>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: HERE THEY COME!

BRIGHT AND EARLY IN THE MORNING.

BOY, WE GOT A WHOLE--THIS IS A CARAVAN COMING THROUGH HERE.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE THIS MORNING?

>> WE'RE ALL JUST WORKING OUT TOGETHER.

Huell: WORKING OUT WITH BABIES AND STROLLERS.

WHAT IS THIS GROUP ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, IT'S CALLED STROLLER STRIDES.

IT'S A FITNESS GROUP FOR MOMS.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PRE- AND POST-NATAL WOMEN.

>> STROLLER STRIDES.

SO YOU GET OUT AND STRIDE EVERY MORNING WITH YOUR STROLLERS.

>> YEP.

Huell: WE NEED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

WE'RE IN GRIFFITH PARK RIGHT NOW, AND DO YOU MAKE THIS LOOP--HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK DO YOU COME THROUGH HERE?

>> WELL, WE ALWAYS MEET AT GRIFFITH PARK, AND WE MEET HERE 3 TIMES A WEEK: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY.

AND WE OFTEN COME THROUGH FERN DELL, WHICH--PROBABLY ONE OR TWO DAYS A WEEK.

Huell: YEAH.

SO YOU HAVE JUST COME THROUGH THIS PLACE THAT WE'RE HEADING INTO.

DON'T GIVE IT AWAY, BUT IT'S WONDERFUL IN THERE, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

Huell: WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT AS A HIDDEN TREASURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: YOU CAN ALMOST JUST GET LOST IN THERE, CAN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> WELL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET LOST VERY LONG WITH THESE IN TOW.

>> NO, NO.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT BUSINESS AHEAD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY KEEP US BUSY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO, EVERYBODY, THIS IS KIND OF IMPROMPTU.

WE JUST KIND OF RAN INTO YOU ALL, BUT THIS IS HOLLYWOOD.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON TELEVISION.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO KEEP ON STROLLING.

THEY'RE STROLLING AROUND.

THERE THEY GO.

OH, BOY, LOOK AT THESE BABIES.

GOOD-BYE, LADIES.

All: BYE.

Huell: LOOK AT 'EM UP THERE.

OH, BOY.

WELL, THAT WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING START TO THIS ADVENTURE, AND THIS ADVENTURE REALLY IS AN ADVENTURE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU LIVE IN L.A., AND I'VE LIVED HERE OVER 25 YEARS NOW, I AM CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT THE NEW DISCOVERIES, THE NEW PLACES THAT I COME ACROSS.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE STANDING IN A PLACE THAT I JUST CAME ACROSS PURELY BY ACCIDENT ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND IT SO CAPTIVATED ME THAT IT HAS LITERALLY BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ADVENTURE IS ALL ABOUT.

AND HERE TO TAKE US ON THIS ADVENTURE IS RANGER... >> PATRICK JOYCE.

Huell: PATRICK JOYCE.

AND YOU LIVE RIGHT HERE NEAR THIS SPOT-- >> YES, I DO.

Huell: SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE, AND YOU'RE A PERFECT PERSON TO TAKE US ON THE TOUR.

BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE GATES, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PLAQUE THAT'S RIGHT OUT HERE BECAUSE RIGHT IN THIS AREA, SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA.

>> YEAH, ABOUT 10,000 YEARS AGO, THIS WAS AN INDIAN SITE OF THE GABRIELINO INDIANS, AND THEY HAD A SETTLEMENT HERE.

AND THEY USED TO HAVE--THEIR CHIEF WOULD MEET HERE, AND THE GROUP OF INDIANS NAMED THIS AREA MOCOCOANGA.

Huell: NOW, WHY WOULD THEY MEET IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF WHAT IS PRESENT-DAY GRIFFITH PARK?

>> WELL, THERE WAS A NATURAL WATER SOURCE THAT COMES UP HERE, AND ANYWHERE THERE'S WATER, OBVIOUSLY, IN A DESERT AREA, THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE TO THAT AREA.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO THIS WAS WHAT?

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO?

>> YES.

THEY ESTIMATE ABOUT 10,000 YEARS AGO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S SET THE STAGE AS TO EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT OFF OF LOS FELIZ BOULEVARD, RIGHT OFF OF WESTERN.

WE'RE JUST WITHIN SIGHT OF LOS FELIZ.

THE SIRENS ARE RACING BY US.

WE'RE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW, BUT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN THE CITY, THE PLACE THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO IS ALMOST LIKE ANOTHER WORLD, ISN'T IT?

[SIRENS BLARING] >> YES, IT IS.

