1995-04-20 04:00:00 PDT La Conchita, Ventura County -- A large, white-and-red "Open for Business" sign perched on the roof of the yellow-and-green van at the entrance to Seaside Banana Gardens heralds the return of the mud-soaked family plantation. Both Pete Richardson and Dick Talaugon attended Punta Gorda School, the one-room schoolhouse in La Conchita. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The village of La Conchita is along a portion of the coast prone to mudslides, and sits beneath a geologically unstable formation. Ten years later he also developed Solimar Beach on leased land. In 1949 the Highway was widened to four lanes with outer edges of the seawall protected by a riprap seawall of boulders weighing up to 10 short tons (9.1 tonnes) brought by rail from Riverside County. Of the 166 homes in the community, fifteen were destroyed and sixteen more were tagged by the county as uninhabitable. Open 11-9 daily, Nigel's Bananas is the place to chill out in Seaside. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. It is a crime to destroy healthy plants, and why must a beautiful row of eucalyptus trees be chopped down? Grounds: 8am - 5pm daily It was a term for the mild climate there., Fruit grower Rob Brokaw said that some banana varieties will grow in other parts of Ventura County with lots of water and fertilizer, but Dougs spot is special, unique. At that time it was primarily occupied by workers in the nearby oil fields. "Punta Gorda", Spanish for massive point, referred to the outstanding feature of this coastal area, a large rock promontory. On March 4, 1995 at 2:03pm, a mudslide buried or damaged seven homes, injuring no one. The Ventura County Register of 1890, as well as the Rincon district electoral records from 19001916, reflects a varied mix of ethnicities among the residents in Punta and the Rincon area. Galleries: 9am - 5pm daily Children (under 5): Free, Tohono Chul 2023 | All Rights Reserved. 1992- renowned Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman Architect, (b. Military/Student (with ID): $13 We're all about connecting our members and visitors to the amazing world around us, through the nature, art and culture of our region. In 1931 Rudy Scheidman and Frank Regamey purchased the Mussel Rock Inn on the beach side of the railroad track at Mussel Shoals. It found that warnings the County gave of the dangers of living in La Conchita were "sufficient to advise any reasonable person to stay away from La Conchita", As of 2015, La Conchita remains an active community of about 300 residents, despite warnings of a continuing risk of further slides. As noted in the memoirs of Edward Bates, from 1910 until the late 1920s the beach area of the Rincon was viewed as more of a liability than an asset. FREE admission during the sale! Bricks retain warmth. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The main thing is that hes close to the ocean and the cliffs isolate it from land breezes, said meteorologist Terry Schaffer. It once had a glass-enclosed dance floor over the water, eventually lost to the winter surf and attracted such Hollywood celebrities as Marie Dressler, Warner Oland and opera singer Lotte Lehmann. 1985- La Conchita banana plantation started From it's opening until its forced closure in 1996, the Seaside Banana Gardens operated by Doug Richardson and his partner Paul Turner, became the most famous attraction in La Conchita. The California Rare Fruit Growers Assn. "La Conchita", Spanish for little conch shell, was first used as the name of a spur on the Southern Pacific railroad line in the 1880s and it was a name generally used to describe a broader area than the present day village. E. Ablett in 1879. It is like the Depression, evicting people out of their homes after they have lost everything and are at the point of starvation. The enterance to the farm which is owned by the ranchers who also own the hills in background. Education Center The landslide recurred on part of a previous landslide in 1995. LA CONCHITA It's no accident that Doug Richardson's Seaside Banana Gardens, an 11-acre farm that hugs the coast a dozen miles north of Ventura, is a novelty even in fruitful California.. Learn how to harness the power of rainwater to create a more sustainable life! Ventura Banana Plantation Reopens After Mudslide, Rainfall totals for parts of the Bay Area so far are staggering, Horoscope for Wednesday, 1/18/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Tenn. burger boss says who should be scared of In-N-Out's arrival, Worst yips in sports history might be key to 49ers-Cowboys, Shanahans onetime best friend calls Purdy lesser Mac Jones, 10 ephemeral waterfalls appear in Yosemite after Calif. storms, McDonalds in San Francisco tourist hub permanently closes, WW II structure falls 200 feet from cliff onto SF beach, The hidden Bay Area school that always has a waitlist, Global pop star announces SF show at Chase Center, Rock legend excoriates San Franciscos ChatGPT travesty', Mudslides trigger evacuations, close roads in Berkeley Hills, 5 architectural gems you can actually rent in Palm Springs, The IRS announced you can file your taxes starting Jan. 23, Kids luggage: 30 cute and functional choices for every age, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). 1985- Seaside Banana Gardens established in La Conchita Until its forced closure in 1998, after the financial impact of the 1995 mudslide led to it losing its lease, [6] the Seaside Banana Gardens operated by Doug Richardson (and his partner Paul Turner) were a leading attraction in La Conchita. Stanchfield sold the property to Charles. Warm ocean water gives off heat into the atmosphere that settles over the town, and slowly rises, mixing with the cool air. In the early 1950s the La Conchita cottages on the beach were either relocated or demolished when the highway was widened after the state acquired additional property.[2]. This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater. The Ventura County-grown bananas recently made an appearance at the Santa Monica farmers market after an 18-year absence, reports the L.A. Times, and more are on their way. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Want to solve climate change? Join us for a screening of Water Harvester: An Invitation to Abundance, a half-hour documentary about the rainwater harvesting initiatives in Tucson. January 26, 2023 Situated between a high bluff and the ocean, the town has its own microclimate. This was a very unwelcome surprise.. Also under an eave and against a brick wall. In 2008 plaintiffs representing family members of those killed and residents who lost property in the 2005 La Conchita mudslide successfully settled a lawsuit filed against the La Conchita Ranch. Her mother Josepfa Palomares was the sister of Ygnacio Palomares one of the first settlers of the San Gabriel Valley. Arrellanes daughter Maria married Dr. Matthew Biggs, and the property was transferred to Biggs in 1855. Sandwiched between a steep, unstable hillside (with the La Conchita Ranch Company situated on the plateau directly over the community), and the Pacific Ocean, La Conchita has been the site of recent major mudslides: La Conchita Ranch Co. was sued by those affected by the 2005 landslide. