Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival

 

Los Olivos not only boasts wine country charm, but is of along with historical interest as well.  It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The town was founded in 1861 and provided stage coach service from 1865 until 1911. The town was named Los Olivos due to the extensive plantings of olive cuttings made by the Hayne brothers.  Alden March Boyd who owned Rancho de Los Olivos, managed Selby's Mesita Ranch which produced olive oil. Today the olive orchard no longer exists but the name has remained.

Los Olivos was also the end of the line for the Pacific Coast Railroad. During the period from November 1887 until 1904, nearly all travelers from San Francisco to Santa Barbara would get as far as Los Olivos where they would spend the night at Mattie's Tavern. Travelers would then ride the Stage Coach to Santa Barbara the next day.  Service to Los Olivos was terminated in 1933 and the tracks were removed by 1936. The railroad ties were used by local ranchers for fencing.

The first movie filmed in Los Olivos was a silent film around 1923, and some towns people were used as movie extras. Besides Mattie's Tavern, the town of Los Olivos had a one room school with 15 students, a dairy, Chinese laundry, pool hall, barber shop, blacksmith shop, post office, and a lumber yard. Los Olivos lumber yard provided lumber for the houses being built in the Santa Ynez Valley.  Mattie's Tavern is still in operation, and is one of the highlights of the area today along with fine art galleries, tasting rooms, consumable arts and amazing restaurants. The town consists of 1,000 residents living on small farms, ranches and a few Victorian style homes.