Just a few miles up Highway 33, but a world away from the headaches and traffic that thwart much of Southern California is the small town of Ojai. About 12 miles inland from Ventura, Ojai is the smallest city in Ventura County, and we are darn proud of it.
Ojai's charms are many. The community has long been known as a haven for artists, musicians and health enthusiasts. A village ”as we locals call it”of about 8,000, Ojai is a vibrant place with so much natural beauty that it gained fame decades ago when the area was photographed to represent Shangri-La in the 1939 movie, The Lost Horizon.
Filled with delightful shops, art galleries and a host of places to retreat from the fast-paced lifestyle that can knot the nerves, Ojai invites you to walk its oak-shaded paths taking some time to drink in the serenity of it all.
The Chumash Indians are the first known residents of Ojai, and it is from their word 'âhwaiâ' meaning 'moon' that the name Ojai is derived. One of the oldest towns in Ventura County, Ojai was settled in the 1800s and incorporated as a city in 1921. Nestled in the Ojai Valley, the town is surrounded by peaks that give off a glow in the evening light known as the pink moment.
One of the prominent early settlers was Edward D. Libbey, a wealthy glass manufacturer who is responsible for the layout of the town. It was Robert Winfield who built the stately Arcade that today houses shops and eateries, but it was Libbey's money and his vision that the town have a distinctive center faithful to its Spanish heritage. Thus Libbey teamed with architect Richard Requa from San Diego and together they created what today draws the eye and captures the heart.
In 1917 a fire took much of the town and offered Libbey a Pink Moment when the day's fading light bathes the nearby mountains in shades of pink and purple clean slate, so to speak. The western-style town was left in ashes; the Spanish Revival architecture that unites the area arose from those ashes to become stately landmarks and historic sites. Libbey constructed a home for himself on Foothill Road as his vision for the town was taking hold. The post office tower and the lovely pergola that covers the sidewalk in front of Libbey Park are fruits from the Libbey-Requa team. They also built the El Roblar Hotel, a building that houses the Oaks Spa today, an architectural gem that was restored to its former glory by the Cluff family with the help of historically minded architect and local citizen, David Bury.
The wonderful climate of the Ojai Valley has drawn many who wish to rejuvenate their health and enjoy the dry air and seemingly never-ending sunshine. Again, early settlers established the reputation of Ojai as a center of physical and mental health. Well known for its new age gurus and the coexistence of protestants, Catholics and yoga practitioners, a rich fabric of spiritualism has evolved with room for all.
In 1889 Sherman Thacher made the trip west in search of farmland. Instead, he started Thacher School, a school very much a part of the community to this day. William Thacher, Sherman's brother, gathered some area tennis players and began a few minor competitions. From these humble beginnings, sprang The Ojai, the oldest amateur tennis event of its kind in the United States. The Ojai draws up to 30,000 spectators and is so large that it overtakes every public and many private courts in the Ojai Valley and beyond. Famous for its tea tents, the tournament challenges some of the top collegiate players in California and has offered locals and visitors an opportunity to see high caliber players like Billy Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang, Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport and other names that loom large in tennis.
Traditions are important to the life and lifestyle of Ojaians. When the Thomas Aquinas Church outgrew their quaint chapel on Ojai Avenue, it was purchased, repaired and now houses the Ojai Valley Museum.
The Ojai Library is a small building with a lovely atmosphere also on Ojai's main drag. A few years ago, there was talk of moving the library, expanding its programs and relocating it to another area. The idea did not prove successful as many in Ojai could not tolerate the idea that their beloved library would not be in the location that they'd come to love. These days, funds are being raised to expand the library in the location where it has grown roots as large as the trees that surround it.
With so much scenic beauty and a sense of place, it is little wonder that locals and visitors relish the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors of the Ojai Valley. The Ojai Valley Trail runs for more than nine miles with a parallel path for horses. If you want to meet half the town, that is a good place to start. Bicyclists, walkers, joggers and those exercising pets from dogs to pigs can be seen on the trail.
Among the outdoor treasures are the many parks that dot the city. In the middle of town is the pride of Ojai: Libbey Park. There mighty oaks give shade to a playground for children, and there are plenty of paths and picnic areas. So loved are the majestic oaks that the public mourns their removal, and despite the fact that a couple were diseased, a local man actually chained himself to one a few years ago to protest its removal. In the end the trees were considered too dangerous and too close to the children's play area to allow them to stand and they were removed after a public service.
Libbey Park is the site of many events, none more popular than the Ojai Music Festival. Held in early June at the Libbey Bowl amphitheater, its concerts fill the air with vibrant music drawing large crowds who fill the wooden benches and lawns around Libbey Bowl. Libbey Park also contains a bandstand where local musicians play at free summer concerts.
Also in June, the popular Ojai Wine Festival is held at nearby Lake Casitas. Vintners come from many wine-producing areas providing tasting and yet another opportunity for visitors to linger. Even if youv'e missed the Wine Festival, go to Lake Casitas to let the kids play at the Casitas Water Adventure. Or enjoy the peace of fishing at this premier fishing lake that is known for its world class bass fishing. The Lake Casitas recreation area has more than 400 campsites and lots of picnic areas.
Ojai nurtures its art and artists. The Ojai Center for the Arts, Summer Art Stroll, Ojai Studio Artists Tour and Art in the Park offer venues for an abundance of artistic expression. Numerous galleries show the work of local artists and those from afar. A work of art is displayed publicly in the Arcade Plaza, a newly redeveloped area behind the shopping Arcade where a bronze poppy fountain sends water flowing freely over its broad base. Art is even shown in City Hall where the Ojai Arts Commission rotates artwork every few months to feature a different artist.
Ojai's reputation as a golfing paradise brings many to the city. The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is listed as one of the top 25 golf resorts in North America. The course is as challenging as it is lovely. The Inn undertook renovations a few years ago to emerge more beautiful than ever including an already famous spa that is available to work out any kinks picked up on the award-winning golf course. Soule Park, a beautiful public course that delivers great value for the money along with spectacular views, is just past downtown on Ojai Avenue.
All that outdoor activity can make one hungry and Ojai is a perfect place to locate just the right food to nourish body and soul. Numerous restaurants dot the village, many taking advantage of local harvests with an abundance of fresh food.
For a taste of small-town Americana come to Ojai's Independence Day Parade and festivities. The parade is the epitomes of small town charm. Everyone who is not in the parade is watching the parade from their lawn-chair seats that line Ojai Avenue for a day or two before the event. The parade features a few homemade floats and lots of kids and horses. See local cheerleaders, dancing young girls in tutus, boys in their judo gear and others on bicycles decked out in the red, white and blue. There is no better place to be to appreciate the joy of being a free American than watching the townspeople applauding one more time at the sight of their own marching to patriotic sounds.
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