Koi Ponds In and Around Ventura County and Surrounding Areas

On a recent visit to The Commons at Calabasas we were treated to a beautiful pond full of koi and turtles cohabitating. Koi comes from the Japanese word nishikigoi, which means "brocaded carp." Koi is basically domesticated, ornamental carp. In Japanese, the word koi sounds like another word that mean affection or love.

Where to find koi in Ventura County and surrounding areas? Here's what we know:

There is a koi pond at The Promenade at Westlake, next to Marmalade Cafe.

Friendly looking koi looking for handouts at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks.

The bottom level pond at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks has lots of koi, frolicking around with the ducks, even during the winter when the Holiday Ice Rink is in use.

Green Thumb Nursery on Victoria Avenue in Ventura has a small koi pond container in the back that is fun to observe with the kids.

The pristine Gardens of the World on Thousand Oaks Boulevard has a Japanese Garden that contains a beautiful koi pond.

Koi pond at The Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks

The Santa Barbara Zoo has a large koi pond area with some very healthy looking koi, swimming among the lily pads.

Last I checked there were a lot of koi amongst the hundreds of ducks at Conejo Creek Park in Thousand Oaks.

The Simi Valley Town Center has a koi pond on the west side of the mall where you can get up close and personal with them.

Koi pond at west end near Studio Movie Grill.

As noted at the beginning of the article The Commons at Calabasas has quite a lovely koi and turtle pond.

The turtles are quite prominent at The Commons at Calabasas. Don't touch them!

When in Santa Barbara, be sure to stop by Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, a beautiful botanic garden with over 75 tree and plant species, a large koi pond also home to ducks and turtles, picnic areas and more. Quite a serene place.

Only 25 miles from the Conejo Valley is the Lake Shrine Meditation Gardens in Pacific Palisades. This 10 acre spiritual sanctuary hosts a spring-fed lake lined with gardens and home to koi, ducks and beautiful swans.

Residential Holiday Light Displays in the Conejo Valley and Surrounding Areas

Once again we expect numerous spectacular residential holiday light displays throughout the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas this 2023 Christmas season! We've compiled this list of displays that are synchronized to music and/or are particularly bright, eye catching or noteworthy. This list is growing daily, after we confirm a display is up and running.

Click the links below for more detailed information about each display. Since these are residential displays, timing can and will vary and of course be impacted by rain, wind and other factors.

HOLIDAY SEASON EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT VENTURA COUNTY

CONEJO VALLEY DISPLAYS

Entertaining residential display at 2768 Baywater Place in Thousand Oaks is simulcast to music on 87.9 FM. Learn more and vote for your favorite songs at www.baywaterlights.com.

See a festive display with plenty of cartoon characters at 3337 Lang Ranch Parkway in Thousand Oaks. The residents will be hosting Santa and elves on Fridays, December 8th and 15 from 7-9PM. Hot chocolate will be served.

A visually appealing holiday light display at a residence on Flaming Star Avenue and Shenandoah Street in Thousand Oaks (take Lynn Road to Avenida de las Flores and head west) is back again this year for the holiday season. Light, bright and fun!

Residential 50,000 light and music display on Via Patricia (cross street Via Ricardo) in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park is back up and running this year. Simulcast to music on 89.7 FM. Perennially one of the most entertaining displays around town. Worth going out of your way for!

Beautiful and extremely bright and colorful holiday display is back up at a residence at 982 Golden Crest Avenue at Antelope Place in Newbury Park. Also features talking Santa Claus. Toy drive 11/24-12/25. Fire department visit on 12/8 at 6:30PM. Live Santa Claus photos on December 8, 15, 16 and 23 at 6:30PM. Questions? 805-813-3999

Fun, festive, colorful, synchronized light display at 538 Brisbaine Avenue, Newbury Park 5PM-10PM nightly through 12/31. Simulcast to music on 100.5 FM.

Neat display at a home on Montgomery Road, just south of Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. This is a perennial display that has been up like clockwork for the holiday season for many years.

Gigantic Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and other fun decor at a home on Via Coronado, west of Borchard, in the Dos Vientos section of Newbury Park.

Outstanding high-tech light show set to music will be back again this year starting Saturday, December 2nd at a home on Doone Street (cross street Warwick) in Thousand Oaks. Several nearby homes are nicely decorated with holiday cheer too. A local must see!

Bright, colorful display is back yet again this year at a home at the corner of Holloway Street and Wendy Drive in Newbury Park.

