Over 25 Things to Do in Agoura Hills

The City of Agoura Hills incorporated in 1982 and is part of Los Angeles County. But we consider Agoura to be part of our family, consisting of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park and other communities that form the Conejo Valley.

Agoura Hills has an area of 7.86 square miles, with a population of approximately 20,000. It became the 83rd city in Los Angeles County when residents voted to incorporate, just one year after neighboring city Westlake Village incorporated.

Here is a compilation of things to do in the City of Agoura Hills.

Trails and Hiking

• Malibu Creek State Park is an 8,000 acre wonderland of trails, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. The Hike to the Rock Pool at Malibu Creek State Park is extremely popular. Equally if not more popular is the hike to the M*A*S*H television show set.

• Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons include 4,000 acres of terrain with dozens of miles of trails to explore in the northernmost section of the Santa Monica Mountain range. Popular with cyclists, runners and hikers.

• Paramount Ranch, maintained by the National Park Service on Cornell Road in Agoura Hills, was used by Paramount Pictures for over 80 years of film and television production. Sadly, the Woolsey Fire in November 2018 destroyed the historic structures at the park. However, four new structures will be constructed.

• The 64 acre Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura Hills is also managed by the National Park Service and features hiking and an outdoor amphitheater area.

A "must do" in the Agoura Hills area is the hike to the old M*A*S*H TV series set in Malibu Creek State Park.

Kids

• Kids World Indoor Playground is technically in Oak Park but hey, we'll list it here as it is so, so close to Agoura Hills and is quite popular.

• We Rock the Spectrum is a kids gym located on Canwood Street in Agoura Hills which has a particular emphasis on sensory based play.

• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley hosts several middle school age club in Agoura Hills.

• A compilation of other kids' activities in Agoura HIlls is at THIS LINK.

Fitness Related

• Looking for some fresh air on the golf course but don't golf? That's ok, try FootGolf at the Lake Lindero Country Club in Agoura Hills. Quite fun and no experience necessary.

• Other fitness and sports activities in Agoura Hills compiled at THIS LINK.

Ah yes, comic relief courtesy of Caltrans signmakers in 2013 when a new Agoura Hills sign on the 101 was put up filled with typos. It was subsequently corrected.

Other Entertainment, Things to Do and Annual Events

• The Canyon is the "go to" local club for a wide variety of great performers.

• Whizin Market Square on Roadside Drive is a collection of eateries and unique stores.

• The Reyes Adobe Historical Site in the heart of Agoura Hills is the first home built in the area, dating back to 1850. The City owns and maintains this adobe structure as a museum and cultural center, with an adjoining park.

• The Annual Reyes Adobe Days Fall Festival takes place in October each year at the Reyes Adobe Historical Site and Park. Great family fun.

• The Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center hosts senior programs and teen programs "The Garage" and has a cool outdoor interpretive play area.

• Water Wings Swim School is an indoor facility located in the Agoura Hills Town Center on Agoura Road.

• The Agoura Hills Library is an 18,000 square foot facility near Agoura City Hall. It is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library System.

• The Great Race of Agoura Hills is the largest annual running/walking event in the Conejo Valley - an assortment of 7 races on roads and trails ranging from a family fun run to a 5K, 10K and two half marathons. Takes place in the March/April time frame.

• For other events in Agoura Hills, visit THIS LINK.

The old Agoura sign on Agoura Road at Lewis Road.

Closed: Troutdale was a local fishing pond for those looking for the experience of fishing but without the hassle of driving far! Located just off of Kanan Road, near Triunfo Canyon. It appears to be closed as of summer 2018. Regency Agoura Hills 8 movie theater closed in February 2025.

Fun Things to Do in Historic Ojai, Ventura County's Smallest City

Ojai, Ventura County's smallest city with under 8,000 residents, is 40 miles from Thousand Oaks, the 2nd largest city in the county. This drive is well worth it if you're looking for a unique old town feeling right here in Ventura County.

Incorporated as a city in 1921, the Ojai Valley was once inhabited by the Chumash Indians. The name Ojai is derived from the Chumash word "Awhai," meaning "moon." Glass manufacturer Edward D. Libbey helped create the layout of Ojai. After a fire destroyed much of the town in 1917, the western-style town received a new Spanish Revival look.

View of the arcade and pergola in front of Libbey Park on Ojai Avenue.

The Ojai Post Office tower and portico was completed in 1917 and is a focal point for the city at the corner of Ojai Avenue and Signal Street. The tower was modeled after the Christopher Columbus Cathedral in Havana, Cuba, with additional details from Mexico. The tower complements the arcade and pergola along Ojai Avenue. You can't miss the one block arcade with its shops, eateries and art galleries.

Here's a selection of just some of the great things to do in Ojai:

The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is a great local weekend getaway! Whether you stay there overnight or not, the Ojai Valley Inn's historic 18 hole golf course, 31,000 sq ft spa and fitness facility and four lighted tennis courts are available to local day trippers.

