Orcutt Ranch — Attraction in Los Angeles

After a wildly unsuccessful trip to what I thought was The Chatsworth Depot Museum of Transportation and Movie History (which turned out to be a few things in a train station), I searched for something nearby to turn the day around. I travel with my three year old, looking for fun things to do and saw that I wasn't too far from the Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center (which I'd heard about).

I didn't know what to expect, and I'm still not sure have much of it we saw, but we had a great time. I was hoping there would be some sort of Welcome Center that would tell us what there was to do there so we could make the most out of our trip, but I couldn't find anything (other than signs for their upcoming pick your own grapefruit day that mistakingly said 2017). From what I gathered it is many small trails that take you into gardens and other wooded areas. There is an old historic house that you can look into, but I don't think it's open to the public.

They had a very cool water fountain and a gazebo... I don't know about you... but these are the two things needed for a successful trip with my three year old! He loves both things! So this place delivered! There are many statues on the premises to see, interesting chairs and benches, an old barn that had some artifacts on display (that was curios because some of the displays were simply straw and pinecones. A mystery!).

It was very relaxing. Like a mini Descanso Gardens right here in the San Fernando Valley... that's FREE!!! We did have other plans so had to leave before seeing everything, but we'll definitely be back! This is a great place to take a toddler to let them...

I think the venue is great, but as a participant in a wedding party, I saw first hand the challenges with communication has with its client. I was recently in a wedding and assisted with organizing the pre-reception, setup, etc. One hour before the wedding, our wedding planner called the groom, I'm driving him to the wedding location, and told us we couldn't have any amplified music in the wedding space, area in the woods. He mentioned to the venue employee that we were planning to play music very softly since it was a very small wedding (less than 140 people) and we could even use just a small wedding party. Even though it's int he contract that yes, we couldn't have a large and loud setup, they said it wouldn't be an issue if it's soft. One hour our, NO MUSIC. This was incredibly stressful for the bride and groom. Somehow, it was alright to have a DJ in the outdoor reception hour with two large speakers and loud music, but 50 ft. away, no music at all. Another person in the wedding party also said he's attended two other weddings where there was music allowed in the same location. I feel like this was unnecessary and put undue stress on the wedding planner, the bride and the groom. We ended up having someone play guitar, which was essentially the same volume as a small speaker, and grateful we had a guitar in the car and someone that could ad lib some music. This was just a disappointing experience and though I would normally give the venue 5 stars, the customer service experience was closer to 2 starts hence the 3...

A Hidden Gem in West Hills – Orcutt Ranch is Pure Magic!

If you're searching for a slice of paradise in Los Angeles, Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center is the place to be! This 24-acre oasis is a breathtaking escape from the city's hustle, offering lush gardens, towering heritage oak trees, vibrant flower beds, and a serene citrus orchard. Don't miss the century year old oak trees in the back.

The historic adobe-style residence adds a touch of old-world charm, with its Spanish tile roof, ornate ironwork, and hand-carved wood details. Every corner of this estate feels like stepping into a fairytale, making it an ideal spot for weddings, photography, or simply a peaceful stroll.

Whether you're wandering through the meandering garden paths, admiring the exotic shrubs and specimen trees, or soaking in the tranquility of the central courtyard and fountain, Orcutt Ranch delivers an...