There is a pretty and bright display that populates the entire front yard of 1170 Earlham Court in Oak Park, south of Pathfinder Ave. Dozens of lighted snowmen and other cartoon characters. On weekends, they have two snow machines, Elf movie on, and dancing Santa and reindeer. Accepting donations for local charity, James Storehouse.

Fun cast of characters, including The Grinch and others, at a bright display at a home on Orangewood Avenue, north of Felton, in Newbury Park.

Gorgeous display is back again this year at a home on Middle Crest Drive, south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, in Agoura Hills.

Another display full of colorful lights and decorations at a home on Camino Dos Rios, west of Lynn Road, on the right (north) side

Fun animated residential display simulcast to music at a home on Mapleleaf Ave (cross street Madrid) in Newbury Park. Music simulcast on 97.7 FM.

Residential light show is back at 1062 Sheffield Place in Thousand Oaks. Open 5:30-10PM daily through December 31st. Music simulcast on FM 87.9. Vote for your favorite songs at www.sheffieldlights.com.

Once again this year, there's a particularly festive, brightly lit residence on Shetland Place in the North Ranch section of Thousand Oaks. While you’re there, drive Upper Ranch Road and Golf Course Drive for some festive lighting on some beautiful trees.

Christmas spirit on display at two homes on Verde Vista Drive (across from Cambria St) in Thousand Oaks (near CLU, north of Olsen).

Fun display with several dozen inflatables of all types and plenty of flashing lights at a home at the corner of Briarcliff Road and Windsor Drive in Thousand Oaks.

Lots of lights, lighted figures and about 11 lighted palm trees at a home at the corner of Bernadine St and Wauneta St in Newbury Park.

Festive, colorful and bright displays at several homes on Yew Drive in Newbury Park. Take Borchard, turn south on Carob, then an immediate left on Yew.

Fun residential Christmas display simulcast to holiday tunes at a home at 1455 Valley High Ave in Thousand Oaks, between La Granada and Sapra. Will be open sunset to 10PM daily through the end of the month.

A fun residential display is back again this year with music and brightly lit cast of cartoon characters at a home on Donald Avenue, just east of Wendy Drive, in Newbury Park.

Bright display with a tremendous cast of characters at 3337 Frankie Drive in Newbury Park. There’s also a talking Santa Claus, in fact, multiple Santa Clauses, reindeer and more.

Fun holiday display at a home at the end of the cul de sac on Summerfield Street off of Mountclef across from CLU in Thousand Oaks. This whole neighborhood area located east of Mountclef between Olsen and Arboles is a good family drive-through, with a nice assortment of displays...access from Summerfield and Hetherglow.

Beautiful Christmas light display at a home on Kingham Court in Agoura Hills (north of T. O. Blvd, off of Grey Rock Road).

Brisbaine display in Newbury Park. Was up before Thanksgiving this year!

NEARBY CITY DISPLAYS

Huge and awesome neighborhood display in the area of Timberdale and Pinedale Roads in Moorpark (just west of Moorpark High School, off of Countrywood Drive). Dozens of homes decorated in bright lights and decorations.

Fantastic multi-family residential holiday light display on Gemini and Waverly Ave and Saturn Street in Camarillo is taking shape. Great one to bring the kids to….lots of cartoon character decorations and a great area to park the car, stroll and enjoy. You won’t be disappointed. Take Arneill to Dunnigan St, east to Gemini Avenue.

12/10-12/26: Oxnard Christmas Tree Lane along F & G Streets between 5th and Palm in the Downtown Oxnard Historic District is a perennially great display you need to experience. Nightly 6PM-10PM.

Candy Cane Lane is a group of homes located in the vicinity of Lubao Avenue at Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills that has been fun to drive through for over 60 years.

Auburn Lane Community at Summerwood Avenue in Simi Valley has thousands of Christmas lights strung from house to house over the streets of the entire neighborhood and most every home is decorated. Santa will make an appearance from 6-9PM on Sat 12/9. (Overflow parking at Church of LDS at 5028 Cochran St (at Summerwood). See www.facebook.com/auburnlane.

Winter Wonderland Holiday Display at 469 Highland Road in Simi Valley has well over 100, maybe 200 figurines and happy characters throughout the yard. Cross street Sinaloa, south of Royal. Also see their Facebook page for updates.

Christmas light display with music synced to music at a home on Fieldcrest Drive in Camarillo.