Libbey Bowl and Libbey Park are located in the heart of Ojai next to the downtown arcade area. Libbey Bowl, originally built in 1957 and completely renovated in 2011, is used for the annual Ojai Music Festival, Storytelling Festival, Ojai Day celebration, holiday events and much more. Libbey Park provides plenty of sitting areas, shade trees, a kids' playground in the heart of the city.

Strolling and shopping in the Ojai Arcade

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

Meditation Mount

Located on a 32 acre site overlooking the Ojai Valley, Meditation Mount is a public meditation center that has invited the public to its beautiful grounds since opening in 1970. Two hour visitation experiences are $12 at designated time frames. meditationmount.org

The Ojai Valley Trail provides cyclists, equestrians, runners and strollers a nine mile path paralleling Highway 33 from Foster Park on the north end of Ventura to Soule Park on west of downtown Ojai. My personal favorite activity in Ojai is riding bikes on this trail.

The Ojai Playhouse is a single screen theater originally built in 1914 that has been restored to its deco-style look inside and now shows first run movies in a theater that seats over 200 people. The Ojai Film Society hosts eclectic, independently produced movies here on Sunday afternoons.

The Ojai Trolley Service provides transportation on a fixed route schedule throughout Ojai, Meiners Oaks and Mira Monte. Where else can you find a year-round trolley around here!?

Ojai Day was originally conceived in 1917, took a long hiatus in the 1920s, and came back in 1991 on the third Saturday of each October. The event showcases the best Ojai has to offer, with entertainment, a parade, art, food, games and much more. Visit www.ojaiday.com for more information.

One of my favorite activities with the kids just minutes from Ojai is the Lake Casitas Recreation Area, which includes the seasonal (Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend) Casitas Water Adventure. Though the water is not heated, the 1,200 foot lazy river and multi-level water jungle gym for the kids is sure to entertain you while cooling you off.

Casitas Water Adventure

For other year-round things to do in Ojai, click here in the Do Something section of CVG or here for kids' activities. Or here for Fitness & Sports activities. And for upcoming Ojai events, click here. To learn more about the city, visit the City of Ojai website at ojaicity.org.

E. P. Foster and Orpha Woods Foster Were Among the Early Settlers in the Conejo Valley

Eugene Preston and Orpha Woods Foster Family in 1890.

This is the Eugene Preston and Orpha Woods Foster family in 1890. This family has quite a history in Ventura County.

Eugene (E.P.) built a home in the Conejo Valley in 1874, where he operated a sheep business. Most of the 10,000 sheep perished in the terrible drought of 1876-1877. E.P. sold what remained of his business and moved to Ventura in 1877 (the same year that Egbert Starr Newbury and family moved back to the midwest...where Newbury passed away in 1880 at age 36).

Before the drought, in 1875, the Fosters became the parents of the first child of settlers born in the Conejo Valley. That daughter, the eldest of 10, only five - all daughters - of which survived childhood, was Orpha W. "Pearl" Foster. Pearl became president of Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura for over 25 years. She passed away at age 97 in 1973.

After his successes and struggles in the Conejo Valley, E.P. Foster became a highly successful entrepreneur and investor in Ventura, where he helped to establish the city's first electric light plant, developed natural gas wells and invested in the Bank of Ventura (now Bank of America) and the Union Oil Company. His philanthropic efforts led to the creation of Camp Comfort (the county's first park), Foster Park and the 91 acre Seaside Park, where the Ventura County Fair operates.

Additionally, the E.P. Foster Library on Main Street in Ventura is named after him; he and his wife donated funds for the original public library and city hall. The Fosters also donated funds and land to build what is now Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

The E.P. Foster Library is part of the Ventura County Library system The cities of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo operate their own, independent library systems.

The Adamson House in Malibu is Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The Adamson House at 23200 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu is a National Historic Site and a registered California landmark. The house and grounds share one of the most beautiful beach locations in Southern California, with a view of the Malibu Lagoon, Malibu Beach and the Malibu Pier. In addition to its world-famous Malibu Tile, the house contains hand-carved teak wood doors, hand-painted murals, molded ceilings, hand-wrought ironwork and lead-framed bottle glass windows.

The house was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt Huntley Adamson, originally as a summer cottage and in 1936 as the family's primary residence. It is located on the 13,315 acre Malibu Rancho that was purchased by Rhoda's parents, Frederick and May K. Rindge, in 1892.  Mr. Rindge passed away in 1905 and left the ranch to his wife, who later gave the parcel to the Adamsons.

USC graduate Merritt Adamson met Rhoda Rindge while he was employed as foreman of the Rindge Ranch. The couple married in 1915 and in 1916 Merritt founded Adohr Farms in the San Fernando Valley, named after his wife's first name spelled backwards.

Rhoda inherited the property after Merritt's death in 1949 and she lived there until her passing in 1962. The land was later purchased by the State of California under eminent domain laws to create beach parking, but local groups and preservationists fought to preserve the property and succeeded. The house was restored and the garage was converted into the Malibu Lagoon Museum and they opened to the public in 1983.

