Welcome to Santa Paula!

For many Southern California residents, Santa Paula is an undiscovered gem. Nestled in the historic Santa Clara Valley a mere hour’s drive from Los Angeles, it is one of the few small towns in California that still maintains its warmth and charm.

The town takes pride in its rich history. In the early years, Santa Paula was a center of both the citrus and oil industry. In fact, Union Oil was founded in Santa Paula in the early 20th century. The oil industry has moved on, but Santa Paula is still a center for agriculture and is known as the citrus capital of the world with its acres and acres of lemon and orange groves. In the early 20th century, the town was also a center of the early movie industry before it moved to Hollywood.

Main Street has changed very little since the middle of the century, and many visitors marvel at the array of buildings ranging from the early 20th century to mid-century modern styles. Many streets are lined with elegant Victorian homes and the town has become a popular location for the filming of period movies and television productions due to its well preserved historic architecture.

An additional draw to the area is the year round mild climate. Only about fifteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, the temperature rarely drops below freezing and is usually between 70 and 80 degrees. Other notable attractions include the California Oil Museum, the historic Glen Oaks Tavern, an Aviation Museum and many more. If you’re looking for a great place to visit for a day or a week, Santa Paula’s waiting for you!