The City of Thousand Oaks Announces "Trek & Brek" Pilot Program for Local Residents

The City of Thousand Oaks has announced a new program to encourage use of our beautiful open space. "Trek & Brek" offers residents who hike to designated pilot locations the opportunity to purchase some of their breakfast favorites.

Program Manager Stu Pidman remarked, "how many times have you trekked up Tarantula Hill, only to be distracted by the desire for a Venti Caramel Latte when you reach the top?" Now you can enjoy the view with a selected fresh brew.

Residents polled indicated a Jack in the Box breakfast is the ultimate incentive for strolling down the Mesa Trail. "What better way to burn off calories en route to Lizard Rock?" says 11 year resident Ivana Eeet. "Frankly I don't enjoy hiking, but knowing a Breakfast Jack is in my immediate future really gets me going."

Sally Fritter and her daughter Apple were the first duo to test the new Krispy Kreme vending machine on the Hill Canyon Trail in Thousand Oaks. Though in the initial pilot they tossed their glazed Krispy Kremes into the Arroyo Conejo after a swarm of bees came after the donuts, they enjoyed the fresh air.

Learn more at www.trekandbrek.com.

The Chumash House at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Other Conejo Valley Locations

The Chumash home, or 'Ap, at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in June 2017 (it was subsequently taken down and rebuilt (see video below). unfortunately the newly built one also came down since then.

In front of the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park is a replica Chumash home called an 'ap. An 'ap is shaped like half an orange and is made by setting willow poles in the ground in a circle, bending them into shape at the top to form a dome.

What is obviously missing from the 'ap above is the outer, vertical layers, cattails laid out like shingles. The 'aps in the Chumash Indian Village at the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks display what those look like, as does the video below from June 2020 showing the rebuilt Satwiwa ‘ap.

'Aps at Chumash Indian Museum's demonstration village. These were destroyed by the Woolsey Fire of 2018 but will be rebuilt.

Oakbrook Regional Park in March 2023 with two rebuilt ‘aps.

There is a hole at the top of the 'ap to allow for air circulation that was covered with an animal skin when it was raining.

The 'ap at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in June 2017. I spoke with the ranger about this 'ap, which is quite past its prime and has become misshapen. At some point what the Chumash do, when an 'ap is no longer of use and needs to be re-built, is take the willow poles down and burn them in a ceremony.

Funny that many folks, my kids included, wonder why the Chumash did not live in teepees (or tipis). Teepees are cone-shaped tents made of animal skins on wooden poles that were used primarily by Native Americans in the Great Plains section of the U.S. (Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and portions of other prairie states). The Chumash did not live in teepees. 

There is also a Chumash 'ap on display as part of a Chumash Village exhibit at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park.

The teepee structure at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks is fun to hike to and sit under but is not something the Chumash Indians would ever have lived in.

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An informational sign describing an ‘ap anis (village) at Oakbrook Regional Park in March 2023.

The Beach Boys 1991 "Crocodile Rock" Music Video Filmed at Golf N' Stuff Ventura

"Crocodile Rock" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and become Elton John's first U.S. number one single in February 1973. Eighteen years later, the Beach Boys recorded the song. Funny thing is that our own Golf N' Stuff in Ventura is featured in this kind of silly music video released in 1991.

Roughly half the video features familiar scenes from Golf N' Stuff, including several of the more prominent holes and structures as well as the bumper boats. Yes, the Beach Boys are featured on the bumper boats in their fedoras at Golf N' Stuff, along an offbeat display of scenes featuring a crocodile on the piano admired by a woman in a pink bikini, brief glimpses of Randy's Donuts and a cameo appearance by John Stamos.

Golf N' Stuff is often part of our family outings in Ventura County. Sign up for their email club and receive periodic special offers. Golf N' Stuff is among over 100 venues on this compilation of birthday party options in and around Ventura County.

