There Goes the Neighborhood: Arnold and Maria House-Hunting in Ojai

Good morning. When we say "there goes the neighborhood," we mean, there go prices -- higher, if the governor buys a place up in Ojai.

The L.A. Times reported this weekend that the Schwarzeneggers have been house-hunting in Ojai, the artsy enclave (see below) 90 miles north of L.A.

The Ventura County Star had the story Friday, but apparently it's been bouncing around for a while -- The Sacramaento Bee reported that the Schwarzeneggers have already bid on a $6-million house.

We've wanted to visit Ojai ever since moving to L.A. three years ago. We've decided today is the day, so take this as a notice that comments will be slow to post today.

"Artsy enclave?"  We think we can do better than that, with your help. Give us a pithy description of Ojai that encompasses the whole green dream-organic-yoga-liberal-artsy-outdoorsy vibe.

Comments? Insights? Thoughts on living in Ojai?
Photo Credit: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

Comments

[mario]

I have lived in Ojai for six years, arriving from Sonoma County where I lived for 20 years. Also lived in Morro (moron) Bay and the SFV. It is true that Ojai has an ungodly number of galleries that range friom erotic to folk art. It is filled with people who complain about any changes that take place to the staus quo, never mentioning that they have benefitted genrerously from the appreciaition of thier homes whose prices have gone through the roof. It is a wierd place with more people who don't have any sign of meaningful employment who I guess fall into two, main categories: 1) trust-fund babies (who proliferate in the area), and 2) people with emotional and mental conditions who are on the public dole. You can't go out on the weekends for all of the traffic from tourists and hordes of motorcyclists who obliterate any vestige of peace and tranquilty the town used to be known for. This year in this town of 8000 (25000 in Ojai Valley) there has been stabbings and shootings that are gang related. Most independent retailers are hanging-on by the skin of their teeth hoping that it doesn't get so hot the tourists won't come. With Black Widows the size of yorkies and coyotes that will leap a six foot garden wall to eat the real yorkies, living on the edge of civilization has a price to be paid. Fires, washed-out highways, over-zealous cops, red-necks in smoke spewing junk trucks, gangbangers, celebrities, and do nothings, Ojai is indeed a very eclectic locale. You get to Ojai after driving through Casiata Springs, affectionately known as Crackitas Springs locally. Affordable shopping is 15-25 miles away in Ventura and Oxnard. You should come check-it-out, say this September when temperatures are so high the L.A. Basin feels like Vancouver, B.C. in comparison. Locals are boycotting an obscure sub sandwich chain just because it is a chain, and for no other reason. Why do I live here?
It is quiet at night and in most areas you can walk your dog in the evening w/o feeling threatened, except by the coyotes. Small town politics, acid flash-backed artisits, Larry Hagman driving a Priuus with plates that read RE LIVER, Ojai is a curiosity without peer amongst California towns.

[Peter Viles]

On a personal note, we had a great time yesterday visiting Ojai. It is a quirky, interesting place, and though we had never visited before, my wife and I had a sense of deja vu -- it felt to us a little bit like some of the artsy towns along the Hudson River north of New York.

Our 3-year-old son -- and his father -- were in heaven at Bart's Books, a well-stocked used bookstore that is almost entirely outdoors. If you love book stores, that alone is worth the trip. We bought a large pile of used books for $28.

The Farmer's Market is also worth the trip -- we particularly enjoyed Marcie's Pies, where we picked up a fresh apricot pie, which we had never tried before, and highly recommend. We also liked The Iron Mountain Boys, a bluegrass band that serenaded our 7-month-old daughter with an excellent rendition of "You Are My Sunshine."

Is it for everybody? No. There was, as the previous commenter pointed out, a locust-like infestation of motorcycles. There are a lot of hangers-on who give off a distinct odor of growing their own. There was also some sort of parade or protest taking place that involved lots of tie-dyed garments and signs about peace. A woman (attached to the parade? Not clear) was cycling around town wearing shorts, two small star-shaped pasties and nothing else. My eagle-eyed son observed, "Her's not wearing a shirt, Daddy."

As Cindy Adams would say, "Only in Ojai, kids, only in Ojai."

[Pablo]

Having left Ojai several years ago, I recalled the overall demise of the good parts of why I lived there. Friendly people, less traffic, and less meth addicts. The motorcyclists have taken over the town on the weekends. It reminds me of the whole Hollister Invasion that tookplace in biker folklore, only Hollister took place once, Ojai Biker invasion takes place every weekend. The drug addicts are the worsdt though, far too many per square mile in the valley to mention. Its sick, really sick at times.

[Cal]

We were actually headed up to Ojai on Saturday and got distracted on the backroads on the way up there and ended up never getting there. On Sunday we decided to visit a 1913 craftsman open house in Van Nuys (http://www.hamlincraftsman.com/) . I've been to many Craftsman houses over the years and this was the first that I've seen that had an original kitchen. It was really stunning how preserved the house is, usually parts of these houses get "updated" (especially the kitchens) but this one was a slice in time.

Unfortunately its in a horrible area and 800k. I'm old school, bars on all the neighbors windows is natures way of telling you to stay away.

[Lisa Snider]

I've been here since 1999 and I'm still figuring this place out! I started Finding Ojai, my personal mission to uncover the mysticism behind this quirky small town's charms. Newcomers to Ojai only hear whispers of its underground new age culture that embraces the unconventional. Most Ojaians live here for years without truly experiencing what makes this eccentric little enclave so unique. So set about on my quest; I drummed with the hippies in the park, tried yoga, ate at all the roadside bbq's, interviewed a ballboy at The Ojai tennis tournament, etc., etc. Want to know the real Ojai? So do I - let me know what you find out!