Kelly Gulch sits on nine historic acres that were once part of the expansive Cheney homestead, established in the late 1800s when Mose Cheney claimed 160 acres along Garapatos Creek, eventually expanding to 640 acres. At the turn of the century, Mose deeded 40 acres each to his sons George and Tom. The Kelly's future property would emerge from George's portion.

In 1970, the Kellys moved to Topanga. Finding their 750-square-foot house too cramped for their family of four, Mike spotted a real estate ad for a nearby nine-acre parcel. Upon viewing the property, Frank immediately recognized it as his favorite hiking spot, a place he had "loved from the first time I saw it." They purchased the land in 1978 and embarked on their dream of building a home.

Sharing an appreciation for vintage beauty, they chose to construct a log home that would harmonize with the unspoiled landscape. Frank assembled it from a "Real Log Homes" kit, completing the rough structure in six weeks and finishing the entire project within a year. He then turned his attention to building a barn, originally intended as a modest shed for his Model A Ford. Local architect Ral Curran designed what evolved into a two-story, 1,152-square-foot structure that became home to Frank's extensive vintage collection.

Today, Kelly Gulch is run by three best friends who have masterfully combined their work and play to create a life well lived. While maintaining the land's natural, open character, they've preserved the whimsical installations Frank created from his vintage collections.

The property's journey into show business began serendipitously in 1984 when scouts for "Friday the 13th, Part IV" discovered the log cabin. Since then, Kelly Gulch has hosted over 200 productions, featuring its Log Cabin Home, Red Barn, charming Tree Cottage, enclosed garden, oak-dotted meadows, and scenic hilltop vistas. The location has appeared in numerous movies, commercials, and TV shows, including "Parks and Rec" and notably as a central location for six seasons of NBC's "THIS IS US." The property has welcomed renowned actors like Pierce Brosnan, Joanne Woodward, Reba McEntire, Robert Stack, James Caan, Alan Aldo, Mira Sorvino, and Charles Bronson. It's been featured in episodes of "Falcon Crest" and "The Rockford Files," and served as a backdrop for films like "Eraser" and "Murphy's Law," with its back porch memorably transformed into an animal clinic for the film "Shiloh."