Flooring in the backside of the house

The Adamson House Tour is a guided tour through the house which contains its original furnishings and is decorated with the renowned Malibu Potteries tile. Trained volunteer docents relate the history of the house, details of its architecture and furnishings, and the history of the family that lived in and created this distinctive home. Admission (as of November 2025) is $7 for ages 17 and up, $2 ages 6 to 16 and free for under 6. Cash only. Open for guided tours 11am to 2pm Wed to Sat. More information at www.adamsonhouse.org or call 310.456.8432.

Former Olympia Farms Property on the Rancho Potrero Open Space

The Rancho Potrero Open Space area is located in Newbury Park off of Lynn Road, just east of the intersection with Rancho Dos Vientos. The area includes an equestrian center where Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center is located and is adjacent to the Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa area in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

On the west end of the space is a a property that used to be called Olympia Farms, which was owned by Greek immigrant, textile businessman and Arabian horse breeder George Patarias Huck. (Huck was tragically shot and killed in front of his home in Mt. Olympus in August 1984 at age 46.)

Huck's 638 acre property was sold to the Mountains Recreation and Conservancy, City of Thousand Oaks, Conejo Recreation and Park District and National Park Service for $4.2 million in 1993. 312 acres were carved out as an addition to Rancho Sierra Vista. The remainder is part of Rancho Potrero, which is maintained by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA).

In the 2021-2022 time frame, the Olympia Farms space was redeveloped and improved to include, pedestrian paths, a horse corral, drinking fountain for people and animals, picnic benches and a small amphitheater area. More info and footage at THIS LINK.

NOTE: THE SITE WAS REDEVELOPED IN 2021-2022 AND THE OLD RANCH BUILDING LUMBER DISCUSSED BELOW I BELIEVE IS IN STORAGE WITH THE CRPD.

These old ranch buildings are actually a Ventura County historical point of interest that was designated as such in May 1986. According to the City of Thousand Oaks, there were two large barns built in 1930 on the Dos Vientos Ranch. Joseph Lewis, business partner of City of Camarillo namesake Adolfo Camarillo, farmed 8,000 acres of land in this area. The barns were dismantled to make room for home development in Dos Vientos and the lumber currently resides here. The Conejo Recreation & Park District is working with the Conejo Valley Historical Society in finding other appropriate uses for these materials, such as displays at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park.

Olympia Farms overlook in October 2025

Incident with Janye Mansfield's Six Year Old Son at Jungleland Thousand Oaks in November 1966

In November 1966, actress Jayne Mansfield was at Jungleland in Thousand Oaks with her three children, Zoltan (6), Miklos (7) and Mariska (2). Zoltan was attacked by a "tame" lion during the visit. The lion had the boy's head in its jaws before zoo employees were able to pry the lion off. Zoltan eventually recovered, after spending a month at Conejo Valley Hospital.

Manfield died in a car crash in June 1967. The two other adults in the car also died on impact. Her children were asleep in the back seat and they all survived. They were subsequently raised by their father*, Hungarian bodybuilder/actor and 1955 Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. And we all know his daughter, award-winning actress Mariska Hargitay.

Mansfield sued Jungleland for $1.6 million, which is about $14 million in today's dollars. Jungleland closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy in October 1969. Zoltan received an out of court settlement of $10,000 from Jungleland in bankruptcy. (Note that while the Mansfield incident was not exactly good publicity for Jungleland, the park had already faced financial challenges with the popularity of newer theme parks, Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.)

Looking to learn more about Jungleland? Stop by the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park, which has a number of artifacts on display.

More information about Jungleland at THIS LINK.

* In 2025, Mariska announced that her biological father is actually singer Nelson Sardelli, not Mickey Hargitay.

The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in the Conejo Open Space is Protected Land

The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in Dos Vientos is part of the open space lands of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and is protected by a conservation easement to the California Department of Fish and Game.

July 2014

January 2015

May 2016

The ponds were originally constructed in the 1920s as part of the irrigation system for agricultural and cattle ranching operations at Dos Vientos Ranch. Today they serve as important habitat for Two Striped Garter Snakes and larger animals such as deer, bobcat, coyote and mountain lions that depend on a reliable source of water. Migrating waterfowl are occasionally abundant, especially in winter.

COSCA and Fish & Game ask that we enjoy this scenic area but protect the ponds for the future and ask that we do not enter the water or allow dogs/horses to enter the water, disturb or remove any animal or plant or place any plants or animals, including fish, into the ponds.

To explore the ponds, take the Vista Del Mar Trail from one of several access points in the Dos Vientos area, including the corner of Via Ricardo and Via Rincon and the corner of Rancho Dos Vientos and Via El Cerro. This is a fun little hike to take the kids on and the ponds are only about a mile from the Via Ricardo/Via Rincon trailhead.

Twin Ponds? What ponds? The ponds are completely dried up as of August/September 2016.

January 2024

Late March 2024 - looking great!