Los Encinos State Historic Park

Right between Ventura Blvd and Moorpark Ave next to the Smart & Final in Encino is small park with a lot of history.  The Los Encinos State Park is made up of historical buildings, a lake, and community and cactus gardens. 

The Garnier Building and the De la Ossa Adobe

I wandered around the grounds for a bit checking out the gardens.  A local elementary school grows vegetables in a community garden.  There is a small duck pond with fountains and you can buy duck food for a quarter.  When I was there a little boy was trying to feed the ducks, but it seemed the pigeons were getting most of it.

The geese, ducks, and pigeons at the pond

The visitor center is in the Garnier Building named after the French Basque settlers, Phillipe and Eugene Garnier, who built it in 1867.  Inside they have artifacts from the various settlements that have been on this property over the past 300 hundred years.  Including glass bottles from the Encino Roadhouse Inn that was a popular resting spot for stagecoaches in the 1870's.

Bottles from the Encino Roadhouse Inn

I'll have to go back on the third Sunday of the month when they have historical re-enactments, blacksmiths, and games for children.

Los Encinos is a taste of history right here in the San Fernando Valley, but it is in danger of being closed with all the budget cuts.  Help save this park and others by going to savestateparks.org.

Save California State Parks

Total Cost: FREE!!!
Total Time: 1 hour