The Lion’s Fountain

Terrific place to stroll through old Culver City. The fountain, the Culver hotel and all the beautiful Art Deco architecture shouldn’t be missed. Dine at any of the nearby (walking distance) restaurants then come here for a short walk and to people watch. Check out the sculpture of Mr. Culver and his wife and child in front of the «skyscraper» hotel.
Kudos to Culver City for keeping the history of the city alive!

I stayed at the Culver Hotel this past year and had the pleasure of seeing what I’ve dubbed the «Awesome Lion» at night… maybe it was the great wine I had across the street combined with the high of being in LA for the first time, but something about this lion just made me feel happy, whimsical and magical! I got an amazing picture of him that I’ll try to post… I posted it and got so many compliments – people thought I’d taken it on a movie set somewhere. It DOES have that feeling to it, doesn’t it!

This is one of my favorite spots in Culver City. I love how there are always kids playing around at this fountain.
The last time I was here, there were two kids running around. When the water started spouting out real high they started climbing up the fountain and hanging on for dear life so that they wouldn’t get wet.
Other times, I have seen kinds running through the fountain trying not to get wet.

Just spent about an hour sitting by this pretty fountain in DT Culver city. I wonder what the story is behind it, who talked the city into installing it, and who designed it?
Kids are constantly bolting in and out of the water sprays screaming with glee. Today there were a few dogs feverishly barking with joy as they got doused by the random jets. It’s definitely great medicine for the soul just to sit sometimes and watch the world move around you.

I cry very, very easily, but this sculpture did not make me cry. Still, it’s a beautiful sculpture. I like to call it the hippy lion.

Truth be told, this fountain made me cry & I do not cry easily.
This beautiful 2004 bronze sculpture by artist Douglas Olmsted Freeman graces the plaza next to the historic Culver Hotel. It captured my heart. I began to walk away after taking a photo of what I thought to be just another fountain with a very cool statue in its center.
But then… I heard it. The water spouts surrounding the lion shoot straight up, in staggered, rotating intervals, & when the water comes down & slaps the ground it mimics clapping hands, dancing feet, or drums, with rhythm.
This is a masterpiece of design.
An audience of children broke into spontaneous dance.
I cried with joy.