![Professor Lowe had a dream to make the beautiful Mountains overlooking the cities of Altadena / Pasadena accessible to average citizens. After much planning, many exploratory trips on horseback, he and Engineer Thomas McPherson located a series of routes that could be built upon with a series of rail cars to reach miles back into the forest and eventually all the way to the top of Mount Wilson. Financing the project himself, Professor Lowe proceeded to build his dream which eventually reached all the way to the base of Mount Lowe (named after Professor Lowe, previously known as Oak Mountain). At its peak, it was the top honeymoon destination in America. Beginning with the famous red car lines in California, Professor Lowe extended the line up through the rolling hills in Rubio Canyon where a small hotel was built at the base of new incline rail systems that would take a visitor up a mile along a ridge overlooking the LA Basin to the top of Echo Mountain.
The top of Echo Mountain became a little city of its own with places to eat, order picnic lunches, shop at stores, dormitories for employees, power generating station to power Echo Mountain facilities. There was also a trolley repair building and pit, observation decks at various spots, trails that could be taken by hikers both up and down the mountain and into the Alpine regions, tennis courts, stables and a now little known zoo. The entire assembly of buildings were painted white and because of the view from far below, became known as "The White City in the sky". The “opera box” great incline cars were also white and could be seen from afar ferrying up and down the hill. On a ridge behind the Echo Mountain ridge was an observatory building with a working 16 inch telescope housed in a round domed building. The foundations can still be found at the site as well as the cement stand which is what the telescope was mounted upon. It was Professor Lowe's intention to build the rail system all the way to the top of Mount Wilson along with additional hotels and facilities on the top of Mount Wilson. Later, much of the path of the large 100" telescope and observatory built on Mount Wilson was used to transport the delicate 100" mirror to the top of Mount Wilson.
[From Wikipedia]](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6058643/03e5e617-ede3-45ea-9817-79e95ae8eb81.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1200&h=500&q=medium)
Photo by CHH Hiker
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8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (5309)
"Clean room and staff was very friendly and helpful"
Vardan
The price is AED 504
AED 562 total
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21 Dec - 22 Dec
7.6 out of 10, Good, (1273)
"Great place to stay and front desk staff was very nice and helpful."
Misty
The price is AED 327
AED 380 total
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14 Dec - 15 Dec
7.8 out of 10, Good, (3309)
"Friendly staff and good area around hotel "
Jacob
The price is AED 355
AED 400 total
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21 Dec - 22 Dec
The Hollywood Franklin Hotel near Universal Studios
The Hollywood Franklin Hotel near Universal StudiosHollywood
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1596)
"Cool place, would definitely stay here again. "
Joel
The price is AED 507
AED 625 total
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18 Dec - 19 Dec
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (1193)
"Clean room, helpful staff and self laundry my favorite place to stay when in LA"
Edwin
The price is AED 629
AED 731 total
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21 Dec - 22 Dec
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, (1372)
"Clean room, friendly staffs, plenty parking space (daily fee), nice amenities. "
Vyana
The price is AED 528
AED 597 total
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23 Dec - 24 Dec
8.6 out of 10, Excellent, (1777)
" great stay"
valeria
The price is AED 465
AED 690 total
includes taxes & fees
16 Dec - 17 Dec
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Nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains, Altadena offers spectacular hiking trails including the popular Echo Mountain and Eaton Canyon Falls. Explore Christmas Tree Lane's historic deodars or visit the Cobb Estate's haunted ruins before heading to nearby Pasadena's museums and gardens.
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