The Wagon Wheel was built on the site of an old hog farm by Martin V. Smith in 1947. It was Smith’s first small real estate venture, but he would eventually become the most important developer in the history of Oxnard; creating much of Channel Islands Harbor, the Esplanade and Carriage Square shopping centers, Fisherman’s Wharf, and also the two towers at the Oxnard Financial Plaza.

 

The importance of the Wagon Wheel as an historic landmark on the 101 was made clear in numerous public comments submitted to the city by people from Oxnard and throughout the County and State who stressed the rarity and value of the Wagon Wheel as an authentic cultural landmark. The Oxnard Village Specific Plan is 64 acres surrounded by an 18 foot high concrete sound wall. “The Conservancy’s opinion is that the project can be successful and profitable for the developer and still carve out a little piece of land around the Wagon Wheel to celebrate Oxnard’s most iconic landmark and its most significant developer,” added Schafer. “We need to reverse the neglect that has happened to the Wagon Wheel since it was closed, and by applying the California Historic Building Code, the buildings can be restored to their mid-century heyday, like the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.” The lawsuit requests issuance of a peremptory writ ordering the City to set aside its approval of the project pending compliance with CEQA.

The Wagon Wheel is one-of-a-kind Americana along the 101 freeway, one of the few iconic landmarks that Oxnard has left. Yes, it's in sad shape today due to neglect by the developer, but it can be revitalized into a community resource with a Farmers Market, playgrounds, community center, swimming pool and a real American steakhouse all housed in the authentically restored, western-themed Wagon Wheel. No more motel, no more eyesore; just a gleaming preservation of the neon-trimmed buildings that millions of travelers have grown accustomed to seeing through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and the 90s. The Conservancy believes this location is important not only to the community of Oxnard but also the citizens of Ventura County as well as commuters and even one-time tourists; once it is demolished there is no second chance, it will be gone permanently.

The Conservancy is in support of the majority of the Village Specific Plan and in no way wants to impede the development, but a small number of listed historic resources will be demolished as a consequence of the new European-themed mixed-use project called the "Oxnard Village." A win-win scenario that would allow for preservation of the Wagon Wheel AND a profitable Oxnard Village development was not properly considered during the planning process (a violation of the California Environmental Quality Act). The Conservancy believes that The Village can be even more successful if less than three acres of the 64 acre project was revitalized to its authentic mid-century appeal. Restoring and enhancing a few of the original Wagon Wheel structures that Martin V. Smith created in the late 1940s.

The Conservancy sees the beautifully restored Wagon Wheel as a visual landmark on the 101, just like in the 1950s when the western-themed buildings and animated horse-and-buckboard neon sign served as a visual icon and lured travelers off the freeway. There's a Starbucks, Burger King and Holiday Inn at every off ramp; but real, authentic landmarks like this are rare, they're only found in America, and they are disappearing fast. The preservation of the Wagon Wheel is an opportunity to restore a world-famous destination, with an authentic Steakhouse and reuse the old motel units as artists studios, a farmers market, an educational facility, neighborhood stores, or perhaps a community center. Recreating the 'tough' motel of the last decade will not enhance the site. However, adaptive reuse of historic buildings does not require that the site be a motel. For example, the landmark Oxnard Carnegie Library isn't a library anymore, and the historic homes in Heritage Square looked even shabbier when moved, and they are now offices, restaurants, and a theater. The Conservancy envisions the restored site becoming a real magnet in the region and an amenity for the residents of the Village, creating a walkable, park-like destination between the high-rise towers and the 5 story townhomes. It will be at the center of the walking trail around the perimeter of the 64 acre development, some of the motel grounds could be used as open-space and the pool could again be used for swimming lessons like it did in years past. Much of this can be paid for with rehabilitation tax credits and preservation grants.

An unprecedented number of EIR comment letters from all over the country were submitted illustrating the need to retain and restore the historic Wagon Wheel to its former glory as a destination location and visual landmark. The Project Proponent has always maintained that – despite findings to the contrary by the Oxnard Cultural Heritage Board and historians hired to assess the site for the EIR – the Wagon Wheel needed to be demolished. The property has rapidly decayed as a result of its closure, (unlike the busy Bowling Alley next door) but the Conservancy contends that the simple frame buildings could be easily restored by adopting the California Historic Building Code. A small parcel containing the Motel and Restaurant could become a shining example of mid-century, themed roadside Americana and the entrepreneurial spirit of Martin V. Smith, Oxnard's most significant developer. If Oxnard allows the demolition of the historic Wagon Wheel they will have no historic landmarks from the 1940's or Martin V. Smith left, since Smith's first restaurant the Colonial House, was demolished 19 years ago, and has yet to be developed into the then-promised redevelopment project.

The Conservancy's concern was summed up best by Martin V. Smith in a 1991 LA Times article, when he was quoted saying, "I live here. I'd hate to see this area become like Orange County around the John Wayne Airport." People wishing to comment on the Wagon Wheel Junction preservation should contact the following publications and organizations: