets from the bench into the canyon below. A short time later the bench was ripped off its support posts and rolled down the steep slope out of sight. A Stallion Springs fireman and his engineer kindly rolled it back up and re-attached it.
Nick Smirnoff (NPPA)
The bench built by Chuck for his late wife Lorraine, offered a commanding view for them and its many visitors.
The big rocks down slope saw the Woodward West BMX winner pose for photos with his bike against one of the big rocks, and probably dozens of selfies and other photos were taken there. Liability concerns for the owner rose after a young man fell some 30 or 40 feet onto the big jagged rocks below, and had to be rescued and taken by ambulance to the hospital. More recently, two men and a woman were seen climbing up on the rocks while passing a marijuana joint around, with possible thought of being able to fly? A young man climbed up on the highest rock, bent down and pushed up into a nice hand stand as the owner watched from afar hoping his gymnastic skill matched his nerve.
Since 1995 when Lorraine McCollough asked Chuck to build the bench so others could enjoy the marvelous views, it has served her wish well, but, like many other good things, its time has ended.
