Several blocks of historic buildings looking like a Hollywood stage set are, in fact, used for movies. The buildings provide the look and feel of an era in American history. On the side of one of them you'll see a chart showing distances in miles from Guadalupe to cities throughout the United States. Logan, West Virginia is 2859 miles away, Los Angeles is 187 miles and San Francisco is 244 miles.
A pizza parlor, grocery store, hotel and the international Waller Flowerseed Company have all called Guadalupe home. The largely Hispanic population's primary employers are commercial farms which seasonally employ thousands who work fields of strawberries, flowers, wine grapes and other fruits and vegetables.
With some of the most fertile land anywhere, the family-owned farms of the early 20th century have given way to agri-business. Protected by zoning, prime coastal property with an ocean view continues to support an international demand for food. Investors have often looked at Guadalupe as a place in time that has potential to become prime beach-close residential living. But change is slow, and the affordable community that many call home offers one of the best-kept secrets in coastal living.
Things to see include:
Dunes Discovery Center, 951 Guadalupe Street, (Hwy 1), (805) 343-2455, Open Fri. 2 pm - 4 pm., Sat. and Sun. Noon to 4 pm. Information and displays about the history of the dunes and plant and animal life which thrive in the protected region.
Guadalupe Beach offers fishing and a nearly deserted beach with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.
A historical mural colonnade from visual artists, Judith Baca, best known for her large scale public murals. This art involves extensive community organizing and participation and addresses multi-cultural audiences. Baca is recognized for works such as the internationally known GREAT WALL OF LOS ANGELES mural in the Tujunga Wash Flood Control Basin.