IT'S, UH, ONCE YOU ENTER HERE, YOU WOULDN'T THINK YOU WERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

NOW THE SIGN OUT FRONT--OH, BOY, THAT'S A--THAT'S AN AMBULANCE COMING BY.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DUTIES THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING-- >> NO, I DON'T.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE WITH US FOR A WHILE.

>> YES, I AM.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS ENTER INTO THIS MAGICAL PLACE CALLED FERN DELL AND SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AND WHY I HAVE FALLEN SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE, WHICH IS JUST KIND OF TUCKED OVER HERE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR INSIDE.

OK, OUR ADVENTURE BEGINS.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

THIS ABSOLUTELY JUST CAPTIVATES YOUR IMAGINATION WHEN YOU WALK IN HERE.

NOW, THIS, TECHNICALLY, IS CALLED... >> FERN DELL.

Huell: FERN DELL.

D-E-L-L. HOW DID IT GET THAT NAME?

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE LOTS OF FERNS HERE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, AND THERE ARE FERN DELLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND WHAT THEY ARE IS, THEY'RE AREAS WHERE FERNS TEND TO GROW DUE TO THE CLIMATE AND THE WATER THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE.

Huell: BUT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE GROWN HERE NATURALLY.

THESE FERNS WERE IMPORTED, WEREN'T THEY?

>> YES, THEY WERE.

THERE WAS--AT ONE TIME, THERE WAS ABOUT 300 DIFFERENT FERNS IN HERE THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO HERE, AND THEY WERE ATTENDED TO, YOU KNOW.

SOMEONE HAD TO BE TAKING CARE OF THEM ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Huell: NOW, LOOK.

HERE'S OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE WATER.

WE'VE GOT A WATER--A STREAM FLOWING HERE.

NOW, THAT IS A NATURAL STREAM?

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S A NATURAL SPRING THAT COMES UP OUT OF THE GROUND JUST UP THE--ABOUT A HALF A MILE UP THE ROAD HERE.

Huell: SO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE NATURAL SPRING THAT THE NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD HAVE USED AND THE REASON THAT THEY HAD THEIR VILLAGE HERE THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: WOW.

NOW LOOK AT THIS!

THAT'S A REDWOOD TREE, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, IT IS.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU'LL ACTUALLY FIND COASTAL REDWOODS THAT ARE NOT ALONG THE COASTLINE.

Huell: WOW.

SO THERE'S MORE IN HERE THAN JUST FERNS, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FERNS, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS--I MEAN, LET'S JUST STAND HERE AND LOOK AT THIS AREA RIGHT HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THE FERNS OVER HERE.

I GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL OF THEM, DO YOU?

>> NO, I DON'T KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL OF THEM.

Huell: FOR FERN LOVERS, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO APPRECIATE ALL OF THIS.

WE HAVE THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE KIND OF PLANTS THAT GROW-- >> THIS IS CALLED AN ELEPHANT EAR.

Huell: AN ELEPHANT EAR PLANT.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG ELEPHANT'S EAR.

Huell: WELL, HERE ARE MORE ELEPHANT EARS.

WELL, LOOK OVER HERE.

THIS IS ALL FERN HERE, AND THEN WE'VE GOT MORE OF THESE HUGE ELEPHANT EAR PLANTS OVER HERE, AND LOOK AT THIS WATER DOWN HERE.

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS QUITE A LARGE SPRING HERE, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, IT IS, AND IT RUNS YEAR-ROUND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE--YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER IS LIKE.

THERE'S ALWAYS WATER IN HERE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING.

I WAS HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A SATURDAY MORNING, AND IT WAS--THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH HERE.

I GUESS IT EBBS AND FLOWS DURING THE DAY, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

MOST OF THE WEEKENDS ARE THE BUSIEST TIMES AND IN THE EVENINGS WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT FOR A WALK, AND ESPECIALLY ON HOT, HOT DAYS THIS IS A VERY, VERY POPULAR PLACE TO COME BECAUSE IT'S SHADY AND THERE'S A COOL STREAM RUNNING THROUGH HERE, AND IT HELPS TO COOL THE TEMPERATURE OFF.

Huell: YEAH, WE MIGHT MENTION THAT THE TEMPERATURE JUST INSIDE THIS LITTLE AREA HERE SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED A COUPLE OF DEGREES RIGHT AWAY.

>> YEAH, USUALLY IT'S ABOUT 5-10 DEGREES COOLER IN HERE.

Huell: SO IT'S A GREAT PLACE IN THE SUMMER.

>> OH, YES, IT IS.

Huell: NOW LOOK.

I NOTICED THIS, TOO.

