If memory serves me correct, not all the buidings on the set of "Little House" were destroyed.
I believe the only building left standing was the original
Ingall's residence built by Charles Ingalls and company.
This buiding remained intact, on the lot [set], until the brush fires of California in 1993, which caused te house to burn down to the ground.
I don't think the church was destroyed either.
sharemicheal landon had all the sets destroyed when the series was cancel so no one else could use them.
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Your intent with this message was good, however, when you used the word "raising", you totally said the opposite of what you were trying to. The word sounds correct, but the correct spelling for your meaning would have been "razing".
Both words sound exactly the same, however, they mean exactly the opposite.
Destroying the town was an act of sheer stupidity. It had tourism written all over it considering the popularity of the series to this day.
shareIf I had been there in that time, I would have blown my house up too..I think that was a perfect way to handle the situation, as they said: "walnut grove did not die in vain" as the other mayors threatened the same thing would happen in their towns.
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If I had been there in that time, I would have blown my house up too.
I live in simi valley where the actual sets were located at a place called Big Sky movie ranch. Part of the contract with building sets for the show required the area to be returned to it's "natural" state after the end of the series. The ranch did have a number of other buildings on it including the sets for father murphy and bonanza. The reason I know this was in 1991 the local boys and girls club was able to allow the public access to the ranch for a fee. The even rebuilt the Ingals house. What started as a simple fund raising idea turned into the largest money raiser for the boys and girls club. When they gave the tour of where walnut gove used to be the only thing left was the metal post the held the tedder todder (not sure that's spelled right). It was a really wierd feeling looking around since all the trees were still there and you could tell where things used to be.
Sadly in January of 1994 California had a major earthquake and most of sets were either destroyed or deemed unsafe for entry.
The area today has been developed into homes.
Thank you for the update! Destroying the town was a stupid idea. Would have made a great tour for fans.
shareIn Tucson, there is an old movie studio called "Old Tucson." A number of westerns were shot there, and I occasionally recognize the old Mission there in movies. They say that episodes of Little House on the Prarie were filmed there. They have a small white church which they claim was used on the show, but it clearly is NOT the same building.
shareMy understanding was Michael Landon didn't want a comedy produced (in latter years) making a joke out of the show.
shareI didn't like the fact that all those bunnies had to be left behind (could've at least taken a couple). Yeah, they breed like...well like rabbits...but still.
The show should've had Laura giving a postscript of where everyone headed off to...and did any of them ever kept in touch outside of their respective families?
I find it ironic that they practically lost the town once and had to move to the city, only to lose Walnut Grove for good.
Surprised to see you here!
I was just surfing around to see what this was, as i thought this was the memorial episode.
By the way I loved this show, and the episode you sent was sooooo sweet, made me wish for the whole series....
Per fanninislots - thanks for that information, though I'm sorry that it's now a subdivision!
Our country isn't going to have any history left if we keep developing lands that had some past meaning - all we'll have left is a historical marker in the Walgreen's parking lot!
Granted, this was the result of a television show, but, it had some meaning for a lot of people - I agree that it would have been a very popular spot, had it been left in it's original state, though, as you said, between legal agreement on the land's use and natural disasters (fire and earthquake), there wasn't anything left of it...
That is sad, since it seemed like a very nice spot. Often, when looking at the town, I somehow just get a very good feeling about it all - it must have been a fine place to be in the mid '70s (per my old dream of living in California at that time)...
I'm sure the actors, as Mellisa Gilbert said a few years ago, have very fond memories of those times...
what a waste
shareI don't think that they destroyed the house that Almanzo and Charles built in Days of sunshine, days of shadow part 2.
shareCurrently watching the movie now. But from what I remember the church and the house the Charles built for his family was not destroyed for the tv series. The actual town of Walnut Grove Minnesota is a tourist action. The real house Charles Ingalls built there is long gone from what I have read.
shareThe Ingalls' barn wasn't blown up either. At least the show was filmed on a movie ranch. Many series is made in a tiny studio, or in some back lot like at Universal.