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The Story of Ojai Valley Inn
Spanning a century of thoughtful evolution and impeccable care, the story of Ojai Valley Inn is as richly layered as its rural beauty and rarefied spirit. What began as the California dream of a wealthy Ohio glass titan became the Spanish Colonial-inspired Ojai Country Club that grew into today’s Ojai Valley Inn.
Through the eras, the resort has been peppered in famous names and events—from Edward Libbey, Wallace Neff, and Jimmy Demaret to Frank Capra, George Cukor, Clark Gable, and Judy Garland. It has played host to military troops, Hollywood films, and PGA TOURS. And so, the legacy continues.
Late 1700s
The Ojai Valley is home to the Chumash Native Americans, who find sanctuary in its sheltering canyons and mountains. Ojai is settled by the Spanish and Mission societies, followed by Don Fernando Tico, who established Rancho Ojai in 1837 with a 17,717-acre Mexican land grant.
1874
The Valley’s first settlement is named Nordhoff in honor of East Coast travel writer Charles Nordhoff, whose California book lured countless Americans west.
1917
The town is officially renamed Ojai, a Chumash word meaning “the Nest” or “Valley of the Moon.”
1923
Edward D. Libbey’s dream for his beloved Ojai Valley begins to take shape as his private country club and golf course are built to harmonize with the unspoiled beauty of this bucolic paradise.
Libbey commissions California architect Wallace Neff to build a Spanish Colonial-inspired clubhouse for his private golf course.
Edward Libbey
Ohio glassware magnate Edward Libbey is considered the “founding father” of Ojai, responsible for building downtown’s post office, arcade business district, and the park that bears his name.
During this time, Libbey gives landscape architect George C. Thomas, Jr. free reign to design the golf course in whatever way he likes, instructing: “Go ahead and build me the finest course that can be built…and use whatever land you wish. Give me the best. Money will be no object.” Upon its completion in 1923, the course is hailed as “a marvel of golfing architecture.”
1934
Architect Austen Pierpont adds a two-story inn of 22 guestrooms per Wallace Neff’s original drawings. These rooms are now thoughtfully reimagined as the Wallace Neff Estate Rooms.
1937
Legendary director Frank Capra uses Ojai and the country club grounds to depict Shangri-La in his classic adventure film, Lost Horizon.
1942
The Inn is transformed into a military training center for a battalion of 1,000 U.S. Army troops from the 134th Infantry Regiment (relocated from Nebraska) during WWII. The officers are housed in hotel rooms, and enlisted men are put in tents on the golf course. They name the Army camp “Lah We Lah His,” or “The Strong, The Brave,” translated from the language of the Pawnee tribe.
After the government auctions off the last of the military’s Quonset huts and barracks, the former country club property is returned to private ownership.
1944
Camp Oak Is Born
The Army turns its Ojai base over to the U.S. Navy, who use it for a veteran rest and recuperation facility, aptly named “Camp Oak.”
1945
Bing Crosby and Bob Hope host a star- and brass-studded exhibition match on the Camp’s 9-hole course for the Navy Relief Welfare Fund.
1946
Hollywood Glamour Begins
After the government auctions off the last of the military’s Quonset huts and barracks, the property is returned to private ownership. The entire facility is purchased for $250,000 by hotelier Don Burger, along with some notable Hollywood investors.
Thus begins the “Glamour Era” of the Inn as Burger’s renovations lure Hollywood’s brightest movie stars to seek the tranquil pleasures and glitz of Ojai’s luxurious resort.
Some of the biggest names in the country flock to the clubhouse and resort post-expansion, including Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Walt Disney, and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
1947
Golf Course Growth
The new owners expand the length of the golf course to measure a total of 6,800 feet. Golfing itself is so ingrained in the resort’s identity that it becomes a cherished pastime among the guests and a major draw to Ojai Valley. The owners wisely respond by employing renowned players, like Jimmy Demaret and Doug Sanders, to ensure the club’s operations remain at an elite level.
