Ventura Land Trust Acquires Welcome Center Building
Ventura Land Trust (VLT), a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of open space in Ventura County, has acquired a 9,500 square foot building in coastal Ventura.
The building, which closed escrow on March 31, will house a Welcome Center open to the public and VLT offices. The Welcome Center will have exhibits and information on VLT preserves and the natural history of the region, as well as meeting and event space. Remodeling and exhibit design for the ground-floor Welcome Center is starting now.
The building was purchased largely with funds from a capital improvement grant provided by the State of California. “The original vision was to construct a Welcome Center at the new Ventura Hills Nature Preserve,” explained VLT Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “But when we evaluated fire risk, the cost of building and insuring such a structure in that location, and the effect it would have on parking at the preserve, we requested that we be allowed to purchase a building in town instead.” The shift in strategy was approved, and Baffa and team scoured the commercial market for a building that would have the right combination of size, features, and location to fulfill the vision, a quest that went on for over two years.
When the building came on the market in late 2024, Baffa and her team knew it would be a perfect fit. “We envision this place as a community hub, where we and other nonprofits can host programs and events, where locals and tourists can learn more about our preserves and the nature they protect, and where our staff and volunteers can gather to do the important work we are committed to.”
The move makes fiscal sense for the organization. With an on-site cell tower that generates monthly revenue for the land trust, the operating costs for the new building are almost fully covered. The building will also host EV chargers and landscaping featuring native and firewise plants. “We will take every opportunity to make our operations greener, and to educate the public about our mission and how they can also take personal action to benefit our environment,” Baffa said.
A ribbon cutting for the new space was hosted on May 30 by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, with more than 200 Chamber members, community members, and VLT supporters in attendance. One of the event’s speakers was Assemblymember Steve Bennett, the legislator responsible for securing the funding for Ventura Land Trust. Partnering with Senator Monique Limon, Bennett secured $7.2 million in the 2022-23 state budget to support VLT’s hillside capital campaigns. Since that funding was secured, VLT has been able to pay off the loan utilized to acquire Mariano Rancho (now called the Ventura Hills Nature Preserve, or VHNP), perform a large number of capital projects to VHNP and Harmon Canyon Preserve, and acquire the new Welcome Center building. The grand opening of VHNP is currently slated for January 2026.
VLT will host a Grand Opening and second ribbon cutting at the Welcome Center after the downstairs remodel and exhibit installation are complete, in 2026.
About Ventura Land Trust
The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, which opened in June 2020. Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. Ventura Hills Nature Preserve, at 1,645 acres, will open to the public in early 2026. In addition to these major holdings, the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County, and a new Welcome Center located at 353 Sanjon Road in Ventura. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.