Erbes Road in Thousand Oaks Named After Early Settlers in the Conejo Valley

Courtesy of Thousand Oaks Library

calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/c8w093ww

This is Elizabeth Opper Erbes. She is the mother of Ernest and Otto Erbes, who were early settlers in the Conejo Valley.

Otto (born in 1885, passed in 1959) owned a walnut orchard on what is now Erbes Road.

Estella Park on Erbes Road just south of Hillcrest is located on land donated to the city by Otto Erbes and his wife.

Erbes Road is a major north/south artery in the City of Thousand Oaks, stretching just over 5 miles, from Calle Zocolo, north of Olsen Road, on the north, to Thousand Oaks Boulevard on the south.

Olsen Road is also named after early Conejo Valley pioneer Nils Olsen. Olsen and four Norwegian compatriots purchased 650 acres of land from George Edwards in 1890.

Tennis Courts Open to the Public In and Around Ventura County

Looking to play a little tennis in and around Ventura County? There are over 150 tennis courts open to the public throughout the county. Here they are compiled into one list. 

Contact us with any additions!

Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park

• Borchard Community Park, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park - 4 courts

• Del Prado Playfield, 402 Calle del Prado, Newbury Park (Dos Vientos) - 1 court (also 2 pickleball courts)

• Rancho Conejo Playfields, 950 N. Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park - 2 courts

• Dos Vientos Community Park, 4801 Borchard Road, Newbury Park - 2 courts

• North Ranch Playfield, 952 Rockfield Street, Thousand Oaks - 2 courts

• Thousand Oaks Community Park, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks - 4 courts

• Triunfo Park, 980 Aranmoor Ave, Thousand Oaks - 3 courts

• Wildflower Playfield, 635 W. Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks - 4 courts

Agoura/Oak Park/Calabasas

• Agoura High School Tennis Courts are available for public use after school hours until 10pm and on weekends and summer, when not otherwise in use.

• Gates Canyon Park, 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Calabasas - 2 courts

• Indian Springs Park, 4800 Rockfield, Oak Park - 2 courts

• Deerhill Park, 6700 Doubletree Road, Oak Park - 2 courts

Camarillo

• Bob Kildee Community Park, 1030 Temple Avenue - 6 lighted courts

• Mission Oaks Park, 5501 Mission Oaks Boulevard - 6 lighted courts

• Pitts Ranch Park, 1400 Flynn Road - 2 courts

• Valle Lindo Park, 889 Aileen Street - 5 lighted courts

• Springville Park, 801 Via Zamora: 3 lighted courts

Oxnard

• Carty Park, 3900 South F Street - 1 court

• College Estates Park, 1400 Gary Drive - 1 court

• Community Center West Park, 801 Hobson Way - 8 lighted courts

• East Park, 351 Indus Place - 1 court

• Fremont Tot Park, 1130 North M Street - 2 courts

• Lemonwood Park, 2055 East San Mateo Place - 2 courts

• Marina West, 1300 South Novato Drive - 2 courts

• Orchard Park, 2130 Edelweiss Street - 1 court

• Peninsula Park, 3333 South Peninsula Road - 2 courts

• Rio del Mar Elementary, 3150 Thames River Drive - 1 court

• Rio Lindo Park, 841 Blanca Street - 1 court

• Sea Air Park, 2011 Ninth Street - 2 courts

• Seabridge Park, 3900 LMD, W. Wooley - 2 courts

• Via Marina Park, 3301 Keel Way - 1 court

• Wilson Park, 350 North C Street - 1 court

Ventura

www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1774/Tennis-Pickleball

• Camino Real Park & Tennis Center, Dean Drive and Varsity Street - 8 courts

• Harry A. Lyon Park, DeAnza Drive at Cameron Street - 3 courts

• Juanamaria Park, Loma Vista Road and Kimball Road - 2 courts

Simi Valley

• Rancho Madera Community Park, 556 Lake Park Drive - 6 courts

• Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Avenue - 8 courts

• Rancho Tapo Community Park, 3700 Avenida Simi - 4 courts

Moorpark

• Arroyo Vista Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road - 8 courts

• Mammoth Highlands Park, 7000 Elk Run Loop - 1 court

• Miller Park, 4530 Miller Parkway - 2 courts

• Tierra Rejada Park, 11900 Mountain Trail Street - 3 courts

Ojai

• Libbey Park, Downtown Ojai - numerous courts

• Soule Park, 1301 Soule Park Road - 1 court

Port Hueneme

• Moranda Park, 200 Moranda Parkway - 8 courts

Tennis courts at Borchard Park in Newbury Park are nicely maintained.

