California parks to be featured in 2-part TV series

Award-winning production company Backcountry Pictures’ latest project, “California Forever”, will air nationally on PBS stations throughout the fall, beginning in California in September.

“California Forever” is a two-part television special that tells the story of California’s state parks from 1864 until present day. Episode one of “California Forever” highlights the discovery and creation of California’s state parks system, taking viewers on a scenic, cultural and historical tour of California’s state parks. The second episode presents the very real challenges that the state parks are currently facing, including habitat destruction by overuse; protection of native species at the expense of recreation; reclaiming industrial brown fields to create new parks in dense urban areas; and park closures.

“California Forever” was produced over two years, and comprised 70-plus days of shooting at more than 45 state parks, including complex indoor settings such as Hearst Castle and the California Railroad Museum, as well as vast outdoor spaces like Yosemite and the California Coast. From the majesty of Lake Tahoe to the arid inspiration of the Anza Borrego Desert, the filmmakers bring the vibrant California State Parks to life.