Ventura Farms

Ranch in Thousand Oaks, California, US

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Ventura Farms

Location within California

General information
Location| Hidden Valley
Address| 235 W Potrero Rd, Thousand Oaks, California
Coordinates| 34°08′43″N 118°53′21″W﻿ / ﻿34.1453°N 118.8892°W﻿ / 34.1453; -118.8892
Owner| David H. Murdock

Ventura Farms, formally known as Deerwood Stock Farm and Kentucky Park Farms, is a historic estate that is located in the Hidden Valley near Thousand Oaks, California.[1][2][3] Known for being a film location, the 2,200-acre (890 ha) ranch has been featured in a number of Western films and is still used for filming. Historically recognized for breeding thoroughbred horses,[1] the ranch is situated at the east end of Lake Sherwood near the entrance to the Hidden Valley.[4]

## History

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The Deerwood Stock Farm was owned by J. C. Dellinger from prior to 1944 until 1978, when David Murdock, CEO of Dole Corporation, purchased it and renamed it Ventura Farms.[5] Under his ownership, the property expanded to include features such as formal gardens, a 1,800-square-foot conservatory and unique architectural structures. The ranch may have been started by F. W. Matthiessen and given the original name Kentucky Park Farms. It was formerly property of Carleton F. Burke, California Horse Racing Board's first chairman.[6]

## Architecture

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The ranch consists of various gardens, such as an English Garden, Family Garden, Secret Garden, Arabian Division, etc. Also at the farm is a herd of Santa Gertrudis cattle, Kashmir sheep, Reindeer, Arabian horses, and around 800 Koi. Architectural features include the Sound of Water Pavilion, Japanese Tea House, Chinese Scholar House, Poet’s House, and an 1,800 square feet (170 m2) conservatory housing 25,000 orchids.[7]

## In motion pictures and television

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It was under Dellinger’s ownership that movies were first shot on the ranch. It has been featured in films and TV series such as:[8]

Movies

* In Old Kentucky (1935)
* Under Fiesta Stars (1941)
* San Fernando Valley (1944)
* My Pal Trigger (1946)[9]
* Trail to San Antone (1947)
* The Paleface (1948)
* Never a Dull Moment (1950)
* Sons of New Mexico (1950)

Television

* The X-Files (2001 episode "The Gift")
* 24 (2006)
* Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-2020)[10]
* Crisis (2014)[10]
* Westworld (2016-)[11]
* 9-1-1: Lone Star (2021)

## References

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1. ^ a b Schneider, Jerry L. (2015). Western Filming Locations Book 1. CP Entertainment Books. Page 132. ISBN 978-0692561348.
2. ^ Barraclough, Laura R. (2011). Making the San Fernando Valley: Rural Landscapes, Urban Development, and White Privilege. University of Georgia Press. Page 93. ISBN 9780820335629.
3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-26.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. ^ Sample, Herbert A. (January 21, 1985). "Hidden Valley Residents Bask in Life on Edge of Urbanization". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
5. ^ O'Brien, Tricia (2007). Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Arcadia Publishing. Page 87. ISBN 9781439661956.
6. ^ "About Us | Ventura Farms | Thousand Oaks |". venturafarms. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
7. ^ "Scenes From the Ventura Farms Inaugural Concours Invitational Fundraiser Today". Conejovalleyguide.com. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
8. ^ Schneider, Jerry L. (2015). Western Filming Locations Book 1. CP Entertainment Books. Page 133. ISBN 9780692561348.
9. ^ Reid, John Howard (2006). Great Hollywood Westerns: Classic Pictures, Must-See Movies & "B" Films. Lulu, Inc. Page 99. ISBN 9781430309680.
10. ^ a b Wayne, Gary. "Crisis - Filming Locations". Seeing-stars.com.
11. ^ "'Westworld' makes a scene in Agoura". Theacorn.com. 22 December 2016.

## External links

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* Official websites