YOU HAVE THIS ROCK WORK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN PUT IN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PUT IN YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

WHEN WAS THIS WHOLE PLACE BUILT?

WHEN WERE ALL THESE WALLS PUT IN?

WHEN WAS ALL THIS ROCK WORK AND RAILINGS AND ALL OF THAT PUT IN?

>> WELL, THERE WERE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE HERE.

THE FIRST PROJECT WAS STARTED IN 1915, AND IT WAS BY 2 BROTHERS FROM NEW ZEALAND WHO CONSTRUCTED THIS AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF GRIFFITH PARK.

Huell: 1915 IS WHEN ALL OF THIS STARTED?

>> YES, IT IS.

AND AFTER THAT POINT, THE CITY HAS DONE UPGRADES OVER THE YEARS, AND THE LAST BIG ONE WAS IN ABOUT 1988.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

JUST LOOKING UP HERE.

THIS IS MAGICAL HERE.

>> IT IS VERY MAGICAL.

NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT TO FIND THIS JUST, YOU KNOW, A MILE FROM HOLLYWOOD.

Huell: NOW, IS THIS A NATURAL STREAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT HAS AN EARTHEN BOTTOM, OR DOES IT HAVE A--WAS IT A--IS IT LINED WITH CONCRETE?

>> THERE ARE SECTIONS THAT ARE NATURAL EARTHEN BOTTOM, AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER SECTIONS HERE THAT DO HAVE A CONCRETE BOTTOM.

Huell: BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE SOMETHING YOU'D SEE OUT IN THE WILD.

>> YEAH, AND ACTUALLY THIS WHOLE CANYON WAS CREATED BY A LARGE FLOOD THAT OCCURRED BY A DAM BREAKING MANY YEARS AGO, AND AFTER THAT DAM BROKE, THEY JUST LET THE WATER CONTINUE TO FLOW, AND THEY MADE THIS SERIES OF POOLS TO SLOW THE WATER FLOW DOWN SO IT DIDN'T JUST RACE DOWN THE CANYON.

Huell: OH, WOW, LOOK.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL RIGHT UP HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THEIR--GOOD MORNING!

ARE YOU ALL JUST--WELL, MAYBE I DO WANT TO INTERFERE WITH IT.

COME HERE JUST A MINUTE AND TALK WITH ME.

HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> FINE, THANK YOU.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW I THINK YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, HAVEN'T YOU?

>> YES.

YES, I DID.

Huell: WHY DO YOU COME HERE TO FERN DELL?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS PLACE IS VERY CLOSE TO INSIDE THE CITY, BUT STILL WHEN YOU COME IN HERE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DIFFERENT WORLD HERE.

YOU FACE THE NATURE.

AND THEN YOU CAN THINK OF YOUR OWN LIFE IN DIFFERENT ANGLE, SO I REALLY ENJOY TO COMING IN HERE.

Huell: SO YOU JUST COME AND SIT?

>> RIGHT.

YOU DON'T NEED TO TALK.

YOU JUST ENJOY THE SCENERY AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO THINK ABOUT SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT LIFE.

Huell: WELL, I'M SORRY TO BOTHER YOU WITH OUR CAMERAS.

>> NO, NO.

NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM.

Huell: I WANTED TO TAP INTO YOUR ENERGY BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ENERGY HERE, DON'T YOU?

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

Huell: IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> YES.

Huell: YOUR NAME IS... >> TEDDY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> SIOBHAN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU AND JUST LET YOU SIT HERE.

>> OK. >> HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> YOU, TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> AW, THEY'RE WALKING THEIR DOGS THIS MORNING.

>> THE DOGS ARE WALKING ME.

Huell: THE DOGS ARE WALKING YOU.

>> I'M THE SLED.

Huell: YOU'RE THE--SLED DOGS PULLING THE SLED.

>> OH, YEAH.

Huell: DO YOU COME THROUGH FERN DELL A LOT?

>> EVERY DAY.

Huell: HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THIS PLACE TO PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE?

>> MAGICAL.

BEAUTIFUL.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY NATURE RIGHT IN THE CITY.

IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE TO HAVE THAT-- Huell: PEACEFUL, INSPIRATIONAL.

>> INSPIRATIONAL, YES.

Huell: YOU LIKE IT.

>> I LOVE IT.

Huell: YOU'RE... >> SHE'S FROM NEW YORK.

SHE LOVES IT.

>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN THE PARK.

IT'S GORGEOUS.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

Huell: THIS IS AN L.A.

SURPRISE, A HIDDEN TREASURE.

>> MUCH BETTER THAN SIDEWALKS, LET ME TELL YA.

Huell: SO YOU LIKE IT, A NEW YORKER LIKES IT, AND THE DOGS LIKE IT.