The Corriganville Movie Ranch Site in Simi Valley is a Ventura County Historical Landmark

The Corriganville Movie Ranch Site in Simi Valley was designated a historical point of interest by the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board in January 1982, then subsequently was redesignated as a historical landmark in August 1995.

Corriganville was a 1,500 acre piece of land in Simi Valley purchased by western film star Ray “Crash” Corrigan in 1937. The site was a working movie ranch for nearly three decades, and was used in the making of roughly 3,500 western films and television series such as Fort Apache, The Lone Ranger, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. Actors like John Wayne, Gene Autry, Johnny Weissmuller, Tex Ritter, Joel McCrea, Dale Evans and so many others filmed movies here.

Corriganville today...the ranch burned down in the 1970s, leaving just these cement slabs and exterior walls.

In 1949, the ranch opened to the public as “Corriganville,” a western themed amusement park. The ranch was later purchased by Bob Hope in 1965, deeming the ranch its alternative name, Hopetown. The ranch burned down in the 1970s and all that is left are the cement slabs and exterior rock walls of the barn. 

View of Corriganville Park from a trail on the east side of the park. The trail takes you up to 118 Freeway and a wildlife corridor tunnel that takes you under the freeway into Rocky Peak Park.

In 1988, 190 acres of the original ranch was purchased by the City of Simi Valley and is now owned and managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. Corriganville Park is located at 1601 Kuehner Drive, Simi Valley and is open to the public for hiking, walking and exploring. For a detailed compilation of historical aspects of the site, visit www.corriganville.net.

A photo of the Corriganville Movie Ranch when it was an active movie set. Learn more about Corriganville and see a model of what it looked like in the 1960s at the nearby Santa Susana Depot Museum.

Banning Dam (Lake Eleanor Dam) in Thousand Oaks is a Ventura County Historical Landmark

Banning Dam (also referred to as Lake Eleanor Dam) was designated as Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 120 in May 1988. Built in 1889 at 37 feet high and 140 feet long at its crest, the dam is located in a gorge adjacent to Westlake Boulevard, just south of Potrero Road. It is considered either the first or second concrete arched dam built in California.

The 8 acre Lake Eleanor can be seen as you are driving on Westlake Boulevard/Decker Canyon or you can do the Lake Eleanor Open Space Hike in Westlake Village for a view of the lake from above.

The lake and surrounding 529 acres of open space is fenced off from the public to create a habitat for wildlife. The area include rugged hills, rocky outcrops, freshwater marsh habitat, oak woodland and coastal sage scrub. Hawks and other large birds often use the outcrops for nesting sites and the area supports several species of rare/endangered plants.

The Lake Eleanor open space was acquired by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency in 1986. Banning Dam was designated City of Thousand Oaks historical point of interest No. 9 in May 1988.

Banning Dam

Mount Pinos in the Los Padres National Forest is the Highest Point in Ventura County

At 8,847 feet in elevation, Mount Pinos is the highest point in Ventura County. It is located in the northernmost tip of Ventura County in the Los Padres National Forest, near the Kern County border.

From Thousand Oaks, plan on about a 1 hour, 45 minute, 100 mile drive to get to the Mount Pinos parking area at the "Mt. Pinos Nordic Base," where you will find plenty of parking. The Base is at an elevation of 8,300 feet, which means you only have 547 feet of elevation gain to hike to the peak.

Plenty of parking available here at Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. The trail to the summit is to the left.

The hike to the top is about two miles along a wide access road shaded by pine trees much of the way. It is a fairly easy hike, with no significant challenges. Easy enough for kids and adults alike, though at this elevation your breathing may be a bit more labored than normal.

Take a deep breath of fresh air as you experience the 50th highest and 11th most topographically prominent summit in California.

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Trail to the Mt. Pinos summit is largely tree-lined. You may trip on a pine cone or two!

