Hunt Olive Tree, 2019. Credit: Google Maps.
Ventura County Landmark No. 64: Hunt Olive Tree
Historical Background
Richard Orville Hunt and his wife Mary Jane purchased a large parcel of land in the Conejo Valley in 1876, in what is now the Lynn Ranch area of Thousand Oaks. He designated the property as Salto Ranch, a Spanish term meaning a high bluff or jumping‑off place, inspired by the nearby canyon (now called Hill Canyon). The Hunt family moved to a house at the present‑day corner of Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive in 1888. In 1891, the Hunt home became the Newbury Park Post Office, with Richard Hunt appointed as postmaster. He served in this role for 18 years and became well known in the local community (Conejo Valley Guide, 2023).
The family orchard contained apricots, peaches, plums, apples, nuts, pomegranates, and olives. While his former land is now populated with family homes, one remnant of Hunt’s ranch lives on in the form of the Hunt Olive Tree. Richard Hunt met his death near the original location of this tree in 1918, when he was accidentally thrown from his horse‑drawn buggy while supervising peach picking and died from his injuries.
Current Location
In 1993, the Hunt Olive Tree was moved approximately 500 feet from its original location to accommodate commercial development, where it continues to thrive at its current site. The more than 140‑year‑old tree is also designated as City of Thousand Oaks Landmark No. 4.
Reference
Conejo Valley Guide. (2023, March 4). The Hunt Olive Tree in Thousand Oaks is a Living Link to Conejo Valley History. https://www.conejovalleyguide.com/welcome/the-hunt-olive-tree-in-thousand-oaks-is-a-living-link-to-con.html
Image Credit
Side Photos: Craig Baker
Date Designated: March 1981
Location: Along Hillcrest Drive west of Lynn Road, Thousand Oaks
Photos:
