Thousand Oaks Drive In

Cemetery Of San Buenaventura

more photos of the missions cemetery.

Wildwood Undeveloped

These two shots are from two important time periods in the development of Wildwood park located in Thousand Oaks. The black & white photo was taken in 1963 and clearly shows the Wildwood ridge directly behind the track homes being built. At this point in 1963, this is where the residential & open space regions of Thousand Oaks came together. The color photo was taken in the late 60's and shows the view from Wildwood looking back towards Thousand Oaks. The photo was most likely taken on Wildwood Ave. Most Thousand Oaks locals are unaware that Wildwood was the location for many wild west motion pictures & television shows. Some of those filmed in Wildwood were: Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Flaming Star (starling Elvis), & Big Valley.

Mission San Buenaventura

Mission San Buenaventura, like all of the California missions, has a cemetery containing the remains of thousands of California Native Americans & early Ventura County settlers. Sadly it is underneath a school.....
As you can see in most of these early pictures, the cemetery was located to the left of the church. For whatever reason the powers that be decided to cover it up with a boring school and pretend like it was never there. How about placing a plaque or some kind of memorial near the location of this very historical cemetery? I'll even pay the 50$ it would cost to have one made. Ridiculous.