Oddity Odysseys

Exploring Vasquez Rocks

Written and Produced by Bethany Guerrero

Cinematography and Visual Effects by C. Drew Unser

Special Thanks to: Dave Guerrero

Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Premiered June 10, 2017

Located in the town of Agua Dulce by Santa Clarita and Palmdale are the Vasquez Rocks — rocks that point toward the sky with their jagged formations as if launching back to the alien planet they seem to have come from. But they weren't always "alien planet" looking. Due to 8 to 15 million years of earthquake activity along the nearby Elkhorn fault, the sandstone rocks uplifted creating their odd slant.

From 1873 to 1874, a man named Tiburcio Vasquez was wanted for cattle theft, highway robbery and burglaries. Vasquez used the caves and hidden corners to elude capture. With charm, endearing looks and charisma, Vasquez gave inspiration for Johnston McCulley's "Zorro." The locals who knew of Tiburcio Vasquez and his use of the rocks to elude capture, started to call the patch of land, Vasquez rocks, and the name stuck.

With a Hollywood-type tale of the rocks' namesake, it was not long before Hollywood tapped into the potential. Executive producer, Stanley Bergerman opted to use Vasquez rocks to portray Tibet in the 1935 film, Werewolf of London. Hollywood noticed and gobbled up the picturesque Vasquez rocks which became a new Hollywood star. Since then, Vasquez rocks became the filming locations for "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Blazing Saddles," "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," "Roswell," "The Flintstones" and "Star Trek."

Vasquez rocks is now a registered natural park area and can be enjoyed and explored from sunrise to sundown. Check out our newest episode to see the infamous Vasquez Rocks.

Join the hosts as they explore more of the unusual, bizarre and storied places across Los Angeles at OddityOdysseys.com and catch a new episode weekly on their YouTube channel.

C. Drew Unser's background includes more than 10 years of experience as a cinematographer, editor, visual effects artist and compositor. He has worked on multiple television productions, web series, documentaries and features for various clients, including PBS, Warner Bros., CW Seed, My Damn Channel, Nerdist, IGN, Yahoo, Purina, Vevo, Freeform and HEC-TV. Unser is a proud member of the International Cinematographer's Guild and has been honored with five regional Emmy Award nominations and one win.

Bethany Guerrero moved to Los Angeles in 2010 with strong native roots in Southern California. She studied newspaper production at Grossmont College in San Diego for two years, then relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her passion of storytelling. Always looking for diversity to perfect her craft in writing, Bethany has published in ALO magazine, joined the creative panel of the Starbucks Barista Focus Group and is the writer, producer and blogger for YouTube Channel, "Oddity Odysseys."

Grateful for the opportunity to host, write and tell stories through Oddity Odysseys, Bethany hopes to continue her partnership with Drew Unser and to gain sponsorship to venture into other cities and for the show to grow its audience.