Stay Cool in the Pool! Community Swimming Throughout Ventura County

Stay cool this summer and year-round at some of these community swimming pools, water parks and splash pads in Ventura County and surrounding areas. For updates and additions, contact us!

Conejo Valley (Conejo Recreation & Park District)

Community Pool at Cal Lutheran University Samuelson Aquatics Center is a year-round facility, offering recreational and lap swimming 7 days a week. Call 805.241.0894 or visit www.crpd.org. General admission is $4 ($3 for 62+ with ID). Water is heated up to 82 degrees year round.  www.crpd.org/aquatics.

Newbury Park High School Community Swimming Pool is at 456 Reino Road. Open during the summer only. Entry fee $4 per person. Call 805.498.6906 or visit www.crpd.org/facilities/community-pools.

Thousand Oaks High School Community Swimming Pool is at 2323 N. Moorpark Road is open during the summer only. Call 805.496.8564 or visit www.crpd.org/facilities/community-pools.

Conejo Valley/Agoura - Other

• Daland Swim School in Thousand Oaks offers group and individual lessons.

• Conejo Valley YMCA in Thousand Oaks heated indoor swimming pool open 7 days/week.

• Water Wings Swim School in Agoura Hills offers group and individual lessons

Children’s Splash Pad/Water Area at Oak Canyon Community Park, 5600 Hollytree Drive, Oak Park. Hours of operation are 10am to 7pm. 2024 Splash Pad season opens Saturday, May 25 and ends on Monday, September 2. Free of charge. 818.865.9304

Kids love the Interactive Fountain at Janss Marketplace.

Moorpark/Simi Valley

Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District offers a large community swimming pool at Rancho Simi Community Park, 1765 Royal Avenue. Pool hours at www.rsrpd.org/recreation/aquatics.php but open rec hours are 1-3pm M-F 6/10 to 8/14 and 1-4pm Sat/Sun 6/8 to 9/8 . Admission $4 for ages 2 to 49 and $2 ages 50+.

Rancho Tapo Splash Pad

Childrens' Splash Pad Area at Rancho Tapo Community Park, 3700 Avenida Simi. Free. Opens Saturday, May 25, 2024 and closes on Monday, September 2nd. Hours are 11am to 2pm and 3-7pm daily. www.rsrpd.org/business_detail_T9_R45.php

Simi Valley Aquatics is available for swim lessons and birthday parties only.

Simi Valley Family YMCA heated indoor swimming pool open 7 days/week.

Camarillo/Oxnard

Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center offers an indoor swimming pool with eight swimming lanes, a one meter diving board, 65 foot spiral water slide and more. Pool heated between 81 and 83 degrees. Open Tues/Thur/Fri/Sat for recreational swim from 1:30-4pm 6/17 to 8/23. $4 for ages 4+, free to ages 3 and under and $3 ages 60+. Visit www.pvrpd.org/aquatics or call 805.987.8198. 

Camarillo Family YMCA swimming pool open Mon-Sat. Call 805.484.0423 or visit www.ciymca.org/locations/camarillo-family-ymca

There's a "Pop Jet Fountain" at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard, on Town Center Drive in front of the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar and adjacent to Larsen's Grill.

Ventura and Up the Coast

Ventura Aquatic Center has a 25 meter recreational pool, 50 meter competition pool, playground pool, two slides, and more! Open swim free for age 2 and under, $10 for ages 3 and up. Visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/612/Aquatics or call 805.654.7511 for details. BEST TO RESERVE A SPOT IN ADVANCE AS CAPACITY IS LIMITED. Open swim schedule for summer 2024 (June 17-Aug 9) is 1-4:30pm Mon-Fri and 12:30-4pm Sat/Sun.