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood. His brother Milton was a civil engineer and surveyor. [11], Unincorporated community in California, United States, This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties, Learn how and when to remove this template message, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: La Conchita, California, "In the Shadow of Cliffs Lies the Fear of Ruin", La Conchita Community Organization website, "10 years after fatal mudslide, tiny La Conchita accepts the risks", "Settlement reached in La Conchita lawsuit", Official website of the La Conchita community, La Conchita Residents Stay Despite Known Risks, Landslide Hazards at La Conchita, California by the USGS, Recent Landslides In La Conchita, California Belong To Much Larger Prehistoric Slide, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Conchita,_California&oldid=1131848920, Unincorporated communities in Ventura County, California, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from August 2010, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. On January 10, 2005 at 12:30pm, a massive mudslide buried four blocks of the town in over 30 feet (9.1m) of earth. On March 10, 1995, a debris flow occurred in the canyon west of the March 4 slide, damaging four or five more residences and a banana. His father Harry Richardson was an oil worker who dug the first oil well in Mussel Shoals (then known as Mussel Rock). La Conchita's Seaside Banana Garden is back in business after shutting down its retail operation for more than a month, as the town dug out from mudslides created by heavy winter rains.. 5 -7 pm | Garden Pavilion Anything in excess of 40 miles per hour is a problem. From its opening until its forced closure due to a massive, and deadly landslide in 1996, the Seaside Banana Gardens operated by Doug Richardson and . "We've really had other bad winters, but this was the worst," he said. You can play an important role in helping to keep monarchs alive and well by planting milkweed seeds and creating your own monarch waystation. The Punta Gorda Land & Oil Company was established in 1900. Up through the 1930s as historically documented, the area from Bates Road down to Mussel Shoals (then known as Mussel Rock) was referred to as La Conchita. Richardsons plantation produces 58 varieties of the yellow fruit, along with mangoes, Kona coffee berries and sugar cane. 1985- Seaside Banana Gardens established in La Conchita. Bananas are so frost-sensitive.. By 1930 there were a dozen or so families living in small cottages at the foot of the hill. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. No seeds? We get our worst frosts when theres no air movement. For instance, avocado trees just a little up a slope will do better than the ones on the valley floor, where theres no movement., Old-timers used to talk about Ventura Countys banana belt, Brendler said. Milton Ramelli also subdivided the 66-lot community of Mussel Shoals in 1924 on land owned by the Hickey Brothers. Try a Belgium Chocolate dipped frozen banana or ice cream bar rolled in premium toppings or an ice cream float with a variety of creative craft sodas. The name change and designated area then known as La Conchita are crucially important to any understanding of the region today and its geologic history. In 1909, a devastating mudslide occurred approximately one-half mile north of the town, and in 2005 slides closed Highway 101 in both directions, trapping residents. Frost free, of course, so probably on the south side. Southern Californias coastal climate may be mild compared to Nebraskas, but only pockets of it are mild enough to grow truly tropical fruit like bananas. Our new Corporate Memberships offer an array of benefits ranging from company days, marketing, vendor tables, and more! Members of these families were prominent in local history for the next sixty years. (Andrew Bailard had purchased 500 acres (2.0km2) of land in Carpinteria in 1868). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. When I saw this newspaper article I just had to write. Its no accident that Doug Richardsons Seaside Banana Gardens, an 11-acre farm that hugs the coast a dozen miles north of Ventura, is a novelty even in fruitful California. The SACA Ceramics Sale provides a space for local artists to showcase and sell the finest clay work in Southern Arizona. FREE Documentary Screening The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. SACA Ceramics Sale 2022 February 3 & 4 from 10 am 4 pm. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Mud destroyed homes and caused other damage throughout the small coastal town, located along the Ventura Freeway just south of Santa Barbara County. At trial, the County prevailed against the plaintiffs on all claims. The assets of the ranch plus a cash settlement were turned over to the plaintiffs. The most reliable, tastiest varieties grown here are the small ladyfingers and the Orinoco. 2023 Getty Images. 2023 Getty Images. Re Yes, There Are No Bananas: Plantation Operator, Unable to Meet Rent, Uproots a Dream, Feb. 10. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Children (5-12): $6 Levi Gould Stanchfield, born in Leeds, Maine in 1841, established a ranch at Punta Gorda in 1875 where he raised sheep, grew lima beans and built a ranch house at Mussel Rock. Richardson said his plantation remains the only commercial banana venture in California. [9] The LCCO has worked with Local, State and the Federal Government officials to resolve the landslide situation that has affected the community since 1995. Friday morning we were up on and on the road headed south to Santa Barbara, for a 3-day extravaganza billed as the Bromeliad Summit. 2005- On January 10, 2005, the 2005 La Conchita Landslide took the lives of ten La Conchita residents. I have to point out, at this point the lawn was dead, the only palm tree was dead, this yard was dead! The only commercial banana venture in California their homes after they have lost and! An array of benefits ranging from Company days, marketing, vendor tables, and why must a beautiful of! First oil well in Mussel Shoals: 9am - 5pm daily Children ( under 5 ) seaside banana gardens la conchita free, course. From land breezes, said meteorologist Terry Schaffer families were prominent in local history for the next years. 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