Scenes from
Camarillo include the Camarillo Ranch and downtown statures commemorating
the Camarillo family and their horses
Camarillo, California photos shown
above (taken on a vacation to Camarillo) include on top row the Camarillo
Ranch House and Old Town Camarillo, established in 1913. Bottom row pictures
show a docent at the Camarillo Ranch; a life-size statue of Don Adolfo
Camarillo and one of his beloved white stallion, Sultan, in Dizdar Park; and
the Camarillo Ranch House viewed from the beautiful gardens.
You may have passed by Camarillo many
times when passing through Ventura County, just north of L.A. It's the city
down at the bottom of the steep Conejo Grade. It is the place where you
leave Los Angeles and enter an oasis of green fields, lush gardens, and open
spaces. Beautiful road signs welcome guests to Camarillo, located in the
appropriately named Pleasant Valley. As you drive down the grade
from Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, you may notice cacti growing on
the rocky hills you pass along way. Or maybe you'll see the breathtaking
landscapes of fields shaped in blocks and squares that bare crops of
vegetables and berries in the distance. You may also notice the huge
developments with new housing construction that claims more and more of the
land daily in what was mostly fields and greenery a decade ago.
Many consider this the
line of demarcation, separating Los Angeles from the Central Coast.
Though some L.A. commuters live in the area, the look and feel of
Camarillo is distinctively refreshing and open, though the growth of the city is
changing this picturesque image. Highway 101 passes through the city with thousands of travelers per day
stopping to enjoy Camarillo's fine outlet shops and dining opportunities.
Take time to exit Highway 101 on your
road trips to Santa Barbara, Central California's Hearst Castle, Cambria,
Monterey / Carmel, San Francisco or L.A., Hollywood, Disneyland and San
Diego. Camarillo does not particular stand out as a tourist attraction from
the freeway, but once off the busy highway, you'll discover history and
charm that you never knew about.
Whether open or not, do take time to
drive by the Camarillo Ranch. Up close you'll see beautiful grounds with
flower gardens, a shaded picnic area, a big red barn and the ranch house
that's the highlight of the stop. After you gain a sense of the lifestyle
and architecture popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's, then drive
across the freeway west to see the quaint Old Town Camarillo. A beautiful
community park named Dizdar, includes a bronzed statue of Adolfo Camarillo,
mounted on his famous white stallion, Sultan, (the official horse of
Camarillo). You'll see the horse in the city signage and logos. Descendents
of this horse have been ridden in the Rose Parade. The legend of the
Camarillo White Horses dates back to 1921 when Adolfo Camarillo purchased
Sultan at the California State Fair in Sacramento. When Camarillo died in
1958, the ownership of his horses that he'd bred with Sultan (Morgan &
quarterhorses), were willed to daughter Carmen, who cared for them until her
death in 1987. The livestock and Morgan-Arabian horses were sold at auction.
The year she passed away was the first time in 50 years that the horses did
not appear in the local town celebration, Camarillo Fiesta Parade.
Those who bought the horses at auction held such a passion for their beauty
and history, they registered them as a breed in approx. 1990. With approx. a
dozen or so in existence, the legacy of the Camarillo family lives on.
In addition to the bronze in the park,
just a half a block away on historic Ventura Boulevard you'll discover
several more bronze statues. Whimsical in nature, you can sit next to one
for a photo, or stand by the other.
In the shopping promenade where these
statues are located, several stores include displays of antique items. For
instance, a barbershop has a display of old scissors and shaving tools.
A fantastic restaurant, Dorothy's Chuck Wagon Cafe, has original style
counters and booths, and an photo on the wall of one of its famous guests,
Dick Van Dyke.
Camarillo is also home to two fabulous museums. The historic
Camarillo Ranch, home to the city's founders, was funded and
restored several years ago, now offering weekend tours of the spectacular, 17-room Victorian home. There's also
a wonderful air museum with brand new hangars housing several war planes
that are being refurbished. And for sports enthusiasts, there
are four public golf courses.
Located 17 miles east of Ventura, the city was named after
Juan Camarillo who came to San Buenaventura in 1857 and purchased Rancho
Calleguas in 1875.
Average annual high temperature: 72 degrees
Average annual rainfall: 13.40 inches
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce 2400 E. Ventura Blvd
805-484-4383 camarillochamber.org.
Points of Interest:
CAMARILLO RANCH Open Wednesdays -Noon to 4 PM, Saturdays
-10 AM to 2 PM and Sundays -Noon to 4 PM, 201 Camrillo Ranch Road, Camarillo,
CA Phone: 805.389.8182 - Docent led tours of a Queen Anne style
Victorian house on a 4 and 1/2 acre ranch. Operated by the Camarillo
Ranch Foundation, the 17-room mansion contains 6,000 square feet of interior
space and includes two staircases, Victorian exhibits, a gift shop and
beautiful gardens. Built in 1892 as a family residence for Isabel Camarillo
from her loving 28-year old husband, Adolfo, this gracious place has captured
the hearts of guests such as Hollywood celebrities Tom Mix and Rita Hayworth.
Adolfo Camarillo, founder of the City of Camarillo, once managed a 10,000
acre ranch where he developed a breed of horse, the Camarillo White Horse,
which is seen in parades today. The prominent figure in local history served
as Ventura County Supervisor, as well. He died in 1958. The City
of Camarillo acquired the ranch house and a portion of the original property
in 1998 and operates it through the Camarillo Ranch Foundation. Seeking
to preserve the legacy of a prominent Mexican-American family through education
and interpretation of the historic site, we recommend you veer off the
beaten path of Highway 101 at Flynn Road where you can find Camarillo Ranch
Road adjacent to 101.
THE CONFEDERATE AIRFORCE MUSEUM Tuesday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Confederate Air Force/World War II Aviation
Museum. Camarillo Airport Tours of vintage WWII aircraft, including a Japanese
Zero fighter, A Grumman F8F-2 Fighter and a North American B-25 Mitchell
Bomber. TAKES WING — The Confederate Airforce Museum in nearby Camarillo
has a greater story to tell. The museum has now moved into two new large
hangers with new exhibits, new permanent and visiting aircraft, and, according
to officials, more to come! The newest large aircraft donation is a fully
restored and flyable 1954 Convair C- 131 D Transport that is located inside
the hanger. The interior of the transport aircraft is now part of the regular
tour. Also part of the tour is a restoration hanger where a WWII B-25 Mitchell
Bomber and a real Japanese Zero Fighter are being restored into flying
condition. The Confederate Airforce Museum is located at 455 Aviation Drive
at Eubanks Street at the Camarillo Airport. For more information,
call 805/482-0064.
Certified Farmers' Market - Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. 12 Noon
Ventura Boulevard between Elm & Fir. Locally grown fresh flowers, fruits
& vegetables and bakery items.
Golf - all are 18 Hole Public Courses
Buenaventura Golf Course 5882 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura
805-642-2231
Camarillo Springs Golf Course 791 Camarillo Springs Road
805-484-1075
Olivas Park Golf Course 3750 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura
805-642-4303
Sterling Hills Golf Course Sterling Hills Dr, Camarillo
805-987-3446
City web site: ci.camarillo.ca.us/
Camarillo Star newspaper: staronline.com