>> THEY LOVE IT.

Huell: HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN FERN DELL.

AND WE'RE STOPPING RIGHT HERE BECAUSE YOU SAID THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE PLACES IN FERN DELL.

>> YEAH, AND IF YOU WERE TO COME HERE ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, YOU'LL FIND MANY, MANY KIDS STANDING HERE, AND USUALLY THEY'LL HAVE A PIECE OF MEAT OR A HOT DOG ON A STICK WITH A STRING, AND THEY'RE PULLING THE CRAYFISH UP OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE POND HERE.

Huell: NOW, ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

MOST OF THE TIME, THEY JUST RETURN 'EM BACK AFTER THEY CATCH 'EM.

THERE'S REALLY NO USE FOR USE FOR THEM AT HOME.

Huell: AND AS A RANGER, YOU PROBABLY LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

WELL, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ON THE AIR, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUST A KID FOR FISHING WITH A PIECE OF A WIENIE OUT HERE TO CATCH A CRAWFISH.

>> NO, I WOULDN'T.

I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE HIM TO RETURN IT BACK TO THE AREA SO THE OTHER KIDS CAN ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY COME UP HERE.

Huell: ARE THERE FISH IN THIS?

BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS, CAMERON.

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD BODY OF WATER.

IF WE STOOD HERE AND LOOKED LONG ENOUGH, ARE THERE FISH IN HERE?

>> THERE ARE SOME FISH THAT ARE NOT NATURAL.

THERE ARE SOME SMALL GOLDFISH I CAN SEE DOWN HERE, BUT-- Huell: DO YOU THINK PEOPLE COME AND PUT THEIR GOLDFISH IN HERE TO GIVE 'EM A NEW HOME?

>> I THINK SOME PEOPLE HAVE, AND THEY ALSO PUT MOSQUITO FISH IN SOME OF THE POOLS THAT ARE BIGGER, TO STOP MOSQUITOES FROM BREEDING INSIDE THE WATER.

Huell: SO WE GOT GOLDFISH, WE GOT CRAWFISH-- >> AND THERE'S, UH, WATER BUGS.

YOU CAN SEE THE OUTLINE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SHADOW, THE LITTLE SHADOW OF 'EM ON THE BOTTOM OF THE POOLS THERE.

THEY'RE THOSE 5 LITTLE DOTS AS YOU SEE 'EM RACING AROUND HERE.

Huell: NOW, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING BIGGER THAN THAT, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY TURTLES OR ANY OTHER KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AQUATIC LIFE HERE IN THE STREAM.

>> ONCE IN A WHILE YOU'LL SEE A TURTLE, BUT THEY'RE VERY ELUSIVE, SO, UH, BUT MAINLY JUST THE FISH, THE CRAYFISH, AND A TURTLE NOW AND THEN.

Huell: I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S JUST NICE TO STAND HERE LIKE THE LADY AND HER FRIEND SAID WHO WERE SITTING UP ON THE BENCH, AND THAT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO MEET THEM, BECAUSE I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF THIS GOING ON-- JUST PEOPLE COMING IN HERE AND QUIETLY SITTING.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE NICEST THINGS ABOUT COMING HERE, IS YOU'RE ABLE TO LEAVE THE CITY, LESS THAN A 5-MINUTE, 10-MINUTE DRIVE, AND YOU CAN COME UP HERE AND YOU CAN SIT, AND IT'S QUIET, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF THE WATER, AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE OUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOUNTAINS SOMEWHERE FAR, FAR AWAY.

Huell: AND LET'S JUST STAND RIGHT HERE, AND THESE ARE THE SOUNDS THAT YOU HEAR IN FERN DELL.

[WATER FLOWING] AND LOOK AT THIS VIEW LOOKING OUT HERE.

AND LOOK UP AT THESE TREES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE TREES AND THE--ALL OF THIS--TO THE SKY.

AND THEN BACK DOWN TO THE WATER.

[WATER FLOWING] OH, THIS SMELLS GOOD.

>> YES, IT DOES.

Huell: WHAT IS THAT?

THAT'S NOT AN ORCHID.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S AN ORCHID.

Huell: BOY, WHATEVER IT IS, AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE PEOPLE AT HOME WHO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> YES.

Huell: IT SMELLS GOOD.

>> THE HARD PART ABOUT IT HERE IS THERE'S SO MANY NON-NATIVE PLANTS IN HERE, SO IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF THEM.

Huell: LOOK HOW THICK ALL OF THIS IS, AND THERE IS JUST-- OH, MAN.

LOOK, COMING THROUGH HERE.

THIS WHOLE THING.

