Los Olivos - Some of the finest art galleries in California fill this quaint Victorian village. Los Olivos also offers wine-tasting and outstanding dinning at several restaurants, including an original Wells Fargo stage shop. In 1887, the Valley's third town, Los Olivos, came into being with the coming of the railroad. In 1882, the same year Santa Ynez was founded, the Pacific Coast Railway was completed to Los Alamos from Port Hartford. In 1887, the rails continued to Los Olivos, and the trains came chugging in. The newest town was named after Rancho de Los Olivos, which raised olives and was owned by Alden March Boyd. Los Olivos had a store, saloons, a livery stable, a station which housed a telegraph office, a hotel, and at one time boasted a second hotel and an engine house, both of which burned to the ground, and were never rebuilt. Today, the railroad has been rerouted along the coast, and Los Olivos is made up of mostly homes. One thing that remains is historic Mattei's Tavern which was a stage station in the 1880's and later a hotel, a tavern, and a restaurant. It was owned by Swiss immigrant Felix Mattei and his wife. Today, many of the downstairs rooms are in their original state, and the tavern is open every night for dinner. Another of the Valley's quiet towns, Los Olivos is a remembrance of days gone by. By Leah Etling |