LLano Del Rio ruins -- by Joe Reifer

The Llano Del Rio socialist colony ruins on the Pearblossom Highway in the Mojave Desert. About 45 miles north of Los Angeles in the Antelope Valley, the community was built in 1914. For several years Llano prospered with farming, canning, and a fish hatchery. Due to a conflict over water rights the settlement was abandoned in 1917. 200 of the 600 residents boarded a train for Louisiana where they established New Llano. The history of the new settlement was profiled by LPB’s American Utopia program.

Llano Del Rio -- by Joe Reifer

The British author Aldous Huxley moved to a 40 acre ranch in Llano in his later years. Huxley’s 1944 children’s book The Crows of Pearblossom was recently re-released with wonderful illustrations by Sophie Blackall. Huxley’s former ranch is now a filming location. Someone recently told me there’s a Frank Black song called Llano Del Rio. The County of Los Angeles Public Library’s page on the Antelope Valley has some great historical photos of Llano.

Llano Del Rio -- by Joe Reifer