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Once upon a time, the Conejo Valley was primarily home to the Chumash Indians, oak trees, and animals. Eventually, ranches took over, cowboys made the valley their home, and the area served as a country retreat for the adventurous people of Los Angeles. The producers of numerous movies and television shows took advantage of the natural beauty that could not be duplicated on a soundstage. Hollywood stars found privacy. Soon, word spread about the tranquility and wonderful opportunities of the Conejo Valley, and the growth began. Thousand Oaks received a name and boundaries and became a city, Lake Sherwood expanded, Hidden Valley was no longer so hidden, and the birth of Westlake Village brought the city to the country.
About the author
Tricia O'Brien, originally from San Francisco and the author of San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco's Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights, and San Francisco Giants, now resides in Westlake Village with her husband, Doug Johnson, and several rescued pets. Through photographs and stories gathered from local photographer Ed Lawrence, John Notter, the Thousand Oaks Library, Conejo Valley Historical Society at the Stagecoach Inn, the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, and local residents, O'Brien illustrates the area's evolution from raw land to beautiful planned communities.
