Photo: Reel Inn Malibu
If you have ever surfed Topanga, you know the Reel Inn. Nestled right across PCH from the iconic surf break, the restaurant, known for both its excellent seafood and pithy aquatic puns scrawled in chalk on the sign out front, has been a Malibu institution for the past 36 years. Yesterday, it burned to the ground.
The destruction was caused by the still-ongoing Palisades wildfire. Stoked by “life-threatening” winds with gusts of up to 100 mph, the blaze has burned over 3,000 acres so far and claimed over 1,000 homes, businesses and other buildings in Pacific Palisades and along Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The fire has jumped Topanga Canyon and is threatening the Topanga Ranch Motel and the Reel Inn Malibu pic.twitter.com/zFOQJDDpMs
— The Malibu Times (@TheMalibuTimes) January 8, 2025
Around 4:00 p.m., the fire jumped Topanga Canyon and began to threatening the Topanga Ranch Motel and Reel Inn, as the Malibu Times reported. Residents of nearby Tuna Canyon Road were urged to evacuate. Later that night, ABC7 reported the fire had claimed the businesses, as confirmed by a post to the Reel Inn Instagram account.
BREAKING: The iconic Reel Inn and Topanga Ranch Motel have burned down #PalisadesFire pic.twitter.com/hWWXxbkGa5
— Fiona Moriarty (@factswithfiona) January 8, 2025
“All of our staff are safe,” wrote Reel Inn owners Teddy and Andy Leonard on Instagram. “We are so grateful for the 36 years we’ve been a part of the community. Grateful to all of our customers. We are heartbroken and unsure what will be left. Hopefully the state parks will let us rebuild when the dust settles. Thank you for all of the love and support.”
Other neighboring businesses destroyed were Rosenthal Wines, Cholada Thai, Malibu Feed Bin and the Topanga Ranch Motel.