THIS IS JUST THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME I'VE BEEN THROUGH IT.

SO I'M REALLY SEEING A LOT OF NEW STUFF EVERY TIME I COME THROUGH.

>> YEAH, EVERY TIME YOU CAN COME THROUGH, YOU CAN JUST TAKE YOUR TIME, AND YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME.

I'VE WALKED THIS HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

AND EVERY TIME I COME THROUGH, SOMETIMES I SEE SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE, OH, THAT WASN'T THERE YESTERDAY.

BUT IT'S BEEN THERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

Huell: AND WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THESE?

BECAUSE THESE ARE LIKE CONCRETE, BUT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE REAL LOGS.

>> WHAT THEY DID IS THEY TOOK SOME TREE BRANCHES, LIMBS, AND THEY MADE A MOLD OFF OF THE LIMBS.

AND THEY WANTED TO TRY TO KEEP THIS AS RUSTIC AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT A FENCE IN HERE.

THEY NEEDED A FENCE TO STOP PEOPLE FROM FALLING INTO THE-- Huell: UH-HUH.

>> THE DRAINAGE AREA HERE.

SO, WHAT THEY DID IS, THEY MADE THESE FORMS, AND WHEN THEN MADE THE FORMS, YOU POUR THE CONCRETE IN, AND THEN YOU'D PULL THE FORM OFF OF IT AND YOU END UP--IT LOOKS ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE THE TREE BARK THAT IT WAS MADE FROM.

Huell: THIS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE THIRTIES AND THE FORTIES.

DO THEY STILL DO THIS?

>> THEY STILL DO THIS, AND THEY DO THIS RIGHT HERE IN THE MAINTENANCE YARD UP THE ROAD.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THESE GET BROKEN OR THEY GET DAMAGED, AND THEY'LL MAKE UP SOME NEW SETS OF THEM.

Huell: WOW.

WE'RE CROSSING OVER A LITTLE BRIDGE.

WATCH YOUR STEP HERE, CAMERON.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

ANOTHER ONE OF THESE VIEWS JUST LOOKING UP THE STREAM AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.

AND YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING HANGING DOWN HERE.

>> THAT'S A TYPE OF FERN.

I DON'T KNOW THE NAME.

BUT IT'S HANGING FROM A LARGE SYCAMORE TREE THERE.

Huell: WOW!

I LOVE THE WAY THIS WAS LAID OUT.

AND I'M JUST NOW REMEMBERING THAT YOU TOLD ME IT WAS STARTED IN 1915, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S HAD SEVERAL REINCARNATIONS--INCARNATIONS DURING THAT PERIOD.

LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE.

EVERYTHING I'M LOOKING AT, I'M JUST OVERWHELMED BY IT.

LOOK AT THE GRASS AND THE FERNS COMING OUT OF THE WALLS ON THE SIDE AND THE WAY THE WATER FALLS DOWN HERE.

WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MUSHROOM RIGHT HERE.

UH, NOW, BACK TO MY QUESTION.

THE INCARNATIONS IT'S HAD SINCE 1915.

>> SINCE 1915, THE LAST BIG DEVELOPMENT IN HERE WAS IN 1988.

THEY DID A LOT OF THE BRIDGES, THE METAL BRIDGES THAT WE'VE CROSSED OVER.

AND THEY UPGRADED A LOT OF THE SAFETY FEATURES SO THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T FALL AND HURT THEMSELVES IN THE WATER.

Huell: BUT BASICALLY, THIS HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1915 AS FERN DELL.

>> YES, IT HAS.

THAT'S WHEN IT WAS FIRST DEVELOPED BY THE 2 BROTHERS THAT WERE GARDENERS FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Huell: AND HOW DID THEY COME UP WITH AN IDEA OF TURNING THIS INTO THIS FERN GROTTO LIKE IT IS?

>> THE PARK FOREMAN THAT WAS WORKING IN HERE-- Huell: GOOD MORNING.

>> MORNING.

Huell: OH, SHE'S DOING HER EXERCISES.

>> YES, EXERCISES.

Huell: ARE YOU GONNA HIKE UP AND DOWN HERE?

>> YES.

Huell: SO YOU DO THIS A LOT, EVERY DAY?

>> EVERY DAY, COME TODAY.

Huell: RIGHT HERE.

>> TODAY, COME...YES, RIGHT.

Huell: OK. WE'LL LET HER DO HER EXERCISES.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

Huell: OH, BOY.

THIS IS-- HEH HEH!

YOU MEET A LITTLE BIT OF THE WHOLE CROSS SECTION OF HUMANITY COMING THROUGH HERE, DON'T YOU?

