Slice of Shangri-La in Ojai

Anyone who has visited Ojai, in Ventura County, will tell you the town of a mere 7,600 residents is a slice of paradise.

In fact, Ojai so impressed movie director Frank Capra that he chose it to represent Shangri-La as the ideal setting for his 1937 film ‘Lost Horizon.'

East of Santa Barbara, and northwest of Los Angeles, Ojai is nestled in a valley in the Topatopa Mountains, where a weekend getaway might include a stay at our favorite Ojai Valley Inn, or a visit during the annual Ojai Music Festival.

There, in Ojai's coveted east end, we discovered a captivating split-level mid-century modern on a sprawling three acres generously accented with beautiful stonework throughout its charming interior.

"This is a beautiful property, and has been a fun one to get ready to present," points out Tonya Peralta of Keller Williams of her listing, priced at $3.150 million, at 4569 Grand Avenue. "The response has been tremendous, too."

"I love the original terrazzo flooring," she adds, "and how over the years they really maintained a lot of the architectural significance."

While strolling through the grounds, its enjoyable to admire the mature trees—oaks, pines, and eucalyptus—that "really give a special feeling…rustic and untouched," says Peralta. "Nobody has professionally landscaped it; and I love that, and all the native rock."