The History of Channel Islands Harbor -- Our Home

The Channel Islands Harbor is a man-made harbor located in Oxnard, California, USA, adjacent to Hollywood Beach and Silverstrand. The harbor was built in the 1960s as a recreational harbor and to provide a safe anchorage and recreational opportunities for boaters and visitors in the area.  Additionally, the harbor contains well over 2,000 boat slips, as well as multiple marina facilities, restaurants, sport fishing facilities, chandleries and shops.

The harbor is comprised of three areas -- (1) west, (2) east and (3) the peninsula.  Each area is served by separate public roads, with each area providing different services. The west side consists of marinas, a linear park, restaurants, residential development and retail businesses. The peninsula is dominated by two hotel developments, marinas, apartments and condominiums. The east side bordering Victoria Blvd. is largely commercial and offers boat yards, a marine supply store, boat sales, law enforcement (both Harbor Patrol and a U.S Coast Guard station), administration and search and rescue facilities.

The Harbor is owned and operated by the County of Ventura. Some of the Harbor is operated by businesses that have been granted long-term ground leases by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

The history of the harbor location dates back to the early 1900s when the area was used for farming and ranching. In the 1920s, plans were made to build a deep-water port in the area, but those plans were abandoned during to the Great Depression.

In the 1950s, the area began to see more development, and plans were made for a new harbor to be built. Construction began in 1960, and the harbor was completed in 1965. The harbor was named the Channel Islands Harbor because of its proximity to the Channel Islands National Park, a group of islands off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

The harbor quickly became popular among boaters and visitors, and a variety of businesses and facilities were established in the area, including marinas, restaurants, shops, and hotels. Today, the harbor is a major attraction in the area, offering a wide range of recreational opportunities, including fishing, boating, kayaking, jet-skis, and stand-up paddle boarding. The harbor also serves as a hub for the local commercial fishing industry, providing a source of fresh seafood for the community.