You will notice a radio tower up ahead with about a 1/2 mile to go to the peak. You will come across a fork in the road. Turn right to get to the actual peak. Continue towards the left (west) for a Chumash interpretative area.

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At this juncture of the trail, you will notice a radio tower up ahead at the summit of Mt. Pinos

The interpretative area has several benches and an interpretative sign. The Chumash name for Mount Pinos is Iwihinmu. The Chumash call the summit Liyikshup, the center of the world.

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A view from Mount Pinos summit.

Of course, you'll find snow up here in the winter months.  There are no ski lifts, but cross country skiing, tubing and snow play are available....right here in Ventura County.

You may also find stargazers situated in the parking lot with high powered telescopes.

There are campgrounds available on Mount Pinos, including the following:

• Mt. Pinos Campground is available from May to November, with 15 reservable sites (must be made eight or more days in advance) and 4 first-come, first-serve sites. Picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, no water. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/?recid=10990

• The McGill Campground is available May to November, with 54 reservable campsites and 18 first-come, first-serve campsites. Picnic table, BBQ, fire rings, vault toilet, no water. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recarea/?recid=10989

• The walk-in Chula Vista Campground is located adjacent to the Nordic Base area and is free of charge and open May to November. It is a first-come, first-serve walk-in campground. www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=10982&actid=29.

Directions to Mount Pinos: From I-5, take Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go west approximately 6 miles. The road name changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on it up Mt. Pinos. The road name changes to Mt. Pinos Highway.

Check traffic and weather conditions before you go, particularly during snow season. Good to have chains on hand.

Frazier Mountain Community Snow Play Visitor Page at www.facebook.com/groups/2579680555601233

Arroyo Conejo Creek is the Longest Creek in the Conejo Valley

The Arroyo Conejo is the longest creek in the Conejo Valley, covering 57 square miles, including 43 in the Conejo Valley and 14 in the Santa Rosa Valley. It flows through Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, including the communities of Newbury Park, Casa Conejo and the Santa Rosa Valley.

Historically the Arroyo Conejo was a seasonal creek. Today it is a perennial creek fueled by urban runoff. The north folk carved Wildwood Canyon over thousands of years. Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park is a well known feature of the Arroyo Conejo. The south fork originates in the Conejo Hills above Newbury Park.

The south fork of the Arroyo Conejo can be seen from the Arroyo Conejo Trail in the 302 acre Arroyo Conejo Open Space, accessible from the Rancho Conejo Playfield in Newbury Park.

Arroyo Creek seen from the Arroyo Conejo Trail in Thousand Oaks.

The Arroyo Conejo is part of the Ventura County Watershed. Watersheds are defined by the natural boundaries of a surface runoff area. Ventura County has four watershed zones named for the major tributary in each zone - Ventura River (Zone 1), Santa Clara River (Zone 2), Calleguas (Zone 3), and Cuyama River (Zone 4 North) and Malibu Creek (Zone 4 South). The Arroyo Conejo is in the Calleguas Creek Zone.

The Calleguas Creek zone has a watershed area of about 341 square miles. All stream flows in Zone 3 eventually end up in Mugu Lagoon before entering the Pacific Ocean. Major tributaries to Calleguas Creek include Revolon Slough, Conejo Creek, Arroyo Santa Rosa, Arroyo Conejo, Arroyo Las Posas/Arroyo Simi, Happy Camp Canyon, Lang Creek, and Tapo Canyon.

The Calleguas Creek watershed contains the man-made Lake Bard (aka Bard Reservoir – main imported water supply for about 60% of Ventura County population), along with several Ventura County Watershed Protection District constructed debris basins of varying sizes and depths designed to capture runoff sediment before it can cause damage to the Calleguas Creek drainage system. Some of the largest District basins include Sycamore Canyon, Las Llajas, and Runkle Canyon basins.

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Bard Reservoir seen from the Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks.

More on Ventura County Watersheds at www.vcpublicworks.org/wpd/watersheds.