Fun Fact: Local legend has it that in 1824, a Basque rancher from Oxnard spilled a wagonload of pumpkins on the road en route to Los Angeles. The following spring, hundreds of pumpkin seeds sprouted alongside the road. The area was named Las Calabazas – the place where the pumpkins fell.*
*Source: Wikipedia
The Commons is the biggest and most popular of the nearby shopping centers. It comes with a handful of familiar retail stores, as well as, restaurants and a movie theater - it’ll pack a full house on the weekends. There are also some annual events put on by the Calabasas community like the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the winter and the Pumpkin Festival in the fall.
Calabasas Housing
In recent decades Calabasas has become synonymous with guard gated communities and sprawling estates. While there is plenty of that, you’ll also find condos, townhomes, and conventional style tract homes.
Calabasas loosley breaks into two sections - the Conejo Valley side and the San Fernando Valley side. Majority of Calabasas is located in the San Fernando Valley. You’ll find most of the gated communities, the Calabasas Commons shopping center, and Calabasas Lake all on this side.
San Fernando Valley | Guard Gated Estates
Guard Gated Estates are easy to find in Calabasas, especially as you make your way up Parkway Calabasas - where you’ll see grand estates with extra square footage, large lot sizes, tons of privacy, and golf course views. These parts of Calabasas are likely right on par with what you picture when you think Calabasas.
San Fernando Valley | Outside the Gates
It’s possible to take advantage of some of those benefits without sitting behind the wrought iron fences - gated communities aren’t for everyone. Most of the neighborhoods outside the gates offer similar if not the same golf course and hillside views, as well as, golf course access, proximity to the commons, and even the chance to live near the lake.
There’s a wide variety of homes outside the gates. Some of them are newer and will give you that look and feel familiar to behind the gates. Others have the original and classic feel of Calabasas that were built to fit in the small town Calabasas once was.
The Conejo Valley Side
The Conejo Valley side of Calabasas is completely different from the San Fernando Valley side and it comes with an entirely new set of perks. Its location puts you closer to the coast and canyon expanding the amount of things to do, and it sits right between the two valleys offering easy access to nearby shopping centers and conveniences in all directions.
From a housing standpoint, affordability is the biggest draw towards this side of Calabasas. By in large, the homes tend to be modest in comparison, and you can expect to find more condo and townhome complexes on this side. But, if you are attracted to the lifestyle of this side of Calabasas but still picture living in a gated community, no need to worry you can find that here too.
Calabasas Schools
Calabasas is located in the Las Virgenes Unified School District. LVUSD has a strong reputation for both academics and sports and is often the preferred district for parents. It covers Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and the L.A. County section of Westlake Village. It has 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
Things to Keep in Mind
Calabasas has a lifestyle and reputation that lends itself to those who enjoy privacy and are willing to pay to get it. In general, you pay to play in Calabasas. The houses are some of the most expensive in the area and come with high end retail and dining options. You can also expect it to be 10-15 degrees warmer during summer in Calabasas than in the true Conejo Valley.
- Explore More of The Conejo Valley -
Westlake Village ᐧ Oak Park ᐧ Agoura Hills ᐧ Thousand Oaks ᐧ Newbury Park
- Just Outside The Conejo Valley -
Calabasas ᐧ Dos Vientos ᐧ Moorpark ᐧ Wood Ranch
