Paramount Ranch Recreation Area in Agoura

The Woolsey Fire in November 2018 destroyed the historic structures at Paramount Ranch described below. However, there is a plan to rebuild four of the structures in 2024-2025. More information at www.nps.gov/samo/learn/historyculture/paramount-past-present-and-future.htm.

Paramount Ranch Western Town Aerial View (Courtesy NPS)

Paramount Ranch is located in Agoura off of Cornell Road, between Kanan Road and Mulholland.  Click here for a map in a pdf file on the National Park Service website.

Paramount Pictures originally purchased 2,700 acres here for use as a "movie ranch" in 1927 and since then, hundreds of movies and TV shows have been filmed there.  A permanent western town was built on the site in the early 1950s using old Paramount Pictures props.  Before the Woolsey Fire of 2018, you could walk freely around these old sets.

Before the Woolsey Fire of November 2018.

The Western Town sign and bridge is still there but most everything surrounding it is burnt after the Woolsey Fire of November 2018.

Western Town at Paramount Ranch destroyed in the Woolsey Fire.

A beacon of hope. Two structures were unharmed in the Woolsey Fire - this church building seen in the TV series “Westworld” and the train station.

A list of movies filmed at Paramount Ranch is here.  These include films like The Last Outlaw (Gary Cooper), The Virginian (Gary Cooper), Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Coogan), Million Dollar Legs (W.C. Fields), Adventures of Marco Polo, Remember  the Night (Barbara Stanwyck) and many more.  From 1992 to 1997, the TV show, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (featuring Jane Seymour) was filmed there.

Beyond the western town, there are plenty of hiking trails at the park.  More information at www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/paramountranch.htm or call the NPS at 805.370.2301.

Ojai Valley Museum

Founded in 1966, the Ojai Valley Museum at 130 West Ojai Avenue has an extensive collection of art, Native American baskets, pioneer tools and photographs of early days in Ojai.

The Ojai Valley Museum Research Library houses archives including historical journals that chronicle the events of early to contemporary Ojai Valley activities.

Suggested donations as of May 2025 is $5 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 18. Open Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Open the 3rd Friday of each month 10 am to 7pm.

For more information, visit www.ojaivalleymuseum.org or call 805.640.1390.

The museum is housed in the former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The beautiful 100+ year old building (built in 1918) is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum in Simi Valley

The Skateboarding Hall of Fame and Museum opened at the Simi Valley Town Center in December 2018. It is located directly across from the Vans store in the mall in a space of over 10,000 square feet.

The International Skateboarding Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Todd Huber. It was created to honor the passion, dedication and contributions to skateboarding history and culture by skateboarders and cultural icons through the decades.

The museum displays hundreds of skateboards and other skating artifacts spanning decades. There is also an art gallery, gift shop, theater/library (over 600 skating videos as well as skating magazines) and skate shop.

Also on site is s skate park with a fun wall ride available to local youth. Cost is $15 (as of March 2024).

Admission to the museum is free. Donations to the non-profit are always welcome.

Visit www.skateboardinghalloffame.org for more information. Hours as of May 2025 are Wed-Fri 2-8pm, Sat 11am-8pm and Sun noon-5pm.

Reagan Ranch Center Exhibit Galleries in Santa Barbara

President Reagan’s home for 25 years and the Western White House during the height of the Cold War, the Reagan Ranch embodies the life and ideas of Ronald Reagan. In the spring of 1998, Young America’s Foundation stepped forward to save the Reagan Ranch; eight years later, in June 2006, the Reagan Ranch Center in downtown Santa Barbara opened its doors. 

The Reagan Ranch Center in downtown Santa Barbara is open to the general public for tours and visitation Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is free.

These galleries feature original Reagan Ranch artifacts matched with state-of-the-art, interactive, multimedia exhibits that highlight the history of Ronald Reagan’s quarter-century at Rancho del Cielo and the accomplishments of his presidency.

Over six hours of dynamic multimedia exhibits provide access to exclusive speeches, interviews, radio addresses, and original video presentations. The centerpiece of the gallery is a 28-foot-long interactive “timeline” that gives users the ability to explore the “Western White House” during the 1980s.

