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Unique Southern California Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch

Vintage Gilmore Gas Station at Night – Los Angeles Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Are you looking for a unique Southern California wedding venue? Search no further, because Middleton Ranch in Acton, Calif., is going to woo you with its one-of-a-kind vintage beauty.

The ranch was born out of a love for Americana by Christine Selover’s late husband, Dan, an automotive memorabilia collector. Over a decade ago, Dan moved from Burbank, Calif., to a tucked away valley off the beaten path in Acton to start the ranch. Now, Christine and her daughter-in-law Katherine rent the ranch to film companies looking for a piece of Americana. They’ve recently began offering it to couples who want a truly unique space for their rustic wedding in the desert.

Think of enjoying a milkshake at a diner just off the highway, a gas station with attendants pumping gas, neon lights, and beautiful cars. These are the images that Middleton Ranch conjures up.

The property is a creative gold mine for weddings and engagement sessions. It features a panoramic vista point, a small wrecking yard with retired cars, a modern gas station, a 50’s diner, a garage of gadgets, and my favorite: a vintage Gilmore gas station.

Imagine a sunset ceremony overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains, portraits in the car graveyard, and a first dance under the neon lights and stars. Think of it, Angelenos … you can see the stars out here! Katherine says that the family has joked that Dan “was creating his own city at Middleton because he missed the city lights.”

All right, y’all, put on yer cowboy boots and take a photo-walk through Middleton Ranch:

Ranch Sign – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Vintage Gilmore Gas Station – Los Angeles Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The centerpiece of Middleton Ranch is the vintage Gilmore gas station. It’s a gorgeous setting for an outdoor reception. String up some market lights and toast as the sun sets.

Gilmore Gas Station – Vintage LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The Gilmore service pumps would be a rockin’ backdrop for the retro bride looking for some 50’s flare.

Modern Gas Station Location – Middleton Ranch Vintage Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

A modern gas station and cafe stand adjacent to the Gilmore station. For a truly unique experience, a couple could hold their ceremony and reception under the station awning. That would be a real trip!

Fifties Cafe – Rustic Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The retro cafe is accessible for wedding day portraits and engagement sessions.

Inside the Cafe - Unique Los Angeles Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The diner is complete with a faux kitchen, booths, bar stools, and a mini-mart dressed with props.

Inside the Cafe – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comVintage Coke Bottles and Cafe – Vintage Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comBig Boy Fridge and Cafe - Vintage LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Receipt Holder in Fifties Cafe – Rustic Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The diner and ranch have been used as sets for television shows like The Sons of Anarchy and Scorpion.

Vintage Gas Station – Middleton Ranch Vintage Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Middleton Ranch is pet-friendly! The resident guard dog helped give us the tour. She was an absolute sweetheart. Please be sure to discuss pets with the owners, before booking an event at Middleton.

Vintage Garage – Los Angeles Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

An awesome place for groomsmen portraits would be the old vintage garage. Also known as the “man cave.”

Vintage Garage for Wedding – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The garage is a wonderland of hood ornaments, car parts, vintage oil cans, license plates, and more!

Vintage Telephone and Bottles – Vintage LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comGarage Wall of Antique Cans – Los Angeles Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comFord Sign in Vintage Garage – Rustic Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comRustic Garage – Middleton Ranch Vintage Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comDog Walking Past Vintage Garage – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Middleton Ranch Water Tower – Vintage LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Included in the venue rental is a bridal suite in one of the houses on property.

Liquor Market Sign in Junkyard – Los Angeles Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Above the property is a plateau with a car graveyard. It’s an amazing location for bride and groom portraits. Imagine all the unique images you can create among the retired signs, vintage cars, and truck parts.

Vintage Car Graveyard Engagement Location – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

How cool would it be to juxtapose a done-up bride and groom next to one of these abandoned treasures.

Vintage Yellow Truck – Vintage Los Angeles Engagement Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Love. This. Truck!

Middleton Ranch Truck – Rustic Acton Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comMiddleton Ranch Vintage Yellow Truck – Acton Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comOld Car Junk Yard – Middleton Ranch Vintage Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comCar Reflected in Side Mirror – Southern California Rustic Engagement Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Old Car Graveyard – Rustic Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

When the sun starts to set up on the plateau … holy moly! It’s a stunning location for engagements, bridal portraits … even an extra creative wedding family portrait!

Vista Ceremony Overlook – Acton Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The beautiful vista point next to the wrecking yard overlooks the mountains. It’s a blank canvas for a sunset ceremony. Or, it would also be a perfect parking lot for guests.

Vista Overlook – Rustic Southern California Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The expansive plateau is a stunning canvas for a DIY bride to create her dream wedding. This event location accommodates very large groups, and comes with an arbor and gift table for decoration.

Train By Middleton Ranch – Acton Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

From the vista, you can see the whole ranch below. If you’re lucky, the train will pass by!

Gilmore Gas Station LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comGilmore Gas Station Neon Sign – Acton Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Vintage Gas Station Pump – Southern California Rustic Engagement Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

More intimate ceremonies and receptions can be held by the vintage Gilmore Station.

Gilmore Gas Station Vintage Wedding Venue – Acton, California – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Gilmore Gas Station Pump – Vintage Los Angeles Engagement Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The light at golden-hour turns the location into magic. The mixture of neon, vintage details, and the lavender sky of dusk is breathtaking.

Middleton Ranch Overlook – Southern California Rustic Engagement Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comMiddleton Ranch Overlook – Rustic Acton Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.comDog Walks Past Gas Station – Acton Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Fifties Cafe at Night – Rustic Acton Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Several music videos have also been shot at Middleton, including “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift, and “Your Body” by Christina Aguilera.

Gilmore Gas Station at Dusk – Unique LA Wedding Location: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Gilmore Gas Station – Middleton Ranch Vintage Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

The sun sets, the stars come out, and the Gilmore station becomes absolute magic!

Gilmore Service Station Gas Pumps – Rustic Acton Wedding Location – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Gilmore Gas Station at Night – Los Angeles Wedding Venue: Middleton Ranch – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Nothing would be more unique than a couple’s first dance with the Gilmore station as the backdrop!

Middleton Ranch Business Cards – Vintage LA Wedding Venue – Russell Gearhart Photography – www.gearhartphoto.com

Fantastic, huh? This location makes me want to open an old-fashioned bottle of Coke and dance under the stars!

Please contact Middleton Ranch directly for more details on renting the Ranch for your wedding. Tell Christine and Katherine we sent you!

Middleton Ranch Wedding Venue Printable One-Sheet

Middleton Ranch Wedding Venue Printable One-Sheet

Not sure this is the location? Don’t fret, we’re putting together a growing collection of other fun Southern California wedding venues:

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