Welcome to a fun and exciting way to visit the historical landmarks of Conejo Valley.
In this tour, you will start at the Stagecoach Inn Museum, visit 16 historical sites and finish at the Pederson House on the California Lutheran University campus. The historical landmarks included in this tour are: The Stagecoach Inn Museum, Sycamore Tree, Timber School, Hunt Olive Tree, Hillcrest Dr. Civic Center, The Janss House, Case Study House #28, Site of Jungleland, The Crowley House, Conejo School Monument, Lake Eleanor Dam, Westlake Historical Monument, Oakbrook Regional Park and Chumash Indian Museum, The Norwegian Grade, McCrea Ranch, and The Pederson House. Enjoy your trip through history.
1. The Stagecoach Inn Museum - 51 S. Ventu Park Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320
1975 – Placed on the National Registry of Historic Places and State Landmark #659, 1976 – County Landmark #30, 1997 – City Landmark #1
The original structure was built in the Monterey style of northern California in 1876. It was made from redwood and had a wrap-around porch and balcony. It served as a stagecoach stop, school, post office, restaurant, boys military school, apartments and gift shop. The original site was near the 101 Freeway and Ventu Park Road. There is a historical marker at the original spot. It was moved to its present location in 1966 when the 101 Freeway was expanded. A fire destroyed the museum in 1970. An exact reconstruction was completed in 1976. The Stagecoach Inn Museum is owned by the Conejo Recreation and Park District and is managed by the Conejo Valley Historical Society. The museum describes life in the Conejo Valley throughout during past eras. In addition to the displays in the museum other permanent exhibits include: a replica of Timber School, the Hunt Blacksmith Shop, a Carriage House, Newbury Pioneer House, a Spanish Adobe and a Chumash Village. Regular hours for the museum are 1-4 Wednesday – Sunday. All of the buildings are open on Saturday and Sunday. The outside of the museum can be seen from the Stagecoach Inn Park with access on Lynn Road and Susan Drive.
2. Sycamore Tree: Located at the N.E. corner of the Stagecoach Inn Museum by the Chumash Village
1978 -County Landmark #44, 1997 -City Landmark #2
This large sycamore tree is estimated to be more than 250 years old and is one of the largest sycamores in the Conejo Valley. The sycamore tree can only be viewed when the museum complex is open.
3. Timber School and Auditorium: 1872 Newbury Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320
2004 – City Landmark #12, County Landmark #166
After leaving the Museum grounds, turn left on Ventu Park Road. At the first signal, turn left on Newbury Road. The school is on the left corner at the intersection of Newbury Road and Kelley Road.
The Timber School District was formed in 1888 to serve the children at the west end of the Conejo Valley. A one-room schoolhouse was completed in 1889 and was used until 1924. It was demolished in 1925. It was necessary to replace the original school because of a new law requiring plumbing and electricity. The site of the original school is located behind the present building. There is a reconstruction of the original school at the Stagecoach Inn Museum. The new Timber School, known as Conejo Valley High School, is still standing. It was designed by Roy C. Wilson in the mission revival style and was built in 1924. It was originally a two-room schoolhouse. The auditorium was added to the site in 1948. It was the oldest public building in the Conejo Valley until 2014 when the land was sold by the Conejo Valley Unified School District to a private developer.
4. Hunt Olive Tree: 600 W. Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
1982 – County Landmark #64, 1997- City Landmark #4
Return to Ventu Park Road. Turn left. Go to Hillcrest Drive and turn right. When approaching Lynn Road, slow down and look for the entrance of the parking lot for a Sprouts market on the right side of the street. Turn right into the driveway. A historical marker is located near the olive tree that is close to the driveway.
This is the only surviving olive tree from an orchard planted by Richard Orville Hunt on the Salto Ranch (now known as Lynn Ranch), which he purchased in 1876. The tree was originally on the corner of Hillcrest Drive and Lynn Road and was moved to its present location in 1993. Across the street on the corner of Lynn and Hillcrest Drive are eucalyptus trees that were also planted by Richard Hunt.