The galleries also feature several unique collections on display, including the Lorraine Wagner Letter Collection, a nearly 300-piece collection of letters written by Ronald Reagan over a 50-year period and the Russell D. Sibert Collection, featuring rare Reagan-related memorabilia such as campaign buttons, posters and commemorative items.

A massive 5,000 pound section of the Berlin Wall greets visitors as they arrive at the Reagan Ranch Center, reminding the world of Ronald Reagan’s role in eliminating this assault on human dignity and freedom. The president’s famous blue Jeep Scrambler, complete with “Gipper” license plate, sits in the center of the gallery, flanked by a selection of his favorite books, an original saddle and chainsaw owned and used by President Reagan.

The Reagan Ranch Center is designed to engage visitors of all ages; younger children can even earn their “Junior Secret Service Clearance” by completing a fun and educational scavenger hunt.

The Reagan Ranch Center is located at 217 State Street next to the train station.

Hunt Olive Tree - Historical Landmark in Thousand Oaks

When Richard Orville Hunt and his wife Mary Jane Hunt planted trees in their orchard on the Salto Ranch (currently Lynn Ranch) over 130 years ago, they probably never contemplated that one of their trees would be thriving next to the Sprouts Farmers Market (previously Circuit City) parking lot. 

Well, that's where this beautiful old timer is.  I'm not exactly sure why the Hunt Olive Tree was moved here from its prior home in 1993, but she looks like she is doing o.k.  This tree at 600 West Hillcrest was designated a Ventura County Historical Landmark #64 on January 25, 1982. It is also Historical Landmark #4 in the City of Thousand Oaks.

Richard Hunt served as postmaster of the Newbury Park Post Office (which at the time was located at his ranch) for 18 years, beginning in 1891.

So go pay homage to this lovely link to our local history en route to buying some fresh fruits, veggies and other health foods at Sprouts!

McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo

McGrath Family Farm at 1012 West Ventura Blvd, Camarillo (take the Central Avenue offramp from the 101...McGrath is just south of the freeway) is a sustainable farm that grows organic fruits, vegetables and flowers for the local community.

The Farm Market is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

We've been here numerous times over the years and I just love the fresh fruit and veggies available most of the year. You can find some nice locally grown gems here like heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, avocados and so much more.

Or pick your own for $10, plus the cost of the produce. Picking season generally starts around April 15th each year.

For more information, visit www.storeatmcgrath.com or call 805.983.0333.

McGrath Farm Tours (as of September 2012)

Feeding the animals at McGrath Family Farm.

California Oil Museum in Santa Paula

SUMMER 2022: THE CALIFORNIA OIL MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED BUT IS MAKING SOME CHANGES. CHECK FOR UPDATES ON THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.CAOILMUSEUM.ORG. (NO UPDATES AS OF MAY 2025)

The California Oil Museum at 1001 E. Main Street, Santa Paula (corner of Main and 10th) is the birthplace of Union Oil Company (aka Unocal and more recently acquired by Chevron in 2005).

The building was completed on October 17, 1890. at the Santa Paula Hardware Company Building, with the Union Oil Company offices upstairs. The company’s main headquarters moved to Los Angeles in 1900, but the building continued to serve as a field division office.

The Union Oil Museum was established in 1950. In 1990, the building was restored to its original appearance for its centennial celebration. Click here for an early picture of the building. The building is also a California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum has one of the largest displays of vintage gas pumps in California. There is a turn of the century (20th century, that is) drilling rig, various displays, videos, working models and gas station memorabilia as well as rotating exhibits about science, technology and transportation as well as other local exhibits on hand.

As of spring 2022, admission was a suggested donation of $5 per person. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.

More information at www.caoilmuseum.org or 805.933.0076.

Left side of California Oil Museum on 10th Street

Display in the rig building.

Olivas Adobe Historical Park - Ventura

The Olivas Adobe Historical Park is operated by the City of Ventura and serviced by the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is State Historical Landmark No. 115.