>> YES, YOU DO, YOU-- Huell: GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

Huell: YOU TAKING A HIKE?

>> I COME OUT HERE EVERY DAY.

Huell: DO YOU REALLY?

>> YEAH.

Huell: SAME TIME OF DAY, DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY-- >> WELL, APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME DURING THE DAY.

I-- Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU DO, START UP AT ONE END OR WALK DOWN TO THE OTHER?

>> WELL, I TAKE--I LIVE DOWNTOWN.

I TAKE THE RED LINE SUBWAY TO WESTERN AND HOLLYWOOD.

THEN I WALK UP HERE.

THEN TAKE A NICE, LONG HIKE AND WALK DOWN.

Huell: WOW.

>> IT'S TO CONTROL MY CHOLESTEROL.

Huell: WELL, THIS WILL NOT ONLY CONTROL YOUR CHOLESTEROL, BUT IT'LL PUT YOU IN A GREAT MOOD.

>> OH, IT SURE DOES.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO THINK AND RELAX.

THERE'S QUITE A FEW PEOPLE, QUITE A FEW REGULARS THAT TAKE DAILY WALKS HERE.

Huell: YEAH, I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> AND WE START TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND SAY "GOOD MORNING" AND STUFF.

IT'S JUST-- Huell: YOUR NAME IS-- >> DAVID.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

>> AND NICE TO MEET YOU.

Huell: AND LOOK AT THIS RIGHT UP HERE.

I WAS JUST LOOKING OVER DAVID'S SHOULDER.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PLANT UP HERE THAT LOOKS...I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.

BUT IT'S BLOOMING, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND IT'S ALL IN JUXTAPOSITION TO ALL OF THIS BEAUTY HERE.

THE ELEPHANT EARS, THE WATER, THE ROCK WORK.

IT'S ALL HERE.

AND WE'VE JUST COME PROBABLY HALFWAY.

WAIT A MINUTE.

LOOK AT THIS.

WATER RUNNING IN SOME KIND OF A...WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, THEY BUILT THIS HERE TO KEEP THE WATER OFF OF THE PATHWAY.

[TRUCK RUMBLING BY] AND WHAT THIS IS, IS PART OF THE NATURAL SPRING THAT JUST COMES UP OUT OF THE GROUND.

SO THE WATER THAT'S COMING UP FROM THE NATURAL SPRING, THEY DIDN'T WANT IT RUNNING ACROSS THE WALKWAY AND MAKING IT VERY SLIPPERY AND MUDDY IN HERE.

Huell: NOW, THAT TRUCK THAT JUST CAME BY IS A REMINDER OF WHERE WE ARE.

>> THAT'S HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO THE ROAD.

Huell: AND THAT SOUND SHOULDN'T BE INTRUDING IN HERE, HONEST, BUT IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE ARE IN THE CITY.

>> THAT'S VERY TRUE.

Huell: AND YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU'D THINK YOU WERE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

>> YOU'D THINK YOU WERE IN A RAIN FOREST OR OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS SOMEWHERE JUST BY A LITTLE CREEK.

Huell: NOW, I LIKE THIS.

THIS LITTLE HIGHWAY BRIDGE.

WHAT STREET IS THIS RIGHT OUT HERE?

>> THIS IS FERN DELL DRIVE THAT WE'RE WALKING UNDERNEATH.

Huell: WE WOULD BE DRIVING RIGHT OVER FERN DELL, RIGHT OVER HERE.

AND THEN YOU JUST WALK RIGHT THROUGH HERE.

IT'S GOT A GREAT SOUND WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE BRIDGE.

GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

Huell: GOOD MORNING.

>> MORNING.

Huell: THEN YOU'VE GOT--THIS IS A FOOTBRIDGE RIGHT HERE.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: NOW, HOW FAR DOES THIS GO?

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH AT THE END OF IT RIGHT HERE, AREN'T WE?

>> WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ALMOST TO THE END HERE.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE NATURAL SPRING COMES UP OUT OF THE GROUND-- Huell: WHERE?

>> AND FEEDS THIS.

Huell: RIGHT UP HERE?

>> ALMOST--WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

Huell: SO THE SPRING COMES POPPING UP OUT OF THE GROUND, WHERE?

WELL, IT'S STILL GOING OVER HERE.

SO IT'S COMING UP-- >> RIGHT ABOUT HERE IS WHERE IT STARTS.

Huell: JUST RIGHT HERE.

SO THIS IS THE NATURAL SPRING THAT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND RIGHT HERE.

>> YES, IT IS.

Huell: BEEN COMING OUT OF THE GROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

>> OVER 10,000 YEARS.

Huell: WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR HIKE.

