Westlake Village

City of Westlake Village

As you start your home search in Westlake Village, here is some information about the city's history, neighborhoods, housing, schools, and parks.

Westlake Village is an affluent, planned community that straddles both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The eastern portion is the incorporated city of Westlake Village located on the western edge of Los Angeles County. The western portion is within the Thousand Oaks city limits in Ventura County. Seems a bit confusing but California state law prevents a city from existing in two separate counties which explains why the Ventura County portion of Westlake Village is part of Thousand Oaks.

Westlake Village surrounds Westlake Lake, a manmade lake of approximately 125 acres with eight miles of shoreline. Open space and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area surround much of Westlake Village.

Westlake features apartments, condominiums and town homes, and single-family homes. Prices for condos/town homes range from the low $300,000s to $950,000. Single-family homes range in price from mid-$600,000 to nearly $15 million. The higher priced homes are in such areas as North Ranch Country Club Estates, Hidden Valley, and the prestigious Lake Sherwood area. There is something for everybody!

First Neighborhood was the first neighborhood in Westlake Village. These homes were built in the late 1960s and make up a lovely area south of the 101 and east of Lakeview Canyon. Adjacent to First Neighborhood is Westlake Trails, an area of custom homes on large lots. Westlake Trails has trails for horseback riding although very few residents own horses these days. Another celebrated area is gate-guarded Westlake Island. Single-family homes on the lake are custom and range in price from $1.3 to nearly $2.8 million. These properties have lovely lake views, some with their own private boat dock. Only electric boats are allowed on the lake.

Head west on Potrero Road to the private, gated community of Lake Sherwood. The area is so named because of its use as Sherwood Forest in the 1922 film “Robin Hood” starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.   The lake in Lake Sherwood is the oldest man made lake in California, built in 1905. Dole Food Company owner David Murdock purchased the lake and surrounding area in 1985 and started development in the late 1980s. Lake Sherwood is considered by many to be the preeminent luxury real estate community in Southern California.  Home prices range from $1.1 million to $15 million. With stunning homes (both single-family and town homes), a championship 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, an exquisite country club with first-class facilities, Lake Sherwood is unequaled in prestige and luxury.

Because Westlake Village is located in two counties, there are two school districts serving the area: Las Virgenes Unified which serves the Los Angeles county residents and Conejo Valley Unified which serves the Ventura County residents. LVUSD has five K-5 elementary schools including Mariposa School of Global Education. There is one 6-8 middle school and two 9-12 high schools. LVUSD also offers a preschool program. For Westlake residents who reside in Ventura County, there are two elementary K-5 schools, one middle 6-8 school, and one 9-12 high school. Both school districts are excellent with a number of California Distinguished and National Blue Ribbon winners. The Conejo Valley is home to several private schools adding to the choice of excellent educational options.

Westlake Village features several golf courses both public and private. There are numerous shopping centers with shops and top-rated restaurants. Westlake is also home to a Costco, brand new Target, and the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel and Wellness Center. It is the headquarters of several large companies such as Dole Foods, Pleasant Holidays, K-Swiss, J.D. Power and Associates, Guitar Center and Jafra Cosmetics.

Parks & Recreation Link