Los Olivos, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Los Olivos () is a place in Santa Barbara County, California. Approximately 1000 people live in and near Los Olivos.
The town of Los Olivos is one of the communities that make up the rural, but somewhat upscale collection of hamlets that populate the Santa Ynez Valley. Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is located about five miles north. The name in Spanish means, "the olives" or "the olive trees". The town center is located just off SR 154, which is a scenic road going north from Santa Barbara over San Marcos Pass, through the coastal Santa Ynez Mountains. This was the route of the Santa Barbara north-south stageline, which operated until 1911.
Los Olivos was connected by a narrow gauge railroad from Santa Maria, which was shut down and the tracks salvaged in 1934. The terminus of the railroad, heading south, Mattei's Tavern, and nearby outdoor depot/water tower, built in 1884, was the starting place for the stagecoach line that continued over San Marcos Pass into Santa Barbara. This route connected Santa Barbara with points north such as San Francisco. The tavern is still in operation, and is one of the historical highlights of the area, and a well respected restaurant with authentic historical charm. The town is typical of small communities in the area, with most residents living on small farms and ranches surrounding core of the town. The town was founded in 1861 and had stage service from 1865 until 1911. In May 1986 Los Olivos was used as the location setting for the fictional town of "Mayberry" in the made-for-TV movie Return to Mayberry, based on the popular 1960s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Several locations in Los Olivos were featured in the 2004 movie Sideways, which was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. A deluxe small hotel, The Los Olivos Inn, was built in the 1980s and is now operated by famous former Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett star, Fess Parker, who is a well-known figure in the hotel and wine business in Santa Barbara County. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan lived about nine miles south at Rancho Cielo ("Sky Ranch"), near the crest of the Santa Ynez mountains. While President, he would occasionally fly into Los Olivos in his Marine One Sea Stallion helicopter to attend church services at the Episcopal Church next to Mattei's Tavern.
Nowadays, Los Olivos is renowned for its several commercial wineries, such as Firestone Wineries, and wine tasting shops, which draw visitors from all around the country and even around the world. Solvang, a community founded as a Danish farming colony in 1911, is about six miles to the south. Several famous retired movie stars and world-class directors have called the Los Olivos area home. The are several large horse ranches that breed Arabians, and racing stock. Many people would characterize Los Olivos as a kind of Beverly Hills in the country. It is not uncommon to see former movie-star female actors, shopping in the markets wearing jeans, boots and spurs.