AND THIS WHOLE THING THROUGH, WELL, YOU CALL IT THE DELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE CALL IT THE DELL OF FERN DELL.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

THIS AREA IS FERN DELL.

THIS IS THE DELL.

>> YES.

Huell: AND THIS WHOLE HIKE WE'VE BEEN ON COULDN'T BE OVER, MUCH OVER, LIKE, A HALF A MILE OR SO.

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST UNDER HALF A MILE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SO WE CAN HIKE UP THE DELL.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET UP HERE AND COME THROUGH THE FENCE, THERE'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER THING GOING ON UP HERE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE FERN DELL AREA WITH THE PICNIC GROUNDS.

THERE'S BARBECUES HERE, THE CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA, ALL THAT IS JUST UP THE ROAD--THE LITTLE PATH HERE.

Huell: AND THEN YOU CAN HIKE, UH, I THINK ALL THE WAY UP TO THE OBSERVATORY.

>> YES, YOU CAN.

YOU CAN CONTINUE UP THIS, AND IF YOU JUST STAY TO YOUR RIGHT, YOU'LL GO RIGHT INTO THE CANYON.

AND YOU'LL SEE THE OBSERVATORY AS YOU'RE HIKING UP TO IT.

Huell: HOW FAR A HIKE IS THAT?

>> FROM HERE TO THE OBSERVATORY, IT'S ABOUT ONE MILE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S AN EASY HIKE, TOO.

>> IT'S A LITTLE STEEP, BUT IT'S NOT A LONG HIKE.

Huell: 'CAUSE WHEN I WAS HERE ON A SATURDAY MORNING, THE PLACE WAS--IT WASN'T PACKED, BUT IT WAS BEING HEAVILY USED.

>> YES, IT IS.

THIS IS A VERY POPULAR PLACE IN THE MORNINGS.

Huell: WELL, WE'VE HAD A NICE LITTLE HIKE IN A VERY OBSCURE AND YET WONDERFUL PLACE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HIKES DO FOR ME.

>> MAKE YOU HUNGRY?

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: YES, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING NEXT.

BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER PART TO THIS SURPRISE THAT I HAVE DISCOVERED HERE IN GRIFFITH PARK.

GOOD ANSWER.

Huell: AND THIS IS HOW I DISCOVERED FERN DELL TO START WITH.

I WAS COMING UP THE ROAD GOING UP TO THE OBSERVATORY, AND I SPOTTED THIS SIGN, "CAFE TRAILS."

THERE'S THE SIGN RIGHT THERE, "THE TRAILS.

PIE, SODAS, COFFEE."

I PULLED OVER, PARKED, AND WENT UP HERE TO THE TRAILS CAFE.

WHAT A FIND.

A MAN AND HIS DOG.

BUT NOT JUST ANY MAN AND HIS DOG.

YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT, OWNER, AND C.E.O.

OF THE TRAILS CAFE.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> CO-OWNER FRANK LENTZ.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THERE'S A REAL STORY BEHIND THIS PLACE AND HOW IT WAS GIVEN A NEW BIRTH.

GIVE US THE QUICK HISTORY OF IT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME YEARS AGO, I WAS WORKING DOWN AT ONE OF THE STUDIOS, TELEVISION STUDIOS, 'CAUSE I HAVE A REAL JOB, TOO.

HA HA HA!

UM, AND WE USED TO COME UP HERE.

WE'D GRAB A COUPLE OF FRIENDS AND WE'D COME UP HERE.

AND THERE WAS AN OLD GUY FLIPPING HAMBURGERS IN HERE.

LIKE, PAPER-THIN HAMBURGERS, SNOW CONES, JUST, YOU KNOW.

TERRIBLE FOOD.

BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS FANTASTIC.

YOU SIT UNDERNEATH THE REDWOOD TREES AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE A GOOD TIME UP HERE.

WE CAME UP A FEW YEARS LATER, AND IT WAS CLOSED UP.

IT WAS JUST BOARDED UP, ROLLED DOWN, AND JUST WASN'T LOOKING SO GOOD.

SO-- Huell: LET'S GET TO THE CHASE HERE.

YOU BOUGHT IT, YOU OPENED IT UP, AND YOU'RE NOW RUNNING THE RESTAURANT UP HERE.

>> WE SPENT ABOUT 9 MONTHS FIXING IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY IN SAD SHAPE.

INSIDE AND OUT.

AND WE STRIPPED THE WOOD DOWN.

IT HAD ABOUT 20 LAYERS OF PAINT.

UH, WE WERE JUST ALL MANUAL LABOR, JUST OURSELVES.