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The fun single home cartoon Disney character display at the corner of Timberlane Ave and Fearing St in Simi Valley has retired, according to a sign posted on the side of the house. SEE PHOTOS AT THIS LINK.

Aviation Museum of Santa Paula is Open to the Public the First Sunday of Each Month

The Santa Paula Airport was dedicated in August 1930. Today it is a non-towered facility with nearly 300 aircraft, handling approximately 97,000 arrivals/departures a year. Much of the original 1930’s-era facilities still exist and are used today, giving the airport a very authentic representation of the Golden Age of Aviation.

Located at the Santa Paula Airport, the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula is open the first Sunday of each month, with an array of hangars open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Upcoming dates: November 5, December 3

Each of the privately owned hangars houses a variety of vintage aircraft and collections of various types, as well as other memorabilia, such as antique radios, model aircraft and race cars. Some hangars celebrate highlights of fascinating aviation careers, while others contain antique aircraft undergoing the process of restoration. Hangar owners or docents are available to answer questions. 

You've got to take the time to stop by. It is fun, low key and quite interesting. The hangars are directly adjacent to the airfield, so you are guaranteed to see aircraft taking off and landing up close.

Obviously an aviation aficionado in this hangar!

The participating hangars are fairly well spread out at the 51 acre airport but if you're not up for walking, there's a complimentary tram that will take you around. These are some very nice people who have obvious passion for what they do and enjoy sharing it with the general public. I struck up conversations with several hangar owners and they were full of great stories and information.

There is no charge for visiting the Aviation Museum, though donations are welcomed. Visit www.aviationmuseumofsantapaula.org or call 805.525.1109 for more information.

The Museum is not open on rainy days.

Directions: Arriving by car from the east, exit the Santa Paula Freeway (SR 126) at 10th street, turn right off the ramp, and then a quick left onto Harvard Boulevard. Turn left at the next signal at Eighth Street, under the freeway, left onto Santa Maria Street and park in the lot. Arriving from the west, exit the freeway at Palm Avenue, turn right and then a quick left onto Santa Maria Street, about a half mile to the end at the parking lot.

Lots to see, both inside and outside of the hangars.

Historical and Cultural Landmark Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley

Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village in Simi Valley is a California Historical Landmark, Ventura County Cultural Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bottle Village is a .3 acre lot located at 4595 Cochran Street that contains shrines, walkways, sculptures and buildings made from recycled items and discards from local landfills. All of these structures were built by hand over a 25 year old period by Tressa "Grandma" Prisbrey, beginning at age 60 in 1956 until 1972. Thirteen buildings and 22 sculptures in total.

A non-profit organization, Preserve Bottle Village (PBV), was formed in 1979. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake caused extensive damage to the Bottle Village site. PBV has embarked on a campaign to develop a master plan for the restoration of significant site components. Learn how you can help at bottlevillage.weebly.com.

Grandma Prisbrey sold the property in 1972 to care for an ailing son, but came back several years later to continue building and to give tours.  She died in 1988 at the age of 92.

Elvis Presley "Wheels on My Heels" from "Roustabout" Filmed in Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, 1964

The 1964 musical film “Roustabout,” starring Elvis Presley, was filmed at Paramount Studios, with carnival scenes in Thousand Oaks. And there was this scene of Elvis on his Honda 305 Superhawk motorcycle in Hidden Valley, singing “Wheels on my Hills.”

It is remarkable how little has changed in Hidden Valley, 55 years after the Elvis film was shot.

Scenes Around the Conejo Valley Before and After the Winter Rainstorms of 2022-2023

Here's a compilation of "before and after" scenes from various places in the Conejo Valley - Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake Village after this past season of rainstorms. All of these local area trail can be found at THIS LINK.

Video Footage From the 1967 Conejo Valley Days Parade and Miss Conejo Pageant

This is a treat...video footage from the 1967 Conejo Valley Days Parade and Miss Conejo 1967 Beauty Pageant.

Speaking of Conejo Valley Days, the 2024 event is planned for June 20-30. Conejo Valley Days has been an annual community tradition since 1956. www.conejovalleydays.us

You may recognize scenes from Thousand Oaks Boulevard, though the Conejo Lodge and Sizzler are certainly long gone.

The Miss Conejo Pageant featured Miss Sally Shop, Miss Conejo Music Center, Miss A&W Root Beer, Miss Conejo Muffler, Miss Service Master, Miss Sizzler and others.