The Adobe represents a superb example of a large home from the Rancho Period prior to California statehood in 1849. The home was started in 1847 and completed in 1849 through the efforts of local Chumash people, and occupied by Don Raymundo, his wife Teodora, and their 21 children - 8 girls and 13 boys - until 1899.

Ultimately, the City of Ventura received the adobe and a large land parcel from the Max Fleischman Foundation that included 450 acres that extended from the Olivas Adobe to the ocean, where the Olivas Golf Course, the San Buenaventura Water Reclamation Facility and the Harbor are now located. The Park includes exhibits, extensive gardens, and the restored adobe buildings.

The Olivas Adobe is also available for weddings, receptions, fiestas and special events.

The park is located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive in Ventura.  Grounds are open daily. Free admission. Costumed docent-led tours of the house take place on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (tour tickets are $5 for adults $3 for children and seniors). For more information, visit www.olivasadobe.org or call 805.658.4728.

Port Hueneme Historical Museum

The Port Hueneme Historical Museum is located at 220 Market Street in Port Hueneme.  Built in 1925, the Museum houses historical artifacts, photographs, and information on the history of the Hueneme area. Architect Myron Hunt designed the building, and he was also responsible for designing the Bard Mansion, Huntington Library, and the Ambassador Hotel.

The Museum is open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (as of February 2025).  Displays are maintained by the Department of Recreation and Community Services and the Historical Commission. Visit www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=939 for more information.

Reyes Adobe Historical Site - Agoura Hills

The Reyes Adobe Historical Site at 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura represents the first home built in Agoura Hills back in 1850.  The City of Agoura Hills purchased the site from Los Angeles County in 1983 and maintains the adobe structure as a museum and cultural center.  The home was built by Jose Paulino Reyes, son of Jose Jacinto Reyes, the second son of Juan Francisco Reyes, a Mexican soldier on the Portola expedition that was granted local land in 1837.

Check out the house, courtyard, barn and various artifacts preserved at the site by taking a tour.  And don't miss the annual Reyes Adobe Days celebration that takes place every fall (usually early October) at the site.

Adjacent to the site is Reyes Adobe Park.

Docent led tours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 1-4pm. Suggested donation is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for ages 5-12 and free for 4 and under. The site has been closed due to the pandemic; contact the city for updates. (CURRENTLY CLOSED AS OF MAR 2025 - CHECK WEBSITE BELOW FOR UPDATES)

More information at www.agourahillscity.org/our-city/visitors/reyes-adobe-historical-site or by calling 818-597-7366..

Ojai Playhouse

The Ojai Playhouse is located in the heart of Ojai at 145 East Ojai Avenue (at the Signal Street intersection). This landmark originated as a single screen theater called The Isis in 1914 and has changed hands numerous times since then. The theater has also changed names over the years but is now called the Ojai Playhouse. It has been restored to its original deco-style look inside and upgraded and now shows first run movies in a theater that seats over 200 people.

The theater closed in January 2018 due to a water main break that caused flooding damage to the building. After a long wait, the theater re-opened in late 2024.

The Ojai Film Society hosts eclectic, independently produced movies here every Sunday afternoon at 4:30pm. Visit www.ojaifilmsociety.org for more information.

Visit www.ojaiplayhouse.com.

Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society's Railroad Visitor Center in Fillmore

The Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society was established in 1993 to help preserve and restore the railroad corridor between Montalvo and Saugus. This corridor, known as the Southern Pacific Santa Paula Branch, is a unique and historical local community asset.

Stop by the Railroad Visitor Center, located at 455 Main Street, Fillmore, on Sundays between noon and 4 p.m. and check out historical artifacts, information and photographs, a large model train setup, gift shop, theater and more.

More information at www.scrvrhs.com or call 805.524.2254.

We stopped by the Sespe Creek Car Show at Fillmore & Western yesterday (4th of July) and while we were there walked into the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society Railroad Visitor Center at 455 Main Street, Fillmore. We've been in here several times before with the model trains all running and the kids sit there mesmerized by them.