Paradise Springs Hosts Author Justin Chapman’s Book Talk

Altadena/Pasadena writer and Pasadena’s District 6 Council Liaison Justin Chapman delivered a second presentation about his book Paradise Springs on June 28, this time at Paradise Springs itself, following the June 7 event at Pasadena’s Linda Vista Library.

The book, which was published in 2024 by Huttopia, was a finalist in the LA Press Club’s National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards last year in the Non-Fiction Book category. It chronicles the history of Paradise Springs, a historic mountain retreat that evolved from a 1920s hedonistic playground for Hollywood stars to a Christian camp to a modern French “glamping” (glamorous camping) resort.

A secluded Southern California retreat nestled in Fenner Canyon, the property has evolved through dramatic reinventions since its 1910 founding by Pasadena attorney Louis Luckel.

Paradise Springs’ colorful past includes hosting Prohibition-era parties for celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and William Randolph Hearst during the 1920s.

Under the ownership of silent film stars Noah and Wallace Beery, the retreat featured an opulent ballroom with a 45-foot redwood bar and orchestra stage.

The property’s Jazz Age heyday included legendary parties with bootleg liquor, gambling, trout fishing and secret romantic trysts. Chaplin famously built a winding staircase in Beery’s cabin for clandestine affairs, while Hearst allegedly orchestrated nine arson attempts to sabotage the rival venue and once let loose a buffalo in the ballroom during a shindig attended by celebrities and starlets.

A fire eventually destroyed the ballroom, a flood destroyed much of the original resort, and the Beery brothers went bankrupt, reverting the property back into the ownership of Luckel, the Pasadena attorney. His daughter Adelaide—who preferred the gentility of Pasadena over the rugged wilderness of Paradise Springs—entrusted it into the care of her nephew, Lawrence “Gunner” Payne.

Payne transformed it into a family-friendly Christian camp with strict bans on alcohol and dancing, in stark contrast to its racy past. A group of four families continued the Christian camp emphasis under the name Big Rock Creek Camp for decades before French glamping company Huttopia acquired it in 2017—rather than Nestlé, which was eyeing the property for its spring water.

Now operating as Huttopia Paradise Springs, the 71-tent resort charges between $220 and $450 per night for canvas tents. The property preserves its Hollywood heritage through attractions like the meticulously preserved Charlie Chaplin cabin (and the staircase inside hand-built by Chaplin himself), where guests can stay overnight.

Chapman’s book chronicles this century-spanning legacy, exploring how the site evolved from an elite hunting and fishing escape with portable tents to its current status as a high-end glamping destination.

Chapman is an award-winning journalist, author, and TV show host. He writes, produces, and hosts “Pasadena Monthly” and “Well Read,” both award-winning talk shows that air on Pasadena Media’s cable channels, streaming apps, and YouTube. He has won a dozen LA Press Club journalism awards, including three 1st place awards. “Well Read” won a 1st place Hometown Media Award from the Alliance for Community Media this year.

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for dozens of print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAistAlta JournalHuffington PostLA WeeklyIrish PostBerkeley Political ReviewPasadena WeeklyPasadena Star-NewsPasadena Now and many others. He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials and plays. He currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Councilmember Steve Madison.

Chapman’s presentations at Linda Vista Library and at Paradise Springs itself last month illuminated the paradoxical history of a site whose history reveals its past incarnations as both a debaucherous hideaway and a spiritual sanctuary.

The video of the Linda Vista Library event is available here, courtesy of Pasadena Media. The video of the Paradise Springs event is available here. Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com.

Read the June 2025 issue of Justin Chapman's free Substack email newsletter, featuring the video of one of Justin's Paradise Springs book talks, his Hometown Media Award, the video of his Jack Parsons presentation, a tribute to the late Jonathan Joss, the latest episode of "Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman," book recommendations, show and movie recommendations, and more.

Justin Chapman writes, produces, and hosts an award-winning monthly TV talk show on Pasadena Media's TV channel, called "Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman," formerly known as "NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman." The thirtieth episode aired Friday, June 27, 2025, and featured a discussion with Greg de Vinck, director of the City of Pasadena's Department of Public Works. Watch the full episode below:



Pasadena Public Works Director Greg de Vinck to Join Friday’s Episode of “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman”

Pasadena Now, 6/27/2025

Pasadena Media’s award-winning local TV talk show “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman” continues this Friday at 5 p.m., featuring guest Greg de Vinck, director of Pasadena’s Department of Public Works.

 

De Vinck has 28 years of experience in public works and was most recently the Public Works Director with the City of San Gabriel for six years. Prior to San Gabriel, he worked in the engineering division for the City of Santa Monica for 22 years and designed and inspected bridges in New Jersey and Ottawa, Canada, for six years. In Pasadena, he oversees a department with 273 full-time employees and an annual budget of $93.5 million.

 

“Pasadena Monthly” airs at 5 p.m. PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps, available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse, channel 32 on Charter Spectrum, YouTube, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku. The show is written, hosted and produced by Chapman, directed and edited by Jeffrey Stanfill, supervised by producer Jasiri Jenkins-Glenn, executive produced by Chris Miller and chief executive produced by George Falardeau, CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media.

 

“‘Pasadena Monthly’ is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said.

 

Last year, “Pasadena Monthly” won a 1st place award in the Talk Show category at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE (Western Access Video Excellence) Awards. Chapman also won a 3rd place journalism award in the Talk/Public Affairs category of the LA Press Club’s 66th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards, for hosting “Pasadena Monthly.” He has won a dozen LA Press Club journalism awards, including three 1st place awards. His other TV show, “Well Read with Justin Chapman,” won a 1st place Hometown Media Award from the Alliance for Community Media this year.

 

On June 22, Chapman was a finalist in the Local Political/Government Reporting (Broadcast) category of the LA Press Club journalism awards for “Pasadena Monthly.”

 

Guests on “Pasadena Monthly” (and its previous iteration, “NewsRap Local”) have included Congress member Judy Chu; Congress member Adam Schiff; Assembly member Chris Holden; Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena city manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; JPL director Dr. Laurie Leshin; former Congress member Katie Hill; and many others.

 

Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19. He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for dozens of print and digital publications, including KPCC/LAistAlta JournalHuffington PostLA Weekly, Irish PostBerkeley Political ReviewPasadena Weekly, Pasadena Star-NewsPasadena Now and many others. He is the author of Saturnalia and Paradise Springs. He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials and plays. He previously served as Communications Officer for USC Annenberg’s Pacific Council on International Policy think tank and currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Councilmember Steve Madison.

 

Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org.

"Paradise Springs" Book Talk at Linda Vista Library

Author Justin Chapman discusses his new book "Paradise Springs," about a debaucherous mountain retreat where A-list Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson partied during Prohibition that became a Christian camp and now a French "glamping" resort, at Pasadena's Linda Vista Branch Library on June 7, 2025.

Watch the full event below, and learn more about the book here. Email jdchapman15@hotmail.com to purchase a copy.



Rest in Peace Jonathan Joss

Justin Chapman performed in "Walker, Texas Ranger" with actor Jonathan Joss in 1997. Justin played young Chuck Norris. Jonathan went on to voice the character John Redcorn in "King of the Hill." He was tragically killed in San Antonio on June 1, 2025. Justin sends his love and condolences to Jonathan's family and friends.

Watch their scenes together below:


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