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

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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.

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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. There’s also a more recent website, with link to social media and periodic tours, at www.bottlevillage.org.

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.

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A Guide to Free Fun, Food and Festivities Around Ventura County

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According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the adjective "free" comes from the Old English "frēo," which is pretty much useless information to me. The more relevant definition to most of us is "not costing or charging anything." Now we're talking!

There are thousands of FREE things to do, see, eat and experience in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County and surrounding areas. Conejo Valley Guide is dedicated towards unearthing these FREE things year-round, from Kids Eat Free deals around town to annual events.

Here are some links to FREE (and nearly free) activities:

Free activities around Ventura County for all ages

Evolution of the Conejo Grade in Ventura County Over the Last 100 Years

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Horseshoe shaped section of the Conejo Grade in the 1920s.

Horseshoe shaped section of the Conejo Grade in the 1920s.

The Conejo Grade is the section of Highway 101 that connects the Conejo Valley with Camarillo. It is a four mile stretch of freeway with a significant 7% grade.

Going down the Conejo Grade from Newbury Park to Camarillo today.

Going down the Conejo Grade from Newbury Park to Camarillo today.

At 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of May 1, 1937, a newly upgraded and realigned Conejo Grade premiered after a day of celebration commencing at the ranch of Adolfo Camarillo. Camarillo, the namesake of what in 1964 became the City of Camarillo, donated the right of way to enable the grade to be realigned. Actor Leo Carrillo entertained guests at Camarillo's ranch at the bottom of the grade.

Grand opening of the newly realigned Conejo Grade on May 1, 1937.

Grand opening of the newly realigned Conejo Grade on May 1, 1937.

The old Conejo Grade was constructed by the California Highway Commission in 1914-1915. The previous route had 49 twists and turns, making it somewhat hazardous to drive (albeit somewhat less steep than the current grade). The newly aligned Conejo Grade cut the number of curves by 75%.

Another view of the Conejo Grade before it was realigned in 1937.

Another view of the Conejo Grade before it was realigned in 1937.

The new 1937 Conejo Grade cost a total of $570,000, which is less than the average cost of a house in the Conejo Valley today! Over a year and a half, the project employed about 100 workers who put in over 272,000 hours, excavating over 800,000 cubic yards of mostly hard rock. Talk about rock stars!

In the 1950s and 1960s, Caltrans further widened and improved Highway 101 over the Conejo Grade.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Caltrans further widened and improved Highway 101 over the Conejo Grade.

Several decades later, as Ventura County grew and the cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks incorporated in 1964, Caltrans continued to widen and improve the highway to what it is today.

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Source for historical information: "California Highways and Public Works" (May 1937) - official journal of the State of California Division of Highways, Department of Public Works.

Special thanks to the Pleasant Valley Historical Society for providing historic photos.

Areas in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area Allowing Dogs on Leash

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Pooch on leash

Pooch on leash

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the United States at over 150,000 acres, extending from the Hollywood Bowl on the east to Point Mugu at its western end; including the beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu as well as the canyons and peaks extending north to Simi Valley.

Dogs are allowed in a number of areas within the Santa Monica Mountains, as long as they are on leashes that are no more than 6 feet in length. Here is a listing of areas where dogs are allowed:

National Park Service: Arroyo Sequit (has been closed since the Woolsey Fire in 2018), Castro Crest, Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyons, Circle X Ranch, Deer Creek Canyon, Paramount Ranch, Peter Strauss Ranch, Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, Rocky Oaks, Solstice Canyon and Zuma/Trancas Canyons

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy: Calabasas Peak, Dixie Canyon, Escondido Canyon, Franklin Canyon, Fryman Canyon, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Red Rock Canyon Park, San Vicente Mountain Park, Temescal Gateway Park, Wilacre Park

City of Malibu: Charmlee Wilderness Park, Malibu Bluffs

California State Parks: Pets are NOT allowed on backcountry trails of Topanga, Malibu Creek, Leo Carrillo and Point Mugu State Park, including the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Canines are not allowed in the backcountry trails of Point Mugu State Park, including the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Canines are not allowed in the backcountry trails of Point Mugu State Park, including the Boney Mountain Wilderness.

Dogs on leash are allowed at County Line Beach, Leo Carrillo State Park (on beach north of lifeguard tower 3 and campground only), Point Mugu State Park (on beach and campground only in Sycamore Cove and Thornhill Broome Beach), Will Rogers State Historic Park (day-use areas and loop road only)

L.A. City Recreation and Park District: Coldwater Canyon Park, Laurel Canyon Park, Runyon Canyon Park, Temescal Canyon Park

While you're out on the trails with your pooch, remember to pick up after your dog and bring plenty of water and food for you and Fido.

For more information, visit the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center in Calabasas or www.nps.gov/samo.

Outside of the Santa Monica Mountains, trails in the Conejo Valley, Simi Hills and other local area locations are generally dog-friendly as long as your furry friend is on a leash. 

Dozens and dozens and dozens of local area trails and hikes

DOG PARKS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY

VISITING STATE PARKS WITH YOUR DOG

Digitally Preview Your Mail Each Morning with USPS Informed Delivery

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Informed Delivery by USPS allows you to preview your mail each morning with a digital copy of each letter-sized item to be delivered to you via email. You can also log in anytime and see images of previous week’s mail. Additionally, you can see the delivery status of any packages coming your way.

If you’ve ever had your mail stolen, this gives you the ability to at least see what mail was stolen from you. Or you can see first thing in the morning what mail is being delivered, alerting you to anything of particular importance.

You will see the address side of mail delivered. You of course will not be seeing contents of that mail.

Learn more and sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com.

Daylight Saving Time is Back ALREADY on Sunday, March 10th!

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Daylight Saving** Time is coming back again! Yes, this will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 1:59 a.m. When the clock strikes 2 a.m. that morning, you will lose one hour of beauty sleep.

So try to get to bed early the night of March 9th or you might feel grumpy on Monday! Especially when you realize it feels a lot darker that morning. But the good thing is it'll be a lot lighter out at dinnertime!

** Contrary to what many of us think, it is called Daylight Saving Time, not Savings Time. Make sure to correct anyone who says it wrong if you really want to get on their nerves. But the reality of it is that we're not saving any daylight, we're just shifting it around.

Roller Skating, Roller Blading, Ice Skating and Skateboarding Around Ventura County

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Looking for some wheel fun around the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County? Look no further than this list of nearby skating, blading and boarding venues in and around the area.

ICE SKATING

LA Kings Iceoplex Ice Arena in Simi Valley

Hockey Alley Ice Skating Training Facility in Newbury Park

ROLLER SKATING, ROLLER HOCKEY

Skating Plus Indoor Roller Rink in Ventura

Tri-Valley Roller Hockey League in Calabasas

CLOSED

Channel Islands Ice Center in Oxnard (closed its doors in April 2016 but is looking to raise funds for a new home)

Skatelab Skate Park in Simi Valley closed its doors 1/6/19 after 21 years in operation, but its founder indicated a new location is coming.

The Holiday Ice Rink at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks operated annually from mid-November to January until the 2019-2020 holiday season.

The Conejo Valley Ice Skating Rink opened in 1977 at 510 North Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park (which today is the address of Hampton Inn & Suites). The facility closed its doors in 1994, after 17 years in business.