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The Spiral Staircase and the Malibu Feed BinThe Spiral Staircase was located on Topanga Canyon Lane in the area behind The Raft (restaurant/bar). This is at the mouth of Topanga Canyon. Topanga Canyon Lane is actually two separate roads which were probably supposed to join (today, a tiny footbridge crosses the creek that separates the two halves of the road).
The Spiral Staircase was located around the red arrow in the 1924 photo above. Was it old enough to show up in this photo? The road running along the ocean is Pacific Coast Highway. The road running back into the valley is Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The house was owned by a woman named Gina (last name withheld) and was in bad shape. It apparently was demolished in 1968. Manson wrote a short story that described the house as hanging over the creek. This seems to be a fairly accurate description since several of my sources say the house was a Victorian which had slid down the hill and nearly into the creek. The first floor was filled with sand and people only occupied the second floor. Today, only a garden remains in the spot. It seems no one called the house "The Spiral Staircase" in 1967-68. If anything, it seems to have been called "The Snake Pit" (not because of snakes but due to the happenings). Besides the Manson bus (which was painted black at "The Spiral Staircase," there were many other hippie buses in the area at the time. My sources have mentioned orgies on the beach and sheep/goat sacrifices. Manson's story describes meeting Diane "Snake" Lake at this house (could her nickname actually be based on "The Snake Pit?"). Her trial testimony also states that she met Manson on this road in 1967.
Above is recent photo of the area. The Spiral Staircase was near the red arrow. George's Market is marked with a green arrow. The Topanga Ranch Motel is marked with a yellow arrow. The building marked with the purple arrow was The Raft. A blue arrow marks The Malibu Feed Bin. Celebrities still visit the former Raft (now known as The Reel Inn). Coke even filmed a commercial there and Gary Busey's show did a segment in the restaurant. Motley Crue did some interviews there, too. The 1972 documentary "Future Shock" reportedly has a scene near the end with George's Market in the background. It was later re-named The Topanga Ranch Market and has been demolished.
Above is a closer view of the area. The building right beside the highway was The Raft. The Spiral Staircase was located in the area behind it.
Above is a recent aerial photograph of the same area. The Spiral Staircase was located in the area circled in red. The Raft can be seen right at the bottom of the red circle. The Spiral Staircase was at the creek, near the top of the red circle. To the east, you'll see another area circled in green. This is the Malibu Feed Bin which is mentioned in some of the Manson-related books. After leaving the LaBianca house, Atkins, Kasabian and Grogan ended up at the house next to the Feed Bin. The address of the house was 3921 Topanga Canyon Boulevard. According to "Helter Skelter," the three stayed an hour, smoked some pot and left.
A 1920s photo of the Malibu Feed Bin is shown above. Note that it had a different name (Potters Topanga Trading Post) at that time.
A modern day shot of the Feed Bin is displayed above. The Feed Bin is about dead center of the photo. It's address is 3931 Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The house the trio visited was at 3921. This neighborhood was apparently a regular hang-out for the Family. Various books speak of them spending time at the Spiral Staircase. They also were friends with the Feed Bin's neighbor. Tex's book tells that the first time he and Manson heard the Beatles' "White Album" was at a house on Topanga Canyon Lane, but the Staircase seems to have been torn down by then. The Family bus was painted black at the Staircase (along with its "Holywood Productions" banner). The Raft also was a hang-out for various celebrities at the time. Many of the structures in this area (Lower Topanga Canyon) have been, or are planned to be, demolished by the state. For close-up photos of the former site of the Spiral Staircase, click here. |
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