5. Hillcrest Drive Civic Center: 401 West Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
1997 –City Landmark #10
Continue on Hillcrest Drive to McCloud Ave. Turn left. Go one block and turn right into the driveway and drive up the hill.
This building was constructed in 1973 and was the site of the first permanent City Hall in Thousand Oaks. The city later moved its offices to the Civic Arts Plaza on Thousand Oaks Blvd. The building is currently occupied by: The Conejo Recreation and Park District, The National Park Service, and The Hillcrest Center for the Arts. Enjoy the view.
6. Janss House: 482 Greenmeadow Drive
1987 – County Landmark #112, 1997 – City Landmark #8
Return to Hillcrest Drive. Turn left and continue to Moorpark Road. Turn right. Proceed on Moorpark Rd. to Greenmeadow Dr. Turn right. The house is at the top of the hill. There is limited visibility. This house is now a private home. Do not disturb the occupants.
This home was built by Edwin Janss Sr. in 1931 and designed by his wife, Florence. It was their weekend retreat and served as the base of the Janss Ranch founded in 1910. In 1943 the house became the principal home of Edwin’s younger son, Edwin Jr. and his family. The Janss Corporation was a major developer of the Conejo Valley in the 1960s.
7. Case Study House #28: 91 Inverness Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
2013 – National Register of Historic Places
Return to Moorpark Rd. Drive across Moorpark Rd. to the entrance of the gated community. The house on the left behind the gate is the Case Study House. You can see the back of the house from Moorpark Rd.
Case Study Houses were built as part of an experimental housing program between 1945 and 1966 in southern California. Built in 1966, Case Study House #28 was designed by architects Conrad Buff and Donald Hensman and was the program’s last single family home and the only one in Ventura County. Because of its significance as an important example of modern architecture, this house was been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
8. Goebel’s Lion Farm Site: Jungleland 2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
1981 – County Landmark #63, Local Point of Historical Interest #1
Take Moorpark Road to Thousand Oaks Blvd. Turn right. Continue to 2100, East Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Louis Goebel established an exotic animal farm at this location in 1927 so that he could import, raise, and maintain exotic animals for rental to movie studios. His animals included the MGM lion. The popular tourist attraction “Jungleland” developed from the animal farm. The original buildings and animal compound were built in the 1920s and later demolished in the mid 1970s. Egbert and Frances Newbury originally owned this land. They settled here in 1874 and named their ranch Newbury Park. Egbert became the first postmaster in the Conejo Valley. The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza now occupies this site.
9. Crowley House: 2224 Pleasant Way, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
1986 – County Landmark #109, 1997 – City Landmark #7
Continue east on Thousand Oaks Blvd. Turn right on Oak View Dr. The house is on the corner of Oak View Dr. and Pleasant Way. It is not open to the public, but you can walk around it.
Henry and Laura Crowley came to the Conejo Valley in 1887 and purchased the property that had once belonged to Egbert Newbury. The Crowley house was built in 1910 for Frank and Mae Casey Crowley. In 1922 Frank sold two large blocks of land for real estate development. That sale was the beginning of the end for the large ranches in the Conejo Valley. The house served as a real estate office. Louis and Kathleen Goebel later owned it. The two-story, five- bedroom house still has its hardwood floors, mahogany beams and volcanic rock fireplace. The property now belongs to the Conejo Recreation and Park District.
10. Conejo School Monument: Parking lot of the Seventh Day Adventist Regional Headquarters.
Undesignated site
Return to Thousand Oaks Blvd. Continue to Westlake Blvd. Turn right. Continue on Westlake Blvd. to Townsgate Rd. Turn right. Turn left at the next street; Wild Rose St. Turn right into the first driveway on your right. Immediately turn left.
Ahead in a planted area is a large rock with a plaque designating the location of the first public school in the Conejo Valley. Built in 1877, it was known as Triunfo School, Conejo School, and Russell School. In 1927 this site was abandoned and the children moved to the current location of Conejo Elementary School on Conejo School Rd.
