FrontGate Real Estate - Welcome Home

If this creek-side cabin had a mantra, it would be The Spirit of Finding Your Own Way. This philosophy has been epitomized for 14 years by the current owners who created the Topanga Creek Outpost, seeking a benevolent connection with nature and commerce.This cottage, which is part bicycle shop & artisanal leather goods workspace, could also be a two-bedroom, one bath cabin home as it is one of a handful of properties zoned for business in the canyon.Upon entering this rustic environment past a fence with whimsical murals and through a gate with a carved peace sign, visitors often forget what they came for and experience the pleasures of being lost in an eclectic world apart from the click-now-and-get-it-tomorrow existence. Time slows, one discovery leads to another, an oak canopied courtyard, a bubbling fountain, a wood bridge straddling a rocky creek, a hidden putting green.Inside, high beamed ceilings are swagged in a surreal mix of bicycle frames, a wood burning potbelly stove in the corner, oak-planked walls draped in leather belts and canvas bags, a well-worn dog bed rests on the multi-colored hand-crafted wood floors. Mixed among the items on offer is the heart of the cabin, a small kitchen where the owners bake banana bread and brew coffee daily for their guests. Topanga is an ethereal mountain community on the outskirts of LA, an artist enclave since the 1950’s, home to legendary musicians like Woodie Guthrie, Neil Young and Alice Cooper. In fact, the cabin is rumored to have been the practice studio for Jim Morrison and the Eagles. The creative vibe is felt everywhere, inspiring the owners to tear down the standard retail store slot walls and replace them with handmade display furniture, all crafted in-house. A friend of the shop dropped off a box of scrap guitar wood as fuel for the shop’s potbelly stove. Fascinated by the interesting shapes of half-finished guitar necks, head stocks, and main bodies, the crew crafted tables so unique, they not only created an artisanal ambience, but they resonated with the musical history of the shop. When you visit, chances are a mechanic will be working on a new bicycle under the oak trees, a craftsman will be hand-dying leather and the spirit of finding your own way will be profound.