A well-aged Valley Oak tree that had been looked upon as a "witness tree" at the Paramount Ranch in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area will be cut down later this month, another victim of the Woolsey Fire that swept through the mountain range in November 2018.

The tree down through the decades has been the backdrop for weddings, hundreds of films, special events, family photos and other memorable occasions. It is expected to be cut down in mid-February, and the wood from the tree will be repurposed into benches, signs, hitching posts, and other items. They will be displayed at the future Western Town, which is slated to begin construction within the next couple of years. 

"The tree put up a good fight and it even put out some leaves in the spring that followed the fire,” said David Szymanski, park superintendent for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “But, ultimately, the park arborist, along with other local arborists, made the determination that it had succumbed to the fire and that it could ultimately become a hazardous tree.” 

Experts say the gigantic tree, which has the diameter at breast height (dbh) of 100 inches, is possibly more than a century old. Once the tree is cut down, the rings inside of it will be counted to determine its exact age.

On Saturday there will be an "open house" at the Paramount Ranch from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to give folks a chance to take one last look at the standing tree. Prior to the open house and during the event, visitors are invited to guess the age of the tree. Guesses can be emailed to [email protected]. Please include your name, address and your best guess for the age of the tree. The winner will receive a small gift from the Santa Monica Mountains Fund.