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Let’s paint in DOWNTOWN OJAI….Lots and lots of inspiring historic stuff to paint in Downtown Ojai….we should come here multiple times (or visit on your own.) I’ll highlighted a few notables below.
Refer to this Walking Tour with map pdf by the City of Ojai: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ojairec.com/DocumentCenter/View/1377/Historic-Down-Town-Walking-Tour-Brochure-PDF
(22) VC Landmark No. 26 Ojai Post Office and Portico, Southeast corner of Ojai and Signal Streets, Ojai. (City of Ojai Historic Landmark No. 6) This landmark structure, built in 1916, was a gift to the City of Ojai from Edward D. Libbey. The tower, featured on the city's official seal, is three stories high with a domed top inlaid with Spanish tile. (The tower is not open to the public.) Inside, wooden stairs lead to top of tower where electric chimes have been installed. Architects Frank Mead and Richard Requa modeled the tower after the Christopher Columbus Cathedral in Havana, Cuba, with additional details from cathedrals and churches throughout Mexico. Complementing the Arcade, the Post Office, Pergola and lion fountain were an integral part of the early 20th century Ojai city beautification project conceived by Edward D. Libbey.
(4) City of Ojai Landmark No.5 The Ojai Arcade, 202-328 East Ojai Avenue. The Arcade was the inspiration of winter resident Edward Drummond Libbey of Libbey Glass in Ohio. He hired the architectural firm of Mead and Requa of San Diego to design the arcade. Libbey asked merchants to contribute $10 per frontage foot of their store space to help finance the project and he paid the remainder of the costs. The arcade, built in 1917, now belongs to the City of Ojai.
(19) VC Landmark No. 27 Libbey Park Bowl Sycamore Tree, 650 feet south of the post office. Chumash Native Americans were said to have bent the sapling tree to mark the beginning of an important trail or a fine camping spot. The top rooted to form an arch which was known to the Chumash as the Peace Tree or Marriage Tree. An article by George T. Channing of Ojai, 1953, says, "Over 120 years ago the Indians called a peace conclave around the tree and agreed never to battle in the valley of The Ojai....As a marriage tree, the Indians believe that two lovers walking together through the arch are united by the Great Spirit...". Also Libbey Bowl: Venue for the Ojai Music Festival and other cultural events. Original 1957 bowl designed by Austen Pierpont and Roy Wilson. New bowl built in 2011 from plans by David Bury.
(20) City of Ojai Landmark No. 11 CIVIC CENTER TENNIS COURTS at Libbey Park. Site of “The Ojai,” one of the oldest amateur tennis tournaments in the United States; begun by William L. Thacher who founded the Ojai Valley Tennis Club in 1895 (still in existence). The Wall of Champions plaques commemorate the tournament and the players.
(18) City of Ojai Landmark No. 12 OJAI JAIL in Libbey Park. Ojai’s second jail structure 1928; home to some 650 inmates during the 50 years it was in use. Designed by Roy Wilson.
(17) OJAI ART CENTER, 113 S. Montgomery Street. Dr. Charles Butler spearheaded the building of this community project in 1939. The center is member-supported and multi-disciplinary. Designed by Austen Pierpont. 1997 exterior renovation by Marc Whitman.
(14) City of Ojai Landmark No. 8 OJAI VALLEY WOMAN’S CLUB, 441 E. Ojai Avenue. Built in 1911 for the King’s Daughters service group. The women voted to become the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club in 1914. The clubhouse remains an active center for community activities.
(12) SHELL SERVICE STATION, 459 E. Ojai Avenue. Built in 1936 for Elmer Friend in the Mission style. Designed by Austen Pierpont. Today: Ojai Rôtie Restaurant https://www.ojairotie.com/about
(1) City Of Ojai Landmark No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel (aka Ojai Museum), 130 W Ojai Ave. Also National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1918 to replace Ojai's original wooden Catholic church that had been destroyed by fire. Architects Mead and Requa of San Diego.
(2) El Roblar Hotel, 122 E. Ojai Ave. The original two-story building was constructed around 1919 as the El Roblar Hotel, according to city documents. Mission Revival structure designed by Mead & Requa. Additions and modifications have been made over the years. Formerly known as the Oaks at Ojai. The hotel has been closed since 2017 when the Thomas Fire caused smoke damage. Est. completion of construction fall 2025.
(23) OJAI PLAYHOUSE, 145 E. Ojai Avenue Local realtor John J. Burke built the movie theater in 1914. It was called the Isis Theater until 1926. The lobby had originally been a market with an adjacent ice plant. A Mission-style façade covered the three businesses, the first Mission-style building in town. (**Could be cool to paint this as a nocturne)
(24) City of Ojai Landmark No. 21 MARAVILLA COMPANY OFFICE (later called Ojai Valley Company, Today: Twice Sold Tales), 121 E. Ojai Avenue. The company was initially formed to develop and sell land in the Arbolada tract. The Arbolada development was conceived by Edward D. Libbey. Designed by Frank Mead in 1921.
(26) City of Ojai Landmark No. 23 SMITH-HOBSON ESTATE 1907-1926 (Today: Ojai City Hall), 401 S. Ventura Street. Former home of the Hobson and Smith families. Abram and Helen Hobson purchased a bungalow on this property in 1907 and proceeded over years to renovate and enlarge it. Home was converted to the Spanish style and a guest house built in 1926. Given to the city by the Smith-Hobson family in 1973. Ojai city offices opened here in 1976.
(6) City of Ojai Landmark No. 14 NORDHOFF BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE (Today: The Lavender Inn), 210 E. Matilija Street. The first school within the town of Nordhoff (now Ojai) in 1876; later the home of Ojai mayor, Alton Drown. The much-altered building began being used as a hotel/bed & breakfast in the late 1940s.
(10) City of Ojai Landmark No. 1 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Today: Byron Katie Center), 213 N. Montgomery St. at Aliso Street. The first church in the Ojai Valley in 1884. This Colonial Revival structure has been moved twice. It served Presbyterians for 46 years; then the Nazarenes for 50 years. Designed by J. Cleaveland Cady.
Bart’s Books, 302 W Matilija St. Ojai
Bart’s Books is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, serving the Ojai community since 1964. Bart’s hosts a collection of over 130,000 used and new books, ranging from rare out-of-print gems to well loved paperbacks, which line the outside walls and are still for sale on the honor system.
The Ventura River Parkway Trail was built on an abandoned railroad spur that was constructed in 1898 and acquired by Southern Pacific in 1899. Heavy rains in the winter of 1969 washed out the railbed north of Foster Park; the trains never returned. The rail trail, that runs along the easterly bank of the river, was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2014. The "Ventura River Trail" part of the trail (completed in 1999) extends from the coast to Foster Park, and the "Ojai Valley Trail" part (completed in 1987) extends from Foster Park into the City of Ojai. The 15.8-mile trail, with the steady grade of the former Southern Pacific Railway right-of-way, is used by cyclists, walkers and horseback riders.
The Ojai Valley Trail runs between 37 Casitas Vista Rd. (Ventura), where parking is available, and 402 Bryant St. (Ojai).
Parking is also available at:
* 1199-1075 W Ojai Ave. (Ojai)
* 521 S Montgomery St. (Ojai)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Libbey Park, Ojai, CA 93023, United States