11. Lake Eleanor Dam: Westlake Blvd. About 1/2 mile south of East Potrero Road.
Return to Westlake Blvd. Turn right. Continue about 1/2 mile past Portrero Rd. The dam is difficult to see from the road. There is a large turnout next to the lake. Park your car and walk to the telephone pole. There is a good view of the dam and lake from this point.
Also known as Banning Dam, it was built in 1889 by the Banning Company who planned to build a resort in the area. The plans never materialized. It is considered one of the earliest concrete arch dams ever built. Its 8-acre lake and adjacent 529 acres of natural open space provide habitat for wildlife. The property is owned by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency.
12. Westlake Historical Monument: S.E. corner of Triunfo Canyon Rd & S Westlake Blvd, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Undesignated Site
To safely turn around continue driving about ½ mile on Westlake Blvd. to Carlisle Rd. Turn around and drive north on Westlake Blvd. just past Triunfo Road. Park your car in the Westshore Medical Plaza parking lot. Walk across Triunfo Road at the signal.
This most interesting and creative monument is dedicated to the Chumash, the explorers and the early land developers of the Westlake Village area.
13. Oakbrook Regional Park and Chumash Indian Museum: 3290 Lang Ranch Parkway, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
1983 -County Landmark #90, 1997 – City Landmark #5
Exit the parking lot. Turn right. Continue down Westlake Blvd. to Lang Ranch Parkway. Turn right. Continue on Lang Ranch Parkway until you see the gates to the parking lot of the museum on the right hand side of the road. Turn right into the parking lot.
This 428-acre park contains areas of significance to the Chumash culture. The museum includes exhibits, special events and an interpretive trail that describes Chumash life. The Conejo Recreation and Park District owns the Regional Park and museum. Regular hours for the museum are: Saturday 10 – 4 and Sunday 12- 4
14. The Norwegian Grade: Road to Santa Rosa Valley
Undesignated Site
Return to Westlake Blvd. Turn right. Continue to Avenida de las Arboles. Turn left. Continue to Moorpark Rd. Turn right. You will soon descend into the Santa Rosa Valley via the Norwegian Grade. The road is narrow and steep.
The men and boys of the Norwegian Colony built the grade in 1911 in order to have a safer route over which they could haul their crops to market. Roads leading out of the valley at that time were the cause of many serious accidents. The road you are traveling on is the original roadbed. There is a plaque at the top of grade attached to a rock on the right hand side of the road.
15. McCrea Ranch: 4500 North Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
1997 –National Registry of Historic Places, 1997 – City Landmark #11
The white barns of the McCrea Ranch can be seen on the right-hand side of the road at the bottom of the grade. The property is only accessible during scheduled events.
Film and western movie actor Joel McCrea, and his wife Frances Dee, also a movie star, raised their three sons on this ranch. One of the oldest buildings in Conejo Valley, “The Bunkhouse” built in 1890 by August Dumortier, sits on the property. The McCreas donated their ranch and family home to the Conejo Recreation and Park District in 1995. The McCrea Ranch Visitors Center was completed in 2011 and provides a variety of interpretive, educational and cultural programs for the community, while preserving the unique history of this property. The most popular events are monthly movies featuring Joel or Frances McCrea. Reservations for activities can be made through the Conejo Recreation and Park District website.
16. Pederson House and Water Tower: Faculty Street
1978 – County Landmark #45, 1997 – City Landmark #3
Turn around at the second gate for the McCrea Ranch. Continue back up the Norwegian Grade. Turn right on Olsen Rd. Go to Mountclef Rd. Turn left. Proceed on Mountclef Rd. to Faculty St. The house is on the corner of Faculty Road and Regent St.
This is a typical turn-of-the-century farmhouse and water tower that were built in 1913-14 for Lars and Karen Pederson, members of the Norwegian Colony that settled the northern end of the Conejo Valley in 1890. In 1967 the Pederson’s son Richard gave the property to California Lutheran University and the buildings were restored. The university now uses the building for offices.
