The History Of Toluca Lake :

In 1887, Charles Forman arrived in the area from Virginia City, Nevada, where he had amassed significant wealth. Isaac Lankershim sold Forman most of the land that would eventually become Toluca Lake. Forman built a ranch house on the property, situated to the northwest of the lake. One story suggests that Lankershim’s son and son-in-law, James B. Lankershim and Isaac Van Nuys, had already named the property Toluca before selling it to Forman in 1888. The name was allegedly chosen because an ancient village by that name had once existed on the site. However, skepticism remains regarding this claim, as no evidence of such a village has ever been found. During this time, competition for social prestige and recognition was intense, making it difficult to ascertain the true origins of the name. The name Toluca needs further historical evidence to confirm its first recorded use.

The earliest verified reference to the name Toluca in connection with the Toluca Lake area comes from 1892 when Forman applied for a new post office to be named Toluca Post Office. This post office was initially located in the home of Wilson C. Weddington until 1894, when Weddington moved it to a store he purchased.

By 1923, Toluca Lake was thriving with walnut, apple, and peach orchards. Following the death of Charles Forman, his ranch was sold as part of his estate. A group of investors bought the Forman Toluca Ranch with plans to develop it into a residential subdivision named Toluca Lake Park. Whether or not these investors believed Forman was the originator of the name Toluca, the name was firmly established by this time. Although the nearby Southern Pacific Railroad station was still known as Lankershim Station, the railroad had named its line the Toluca Flyer, a nod to the area’s well-known destination. Forman claimed that the name Toluca was derived from a Paiute word meaning "fertile valley." Despite the initial abandonment of the Toluca Lake Park development, the area was revived by a new group, The Toluca Lake Company, which dropped the word “Park” from the name. Eventually, the lake—originally named for the Toluca Ranch—lent its name back to the newly developed community of Toluca Lake.

What began as a natural, spring-fed, swampy pond was transformed into a six-acre water feature to enhance the planned neighborhood. The lake became a park-like setting where residents enjoyed leisurely summer days on the water. The first home built on the lakeshore was on Valley Spring Lane, which would later become the residence of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.

In 1928, after Warner Brothers opened its lot just a block away, Hollywood’s elite discovered Toluca Lake. The area quickly became home to some of the most expensive residences in the neighborhood, and as a result, the lake became more private. Today, the lake is not visible to the public, and residents can no longer enjoy it in the same way. Nonetheless, Toluca Lake has remained a peaceful and exclusive community to live in.

The lake reaches depths of up to ten feet and is regularly stocked with fish. Its bottom has been sealed with four inches of asphalt to prevent seepage, and the water level is maintained by the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, a non-profit organization formed in 1934. The water is pumped from the Los Angeles underground aquifer, ensuring that the lake’s water level remains consistent.