California has many wonderful national parks, but did you know that California is home to the only fake national park in the country? It’s true! Bixby Knolls “National Park” is located at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach, CA.
This fake national park opened in 2021. The site covers just 0.05 acres and was created during the pandemic. Read on to learn more.
Real vs. fake
To be clear, the National Park Service says actual national parks and related units are part of a federally managed system, established through Congress and the NPS.
Bixby Knolls (fake) National Park strives to look and feel like a real national park. However, it’s clearly a whimsical spoof of the actual parks it mimics. Locals insist that’s what gives Bixby Knolls its charm.
Park history
Blair Cohn is the executive director of Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association. He’s also the force behind this fake national park.
Years ago, Cohn reportedly noticed a small, insignificant sign someone (perhaps a child) posted in their Portland backyard. The sign claimed that the yard was a national park. The image and idea stayed with Cohn.
Then the pandemic hit. Local businesses and the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association suddenly faced a very precarious and uncertain future. Cohn suggested the park as a way to get people outside and provide a humorous distraction from the dreadful pandemic. Local folks positively responded to the Association’s effort, and word about the park began to spread.
Today, the fake national park is visited by more than just the locals. It continues to bring smiles to its visitors, too.
What you’ll see
According to LAist, the mini-park packs in a surprising amount of whimsy. The fake national park includes native plants, a trail that takes only 12 seconds to walk, fairy decorations, Bigfoot prints, and other hidden details.
Today’s purpose
With the pandemic in our rearview mirror, the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association continues to keep the fake national park going. Today, its mission is to promote local businesses and improve the district. It’s become a neighborhood project with a healthy dose of satire and humor.
Bixby Knolls (fake) National Park offers a quick photo op and bragging rights for RVers. Just think! After visiting, you can boast that you saw the only fake national park in our country!
DID YOU KNOW? You can make your own custom national park sign? It’s true, and it’s fun! See what we’re talking about here.
Stay nearby
In reality, Long Beach can work well as an RV base. The city’s Golden Shore RV Resort offers 77 full-hookup spaces. The official Long Beach parks page says guests can use free Long Beach Transit service right outside the park to reach places like the Convention and Entertainment Center, Shoreline Village, Pine Avenue, and the Queen Mary.
Neighborhood tenacity
Bixby Knolls “National Park” shows how creative local projects can turn an empty lot into a memorable stop. In a neighborhood known for community events and business promotion, the fake national park gives Long Beach another reason for travelers to slow down, look around, and discover the unexpected.
Have you visited Bixby Knolls (fake) National Park? Tell us in the comments below.
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RVT1258
Thanks Gail. Love it!
I don’t live in CA, but go there often because of places like this and Slowjamastan, which I am a citizen. There are all kinds of wonders and it is such a fun place to visit.
Will my National Park pass work there or do I need to get a “fake” park pass?
I think that’s a legit question, MrDisaster.👍🤣 If you go, just be sure to wear your hiking boots so you can take advantage of the 12-second-long trail.😉 Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
That’s funny. My wife lived in Bixby Knolls while she was attending college in long beach.