Bordered by Calabasas, Tarzana, and Topanga, Woodland Hills is lush, green and a great place to hike, bike, enjoy nature and even update your wardrobe. It’s also a short distance away from the county’s best beaches, particularly in Malibu, but whatever your interests, like shopping to the great outdoors, Woodland Hills offers activities and attractions that can provide incredible experiences. On Ventura Boulevard alone, there are lively bars and gastropubs serving delicious food and rocking live music, ultimately making Woodland Hills a unique, vibrant destination in the Valley.

In this roundup, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the things Woodland Hills is known for, dividing them into multiple sections to help organize all these wonderful opportunities to explore. Here is a list of fun facts about Woodland Hills!

It’s Known for a Plethora of Parks and Green Spaces

Woodland Hills remains a tranquil place to reside, boasting tree-lined residential streets and plenty of green spaces – all of which are ideal for families interested in suburban living. Since this scenic neighborhood is located between the mountains and Malibu’s beaches, locals in Woodland Hills have many recreation and beach amenities to choose from.

We’ll touch on a couple of these venues later on in different sections, but let’s take a quick moment to talk about daytime getaways to the beach – which is possible for Woodland Hills locals since the community is much closer to the surf than other Los Angeles neighborhoods. Some of the area’s most frequented beaches include Point Dume State Beach, El Matador State Beach, Paradise Cove Beach, and Broad Beach, with a private equity golf club offering everything from a namesake golf course to fine dining and entertainment options.

The trailhead and parking area at the western end of Victory Boulevard allows for scheduled walks and programs, while the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area boasts various nearby parks to the south of the community. Not enough? The Top of Topanga Overlook provides panoramic views of the verdant Woodland Hills neighborhoods and the Valley.

It’s Famous for Shopping Boutiques

For the trendy ladies of Woodland Hills searching for that perfect curve-hugging dress to accompany those sexy rhinestone-encrusted heels and designer handbag just purchased, or the discriminating gentleman looking for the tie that’s going to act as the finishing knockout touch on his business ensemble, this community offers a quintessential boutique experience capable of giving most major trending-forward cities a run for their money.

Some of the most renowned boutiques in Woodland Hills include Soto at 4865 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Bobbi Rocco at 21910 Ventura Boulevard, Juniper and Lane at 22749 Ventura Boulevard, Wood N’ Hanger at 22536 Ventura Boulevard, and Songo at 4906 Topanga Canyon Boulevard.  

Its Name Dates Back to 1941

A thousand years before Julius Caesar set foot in Rome, the Tongva people, indigenous to the Woodland Hills area, enjoyed beautiful views from the top of what is now known as Topanga Canyon. They lived in the same balmy Mediterranean climate we do today. Fast-forward to the Great Depression, when the area’s population dropped to 75 families yet remained on the map; it wasn’t until 1941 that the community established its own Chamber of Commerce and renamed itself Woodland Hills. This was an appropriate moniker considering the thousands of trees that matured since being planted throughout the district in the 1920s.

In the 1940s, Harry Warner developed a horse ranch on the 1,100 acres he purchased; later on, the land became home to the famous Warner Center, Topanga Plaza, Kaiser Hospital, Rocketdyne, and Litton Industries.

Its Residential Properties Run the Gamut From Humble Homes to Lavish Estates

This fun fact proves Woodland Hills offers an almost infinite number of home styles, prices, and sizes. This is why its residents, across its myriad of cities and neighborhoods, reflect both modest homebuyers and celebrity-level individuals looking to settle down in an exciting part of Southern California.

It Offers a Plethora of Outdoor Activities and Great Places for Kids to Play

As a suburban hotspot just outside metropolitan L.A., Woodland Hills has become renowned for its outdoor activity options, from hiking to biking and everything in between. Over the years, some of our favorite picks include Serrania Park, Calabasas Farmers Market, The Village at Westfield Topanga Farmers Market, a myriad of bike trails, and Ben’s Bootcamp Fitness.

When it comes to kids activities in Woodland Hills, the sky’s the limit, with some of the best examples being SportsIQ, NH Sports, Combat Paintball Park, THE INDUSTRY Dance Academy, We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym, Off the Wall GameZone, Constanso Fire Station 84 Park and My Lil Town. Information about these venues can be found here.

Wealthy Investors Purchased Thousands of Acres Here in the 1900s

In the 1900s – specifically through 1922 – wealthy investors purchased thousands of acres of land in what is now known as Woodland Hills. As we covered earlier, the Chamber of Commerce was created in 1941 when the neighborhood’s name was officially changed. Girard Kleinberger, a visionary and entrepreneur, foresaw a large population and a thriving economy here. So in 1922, he and the Boulevard Land Company purchased 2,886 acres, subdivided into 6,000 lots, with Kleinberger selling thousands of small lots.

Candy Cane Lane

The “Candy Cane Lane” area of streets in Woodland Hills has been a city tradition since 1952. Each year, homeowners gather and decorate their homes with colorful lights, blow-up figurines, fake snow, and other Christmas decorations to transform their neighborhood into a winter wonderland. This family-friendly event captures the close-knit spirit that makes Woodland Hills so special. The drive-thru experience runs nightly from 6 to 10 pm throughout the holiday season, bringing joy to visitors of all ages until Christmas.

The Warner Center Plan Looks to 2035

The Warner Center 2035 Plan (WC 2035 Plan) represents a “thoughtful approach” to planned growth that balances the need for housing, jobs, and services for the broader community. A particular emphasis placed on building a “sustainable community” and enhanced mobility options reduced the need for everyday motor vehicle use. Key elements of the Plan include a growth strategy that encourages and incentivizes infill development, the redevelopment of existing properties, and built-in flexibility. This would allow developers to design projects that fit within the community, don’t require variances or other lengthy and unpredictable approvals, and provide a broad range of community involvement/support for the approved Plan.

Further, the 2035 Plan envisions Warner Center as the central nervous system of Woodland Hills, comprised of everything within it (malls, park space, condos, aerospace businesses, healthcare facilities, technology leaders, financial services, and more).

1925 was the “Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture”

As a private equity organization, the Woodland Hills Country Club boasts a golf course designed by the renowned William “Billy” Bell Sr., who laid his groundwork in 1925 at the height of the “Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture.” Featuring a fun and challenging design, the course is known for quick rounds, fast greens, and majestic oak tree-lined fairways, while the Country Club offers all members fine dining and entertainment options.

Whether your interests include shopping or the outdoors, activities and attractions within the Woodland Hills district limits provide a fun, and entertaining experience.