U.S. 101 in Ventura County is Designated "The Screaming Eagles Highway"

As you drive U.S. Route 101 northbound in the Conejo Valley just past the Westlake Boulevard offramp, you’ll see a sign that says "The Screaming Eagles Hwy 101st Airborne Division."

The sign was authorized by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 54 (ACR-54) Screaming Eagles Highway: 101st Airborne Division, in 2003.

The 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles") is a specialized modular light infantry division of the U.S. Army trained for air assault operations. It was formed in World War I on July 23, 1918 and has been involved in every major U.S. war since then.

The 101st Airborne Division was instrumental in the success of the D-Day Invasion, the Operation Market Garden in Holland, in Bastogne for the Battle of the Bulge, in Vietnam for Operation Nevada Eagle, and in many other courageous missions worldwide. 

In recognition of the 101's significance for military personnel of the 101st Airborne Division, the Assembly designated the 44 mile section of the 101 in Ventura County as the Screaming Eagles Highway.

The sign was unveiled in September 2005. The same sign is placed on the southbound 101 just south of the Bates Road offramp on the Ventura/Santa Barbara County border.

Casita Valdez Mexican Restaurant Operated in Thousand Oaks From 1961 to 1979

(Image courtesy of Conejo Through the Lens, Thousand Oaks Library.)

Louie and Dee Valdez opened Casita Valdez out of their home at 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, in 1961. It was expanded in 1963 by converting the garage into a dining area, then the adjacent home was acquired to further expand the popular Mexican eatery. It was remodeled as seen here in 1975. It operated until 1979, when it was sold to Henry Valdez (not related to Louie and Dee), owner of Enrique's Mexican Restaurant in Van Nuys. Enrique's Mexican Restaurant operated until 2009. Tipsy Goat opened here on March 17, 2011. And there you have the history of 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Sundial Memorial at Hueneme Beach in Port Hueneme

Just 25 miles west of Thousand Oaks is Hueneme Beach Park, a beautiful 50 acre park on the beach with a fishing pier, bike/walking paths, volleyball, picnic tables, BBQ pits, the Surfside Seafood snack bar and more.

24 hour fishing pier at Hueneme Beach Park

One other feature at Hueneme Beach is the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Sundial Memorial that commemorates the 88 passengers and crew who lost their lives aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 261 near Anacapa Island on January 31, 2000. The flight was en route from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San Francisco and Seattle.

The Memorial features a 36-foot diameter concrete plaza with a curving sand wall and seating area and a raised sundial in the center.

The Memorial features a 36-foot diameter concrete plaza with a curving sand wall and seating area and a raised sundial in the center. The monument was designed by by well known Santa Barbara sculptor James “Bud” Bottoms. The sundial’s bronze dolphins and triangular blade (gnomon) cast a shadow on the 20-foot diameter dial face oriented to Pacific Standard Time. Names of each of the victims are inscribed on individual bronze plates mounted on the perimeter of the dial.

The crash site is located between the mainland at Port Hueneme and Anacapa Island, one of the smallest islands in the Channel Islands chain, 14 miles offshore. Families of the lost passengers and crew dedicated the sundial as both a memorial to their loved ones and a work of public art in gratitude to the residents of Port Hueneme for their compassion and tireless assistance in the recovery effort. This is a touching and lasting tribute to those who lost their lives on this flight.

Access the Sundial Memorial from Hueneme Beach parking lot B off Surfside Drive near the gazebo. More details at www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=930.

BEACHES SPANNING FROM CARPINTERIA TO MALIBU

Throwback: Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

Lupe's Mexican Restaurant operated at 1710 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard for 69 years. Martha Zuniga opened the original eatery, Lupe's Mexican Cafe, in 1947. It was named after her 3rd daughter.

The popular eatery was rebuilt and enlarged in 1965 and again in 2009, when it was expanded from 1500 sq ft to 3100 sq ft. Martha passed away in 1997. Lupe continued operating the restaurant until the property was sold in 2016. When it closed, it was the oldest continuously operating eatery in the Conejo Valley and one of the five oldest eateries in Ventura County.

Today, 1710 on The Blvd is a mixed use property with 36 townhome-style apartments and Denino's Pizzeria.

Flashback to 1923: $400 an Acre for Lots in "Thousand Oaks" - A City in the Beginning

In the spring of 1923, Morton D. Harris & Co. was selling 2 1/2 to 5 acre ranches at $400 per acre in "Thousand Oaks," a "city" in the beginning - the liveliest spot on the "Ventura Blvd." "Wonderful business opportunities...chicken and turkey ranches, grapes, fruit and berry tracts. Extensive water system now being installed. Good roads are being completed. And soon, yes, electric lights! Get these lots now for just 10% down and 2% per month!

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According to the late Pat Allen, historian for the city, mostly farmers lived in the Conejo Valley in 1922.  The 2,200 acre Crowley Ranch was sold and subdivided and lots were sold for $1,000. As lots sold and the population grew, developers held a contest to name the new village. Sixteen year old Bobby Harrington entered the name "Thousand Oaks." He won the prize and the rest is history.

Thousand Oaks became a subdivision of Ventura County on May 1, 1923, as recorded by the County Recorder. Thousand Oaks was incorporated as a city on October 7, 1964.

Did You Know That Six Streets at the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall are Named After Luxury Brands

Thousand Oaks Auto Center (now Auto Mall) ad from the early to mid 1960s.

The Thousand Oaks Auto Center (now Auto Mall) opened in 1967, making it one of the oldest auto malls in the country. Currently (2023), 29 brands are sold at the mall.

Did you know...that there are five streets running roughly north/south in the Auto Mall between Thousand Oaks Blvd and Auto Mall Drive that are named after five previous luxury brands? The five streets, from west to east, are as follows:

Auburn Ave - Luxury brand sold from 1900 to 1937.

Marmon Ave - Luxury brand sold from 1902 to 1933 (Marmon Motor Co build the first Indianapolis 500 winning car in 1911).

Cord Ave - Luxury brand sold in 1929-1932 and 1936-1937.

Pierce Arrow Ave - Luxury brand sold 1901 to 1938.(Its firs car in 1901 was a single-cylinder, two-speed no-reverse car called Motorette.

Packard Circle - Luxury brand sold from 1899 to 1956.

There's also Duesenberg Drive, which connects to Auto Mall Drive on the north, to Hillcrest. Luxury brand sold from 1913 to 1937.

T.O. Auto Mall website is at www.toautomall.info

Throwback: Grand Opening of the Tournament Bowl in Oxnard on November 8, 1958

The 32 lane Tournament Bowl opened its doors on Saturday, November 8, 1958 at 3443 Saviers Road in Oxnard. The facility featured a cocktail lounge, dining room, coffee shop and children’s playroom. Open 24 hours!

The grand opening featured free door prizes - free souvenirs “for both men and women!” and featured appearances by future United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famers, Steve Nagy and Harry Smith.

While I don’t know the exact date the Tournament Bowl closed its doors (I believe it was the early 1990s), what I do know is that a Ralph’s grocery store is now located there.

The Tournament Bowl hosted the Oxnard PBA Open September 24-27, 1964.

The other Oxnard bowling alley in years past was the Wagon Wheel Bowl, which closed in May 2015.

Finally, a brand new Bowlero opened at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard in October 2021, so for now, bowling is still alive in Oxnard!

BOWLING ALLEYS IN AND AROUND VENTURA COUNTY