1952
Golden Age director George Cukor films Pat and Mike, starring cinematic legends Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, at the Inn.
1985
Private Ownership
After several changes in ownership, the Inn is acquired and operated independently.
1986
Tasteful Transformation
An impressive $50 million renovation and expansion begins. New guestrooms, a fitness center, and second swimming pool are added. The golf course gets a much-needed update. Eight new tennis courts open, the dining rooms are modernized, and a 4,800-square-foot conference center is built to attract Ojai gatherings.
1987
Famed golf course architect Jay Moorish is commissioned to toughen and modernize the course through a major restoration and renovation.
PGA Days
Building upon its founding glory, passionately established by resident pros Jimmy Demaret and Doug Sanders, the Inn plays host to seven prestigious Senior PGA Tour events. These acclaimed tournaments lure legendary golf royalty to the Inn’s world-class greens, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Tom Weiskopft, Chi Rodriguez, and Ben Crenshaw.
Casa Elar
Casa Elar is built by the Inn’s owners as a private residence. Host to celebrity escapes, destination weddings, and family reunions, this palatial, gated estate offers more than 10,000 square feet of indoor luxury, 44,000 square feet of outdoor beauty, a private pool, and sweeping mountain and valley views.
1997
Designed by Santa Barbara architect Bill Maham, the Inn unveils a 31,000-square-foot luxury spa and “spa village,” designed in the classic Spanish Colonial style.
1999
Under the supervision of Jay Moorish’s son, Carter Moorish, the Inn reintroduces the “Lost Holes.” Originally designed by George C. Thomas, Jr. in 1923, this pair of signature golf holes was abandoned during the former course redesign following WWII.
To the delight of golf fans around the globe, the holes are meticulously restored to honor Thomas’s original vision and layout.
2006
Prestige and Preservation
The Ojai Valley Inn completes a wide-ranging $90 million renovation, earning its status as a AAA Five Diamond property. Every corner of the resort is upgraded, and the infrastructure is improved—all while carefully preserving its original Spanish Colonial architecture and historic design by Wallace Neff.
The Inn debuts the Artist Cottage and Apothecary, 303 guestrooms and suites, a new lobby and entrance, new restaurants and lounges, a new ballroom and meeting spaces, a renovated golf clubhouse, and a redesigned pool.
2015
Elevating the experience yet again, the Inn introduces a refined lobby design, a chic adults-only pool, a new signature restaurant, and a refreshed parlor concept at the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar that is quintessentially Ojai.
2016
Libbey’s Opens
Named for the man who “fell in love” with Ojai, the Inn opens Libbey’s—a fresh artisan market, café, and boutique aligned with the launch of an elegant fleet of custom Linus bicycles. The Discover Ojai Center also opens to further enrich the guest experience.
2019
The Farmhouse at Ojai Valley Inn
The Farmhouse at Ojai Valley Inn debuts to much fanfare, offering a one-of-a-kind epicurean destination and event space designed by nationally acclaimed architect Howard Backen of Backen Gillam Architects.
With Nancy Silverton as its esteemed culinary ambassador, The Farmhouse takes its inspiration from Ojai’s rich farming culture, connecting guests to the local land and world-class food culture through a culinary-inspired calendar.
2020
The Inn unveils the newly reimagined and restored Wallace Neff Estate Rooms, named in honor of the famed architect who created the original guestroom building.
2022
Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”), the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, and spas, announced its prestigious 2022 Star Awards, and Southern California’s premier luxury retreat Ojai Valley Inn earned the highly coveted five-star designation for its newly renovated Spa Ojai.
2024
In 2024, Ojai Valley Inn completed a $10 million renovation of its guestrooms, enhancing the luxurious experience for its guests. The extensive upgrades include modern amenities, elegant décor, and thoughtful touches that reflect the Inn's rich heritage and commitment to comfort.