Casitas Water Adventure is open all summer on select days - the Lazy River, Mega Play Unit Structure with 2 water buckets and 5 slides (2 for children; 3 for teens/adults), Splash Pad and Lagoon. 2024 season runs from May 25 to August 13 (weekdays); September 14 (for weekends). Weekend morning sessions 10:30 am to 2 pm and afternoon sessions 3 to 6:30 pm. Weekday hours are 11am to 6pm.

Call 805.649.2233 or visit www.casitaswater.org/casitas-water-adventure to learn more and reserve a spot. Cost is $20 per person on weekdays and $23 for weekends. Free entry for under two years of age.

Ventura Family YMCA has 2 indoor heated swimming pools and is open 7 days/week.

Carpinteria Community Pool is located at 5305 Carpinteria Avenue. Day passes are $5 for 12 and under, $7.00 for ages 13-64, $5 for seniors. Recreational swimming on weekdays varies; Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Visit carpinteriaca.gov/parks-and-recreation/carpinteria-community-pool for more information.

The Leo Robbins Community Sailing Center at Marina Park in Ventura is a U.S. Sailing Association certified facility for lessons in sailing, kayaking and navigation for all ages.

Other Places Around Town

The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center located at 23400 Park Sorrento is open 7 days/week. $7 for adults, $4 for seniors $1 for kids under 13. (3 and under are free). Pool hours vary. Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/tennis-swim-center or call 818.222.2782. Pools heated to 82 degrees year-round.

The Splash Pad at De Anza Park at 3701 Lost Hills Road, Calabasas is usually open during the summer Mon-Fri 11am to 5pm

Malibu Community Pool at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive. Outdoor pool heated to 82 degrees. $3 per person. Visit www.malibucity.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Malibu-Community-Pool-7 or call 310.589.1933 for details.

The Fillmore Aquatics Center at 575 1st Street opens Memorial Day through Labor Day each year for recreational swimming Monday through Friday from 11:30am-3:45pm and Saturdays 10am to 4pm. More information and fees at www.fillmoreca.com/176/Parks-Recreation or 805.524.4902. 

And let's not forget the incredible BEACHES close by! CLICK HERE for links to over 40 public beaches throughout Ventura County, stretching north to Carpinteria and south to Malibu.

Water Parks Outside of Ventura County

Knott's Soak City in Buena Park (about 70 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Legoland California Water Park in Carlsbad (135 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Raging Waters Water Park in San Dimas (75 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Valencia (50 miles from Thousand Oaks)

Hansen Dam Aquatic Center in Lakeview Terrace with a large pool, cabanas and two water slides. 

The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in the Conejo Open Space is Protected Land

The Twin Ponds Conservation Area in Dos Vientos is part of the open space lands of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and is protected by a conservation easement to the California Department of Fish and Game.

July 2014

January 2015

May 2016

The ponds were originally constructed in the 1920s as part of the irrigation system for agricultural and cattle ranching operations at Dos Vientos Ranch. Today they serve as important habitat for Two Striped Garter Snakes and larger animals such as deer, bobcat, coyote and mountain lions that depend on a reliable source of water. Migrating waterfowl are occasionally abundant, especially in winter.

COSCA and Fish & Game ask that we enjoy this scenic area but protect the ponds for the future and ask that we do not enter the water or allow dogs/horses to enter the water, disturb or remove any animal or plant or place any plants or animals, including fish, into the ponds.

To explore the ponds, take the Vista Del Mar Trail from one of several access points in the Dos Vientos area, including the corner of Via Ricardo and Via Rincon and the corner of Rancho Dos Vientos and Via El Cerro. This is a fun little hike to take the kids on and the ponds are only about a mile from the Via Ricardo/Via Rincon trailhead.

Twin Ponds? What ponds? The ponds are completely dried up as of August/September 2016.

January 2024

Late March 2024 - looking great!

Map From Westlake Master-Planned Community Brochure from 1968

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In 1968, the American-Hawaiian Land Company, a division of American-Hawaiian Steamship Company, was developing the Westlake master-planned community, "the new city in the country."

At the time, 2,500 people lived in Westlake. The Ventura County sections of Westlake were annexed into the City of Thousand Oaks in 1968 and 1972. The Los Angeles County section of Westlake was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village in 1981. Some notable items from this 1968 map from a Westlake brochure:

1. "El Conejo Blvd." was later changed to Thousand Oaks Blvd.

