Chico is home to some interesting history tied to its streets, not just where Chico State students crawl after their usual night out at Riley’s Bar.

Chico residents cross Warner Street and never stop to think where the name comes from. The more well-known streets downtown, like the ones that spell C.H.I.C.O. tend to steal the spotlight away from Warner. 

Warner Street runs through the middle of campus, eventually turning into Ivy Street. Ivy is most known for being ‘frat row’ because it houses most of the sororities and fraternities that are popular within Chico State. 

Warner Street, formerly North Ivy, was renamed in 1937 by the Chico City Council. It crosses West Sacramento Ave, making it the intersection behind the Chico State campus. 

It was renamed after filming for “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938) ended. It was dedicated as a thank you to Warner Bros., as they were the producing company in charge of creating the film. 

“The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938) was filmed in Chico, with filming locations residing in Bidwell Park, Big Chico Creek, and Chico Canyon. 

The main actors, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, even spent some time at the neighboring town of Paradise during their days off from filming. They even got in trouble with production for chartering a plane and escaping the stress of filming. 

Chico has memorialized Robin Hood in more ways than just naming a street after the company. 

Caper Acres, a playground near Chico’s One Mile park, has a fairy-tale theme with Robin Hood accessories and has been open since 1970.

A Maid Marian throne, a zip line and a lair all align with the Robin Hood theme, adding to the fairy-tale element kids of all ages enjoy. 

Caper Acres is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with the park being closed on Mondays. 

More famous movies with filming locations in Chico, especially Bidwell Park, include: “Gone with the Wind” (1939), “The Red Badge of Courage” (1951), “Another Tin Man” (1939), and “Stolen Innocence” (1995). 

Diana Sowle, the mother in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), was born in Chico even attended Chico High School. Matthew Morrison, most known for his humorous character in “Glee”, was born in Fort Ord, California, but spent most of his childhood living in Chico. 

One of the more well-known celebrities to come out of Chico is Aaron Rodgers. He is a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and announced his retirement earlier this past month. He attended Pleasant Valley High School as well as Butte Community College before heading off to the University of California, Berkeley. 

Elizabeth Perez can be reached at [email protected]