LIKE, HERE ON THE WEEKENDS AND TRYING TO GET WHATEVER TIME WE COULD TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE.

Huell: I LOVE THIS.

YOU'VE GOT THE PAPER MENUS OUT HERE.

THE FIRST DAY HERE, I GOT THE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY WITH THE HOMEMADE JELLY.

BUT YOU SPECIALIZE IN PASTRIES, IN GREAT SANDWICHES AND SALADS.

>> YEAH.

WELL, BASICALLY WE WANTED TO DO WHAT YOU CAN'T GET DOWN THERE, DOWN ON EVERY STREET CORNER.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HAMBURGERS AND BURRITOS AND NACHOS.

OR EVEN WHAT YOU'D EXPECT TO FIND IN THE PARK.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT RAISED UP.

YOUR EXPECTATION OF WHAT THIS COULD BE IS RAISED UP A BIT.

Huell: AND LOOK WHERE YOU EAT WHEN YOU COME TO THE TRAILS CAFE.

OUT HERE UNDER THESE TREES, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FERN DELL--FROM THE DELL.

AND YOU JUST SIT OUT HERE AND ENJOY GRIFFITH PARK.

AND COME ON, FELLAS, 'CAUSE WE'VE DONE THE ORDERING HERE.

PATRICK, YOU ORDERED THE-- >> SNAKE DOG.

Huell: THE SNAKE DOG, WHICH IS BASICALLY-- >> WELL, THE SNAKE DOG IS A HOT DOG.

IT'S A VARIATION ON A DOG ON A STICK.

BUT IT'S PASTRY, FILO-WRAPPED DOUGH BAKED IN OUR CONVECTION OVEN.

Huell: SOUNDS VERY CHI-CHI, BUT IT'S GOOD, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S SPIRAL, LIKE A SNAKE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, HERE'S YOUR SNAKE DOG, PATRICK.

I GOT, WELL, CAMERON THE CAMERAMAN GOT A VEGAN-- >> MEAT PIE.

Huell: MEAT PIE.

>> VEGAN VERSION OF THE MEAT PIE.

Huell: THE MEAT PIE GOING RIGHT HERE.

AND I GOT THE AVOCADO-- >> AVOCADO SANDWICH.

THAT'S FROM MY HOMETOWN.

I TOOK THAT RECIPE FROM A FAMOUS DELI DOWN IN MANHATTAN BEACH.

Huell: COME ON IN HERE, PATRICK.

BECAUSE THE IDEA IS, THIS WHOLE NEW DISCOVERY IS TO SPEND THE MORNING WALKING THROUGH THE DELL, LIKE WE DID THIS MORNING.

YOU COULD POSSIBLY EVEN GO ALL THE WAY UP THE HILL TO THE OBSERVATORY IF YOU WANTED TO.

WORK UP A LITTLE APPETITE, ENJOY THE AMBIENCE OF BEING AWAY FROM IT ALL HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.

THEN COME OVER HERE TO THE TRAILS CAFE AND HAVE ONE OF THESE AMAZING MEALS IN THIS NEWLY RESTORED AND REFURBISHED LITTLE CAFE, WHICH IS JUST SITTING RIGHT HERE VERY GENTLY AMONG THE TREES.

IT IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL LOS ANGELES EXPERIENCE.

WE'RE ENDING UP-- YOU THOUGHT I'D FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, BUT I MET THIS GUY THE FIRST DAY I CAME OVER HERE.

THIS IS THE PAYOFF RIGHT HERE.

YOUR NAME IS-- >> MY NAME IS RUSS.

Huell: AND YOU ARE THE PASTRY CHEF.

>> I AM THE PIE MAN, YES.

Huell: THE PIE MAN.

AND LOOK AT THIS PIE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S ALL FRESH PASTRY, ALL FRESH FRUIT.

WE DO EVERYTHING HERE.

Huell: BOY, THESE PIES ARE WORTH THE TRIP ON THEIR OWN.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOT OF SATISFACTION OF KNOWING YOU'RE MAKING A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY FAT AND HAPPY.

>> UM, HAPPY, I HOPE.

NOT FAT.

[ALL LAUGH] Huell: COME ON IN, FELLAS.

WE'RE ALL GONNA STAND AROUND HERE.

WE'RE AT THE TRAILS CAFE.

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY HERE IN GRIFFITH PARK.

COME ON OUT AND HIKE THROUGH THE CANYON, THE FERN CANYON, THE FERN DELL.

AND THEN COME OVER HERE TO THE TRAILS CAFE AND HAVE SOME OF THIS PIE.

IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT DAY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT DAY OURSELVES.

HOPE YOU HAVE, TOO.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.