2. Westlake Plaza did not exist at the time, though you can see "Future Town Center."

3. What is now Westlake Village Inn, Mediterraneo and Stonehaus back then was the Westlake Motor Hotel, Westlake Inn restaurant and Chauncey's Coffee House.

4. Last, but not least, there was no Costco in the original planned community map.

More information about the City of Westlake Village boundary lines at THIS LINK.

The Pedestrian Tunnel Under Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks

There's a pedestrian tunnel that connects the Wildflower Playfield on Avenida De Los Arboles at Canna Street that goes underneath Arboles to Wildwood Neighborhood Park.

At the west end of Wildwood Neighborhood Park is a trail that will take you into Wildwood Park, and from there, you can either loop around back to the main Wildwood Park trailhead at the west end of Arboles, or turn back the way you came.

Wildwood Neighborhood Park was home to the original Wildwood Fort, built in 1967, but torn down in 2009 due to deterioration. New playground equipment was installed in 2021. There is also a playground across the street at Wildflower Playfield, along with restrooms at both parks. More info at www.crpd.org.

Playground at Wildwood Neighborhood Park

Concert Venues in Ventura County and Adjacent Venues

Looking to attend a concert in the Conejo Valley, greater Ventura County and adjacent areas? Here’s a compilation of such concert venues. For a separate listing of local area restaurant and bars where you can catch live music, visit THIS LINK.

The Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Thousand Oaks is one of the largest performing arts centers between Los Angeles and San Francisco at over 200,000 square feet. Managed by the City of Thousand Oaks, the BAPAC encompasses two theatres – the 1,800-seat Fred Kavli Theatre and the 394-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre. Located at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard.  bapacthousandoaks.com

The Santa Barbara Bowl, located at 1122 N. Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, was originally built in 1936 and today with its capacity of nearly 5,000 people is the largest outdoor amphitheater in Santa Barbara County. www.sbbowl.com

The Majestic Ventura Theatre offers a 1920's Mission Style Architecture ambiance - you can see and feel close to the band from practically anywhere in the theater. All genres of music. 1200 capacity venue with multiple full bars, ballroom and occasional dinner shows. The theater is located at 26 S. Chestnut Ave., Ventura.  www.venturatheater.net 

Ventura Music Hall is located at 1888 E. Thompson Blvd in Ventura, hosting live music and offering craft food and drinks. www.venturamusichall.com

The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center is a 220 seat theater at 3050 Los Angeles Avenue that hosts musicals, concerts, exhibits, children's theater and other events year-round.  The theater is a landmark Gothic structure built in the 1920s that was named as Ventura County Historical Landmark #67 in July 1981.  The building has served numerous purposes since inception and became the Cultural Arts Center in November 1995.  www.simi-arts.org

The Oceanview Pavilion located at 575 E. Surfside Drive in Port Hueneme offers concerts, theater, fairs, shows and a variety of other events for all ages.  The venue has a capacity for up to 1400 people and can be rented out for special events. www.oceanviewinfo.com

The Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center at 800 Hobson Way has over 1,600 seats in a theater that showcases local theater, dance, music and other programs. www.theopac.org

The High Street Arts Center at 45 E. High Street has been owned by the city of Moorpark since 2005, the theater now provides high quality theatrical performances and concerts at reasonable prices  www.highstreetarts.com

The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University, located on campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, showcases musicians, performers and artists from around the world at its Raitt Recital Hall (100 seats), Smothers Theatre (500 seats), Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. www.arts.pepperdine.edu

The Canyon Club in the Whizin Market Square at 28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills is a live concert venue and supper club that host all types of bands and genres, comedy, special events and more. There are tables if you’re there to enjoy dinner too. Capacity is about 600. wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-agoura-hills

Libbey Bowl is located in the heart of Ojai near the corner of Ojai Avenue and Signal Street. It was originally built in 1957 and has been used for the annual Ojai Music Festival, Storytelling Festival, Ojai Day event, holiday celebrations and many other community events through the years. It accommodates 1,300 people. www.libbeybowl.org.

The historic Arlington Theatre is located at 1317 State Street in Santa Barbara. Built in the mission revival style, it seats over 2,000 attendees. thearlingtontheatre.com