Tarzan and the City of Jungle Dreams: The Story of Tarzana, California
So, you're wondering how a place ended up with a name straight out of a jungle adventure? Well, buckle up, because this is a story wilder than any of Tarzan's exploits.
Tarzan, But Make It Suburban
Let’s get one thing straight: nobody in Tarzana is swinging from vines or eating raw meat. It's a pretty normal suburban place, filled with people who probably prefer Netflix to the jungle. But the name? That's a whole different story.
You see, it all started with a guy named Edgar Rice Burroughs. Now, this dude was no ordinary Joe. He was the mastermind behind the swinging, vine-grabbing, ape-talking legend himself: Tarzan. And guess what? He decided to buy a ranch in California. A big, fancy ranch.
A Name is Born
When it came time to name his new pad, Burroughs didn’t go for something boring like "Burroughs Ranch" or "Edgar’s Excellent Estate". Nope, he went with the obvious choice: Tarzana. Because, why not? It's like naming your kid "Batman" or "Wonder Woman". You're basically setting them up for life.
So, Burroughs built his jungle paradise (or at least as close as you can get in Southern California) and lived happily ever after. But the story doesn't end there. Eventually, the land was developed into a neighborhood. And guess what the people called it? You guessed it: Tarzana.
Living Up to the Name
Now, you might be wondering if the residents of Tarzana are all secretly trying to channel their inner Tarzan. Do they have jungle gyms in every backyard? Are there howler monkeys roaming the streets? Sadly, no. But there is a Tarzana Community Cultural Center dedicated to Edgar Rice Burroughs, so that’s something.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the original Tarzan movies were filmed not too far from Tarzana? It's like Hollywood was trying to give the place some extra jungle cred.
How to Tarzan Your Way Through Tarzana
- How to find the spirit of the jungle in Tarzana: Visit the Tarzana Community Cultural Center and immerse yourself in the world of Tarzan.
- How to embrace your inner ape: Try swinging from the monkey bars at a local park (just kidding, don’t actually do that).
- How to experience the Tarzan lifestyle: Watch the classic Tarzan movies and imagine yourself living in the jungle.
- How to spot a real-life Tarzan: Keep an eye out for anyone suspiciously muscular and wearing loincloths. (Again, just kidding.)
- How to avoid becoming monkey food: Stay away from the wild animals (there aren’t any).
