Tiki Archeology-The Trade Winds-Oxnard, Ca (Image Heavy) - General Tiki

B bongofury Grand Member (6 years) Ventura County Joined: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 1565	B bongofury Posted posted on Fri, Apr 14, 2006 2:53 PM With the help of some Oxnard friends (library, historian, city staff, retired contractor) and some TCers, I have been able to find out more about the Trade Winds Restaurant (aka; Port Of Seven Seas Inc.) and would like to it share here. It was built by Martin "Bud" Smith. He became one of the largest developers in Ventura County with projects between Santa Monica and Santa Maria. He also built the Colonial House Restaurant in Oxnard and others on Wagon Wheel Road next to the 101 Highway. He had a yacht named "The Dry Martini" and passed away a few years ago. Some of the historians photos here were taken with an older digital camera of pictures that were borrowed from the family albums years ago, so some of the quality isn't too good (Mrs. Fury fixed them the best she could). Permit for construction of a 10,875 square foot structure with a value of $75,000.00-1963 The first sign - open early spring-Exotic Food & Grog fron the Seven Seas. Check out those torches. Some of the structure of a former building (not sure what it was previously) was used, as seen in the background and mentioned in the blueprints. Unfortunately the city did not start putting blueprints on microfische until 1970, but I managed to find copies (18''X24") of the foundation, front elevation, interior, lagoon, and sign. I am restoring the images and hope to end up with some cool images to frame. Part of the exterior print. A shot of the exterior with the boat and Tiki. The tiki as it is today.....posted by Vontiki Matchcover Rear of postcard Entrance.....gift shop was inside on the right. Ad for the Trade Winds (with some of the text from the back of the full sized menu) and Colonial House Part of interior print. The gazebo was the Samoa Hut and had a water feature aroung it on the plan as did the curved bar behind it (tempura bar on left, Somoa waterfall on right behind bar). The Zanzibar room in the back had it's own bar and fireplace. There was also an East Indies Room, another room that I can't quite read (Secte Trompsoy Room?), dance floor and stage area, gift shop, a liquor room, office, dressing areas, a huge kitchen and service bar, porter and gardner room, and storage. Looks like it had a covered car port/valet area like the Mai Kai also. Interior shot of the Samoa Hut similar to the postcard except the outriger that hung from the ceiling is not visible. Exterior close up at night. Exterior at night. Part of lagoon print. There was a gazebo and waterfall to the right. Matchbook interior. Mailing menu cover, like the one Sabu posted in artist renderings. Part of print for a new sign (1968) with "Hop Louie Presents" . Not sure when he took over the restaurant as he is not mentioned in paperwork I have and saw until the late 60s when his name was added in front as Hop Louie's Tradewinds. This application for a new owner-Don The Beachcomber-and this sign was in 1976. The de-evolution begins with the next owner a couple years later-Coconut Joe's Warehouse Restaurant. And further as this sign application for 1981-Hawaiian Cowby- following the popular Urban Cowboy craze. One person remembered going there. They had removed some of the decor to put in barbeque pits and the had a mechanical bull. She said it was not in business long and became an ice cream parlor (name unknown) for about a year. The demolition permit was pulled in 1984 and all was destroyed (except the Tiki) The city had cited the place on numerous dates for electrical violations (extension cords), someone living in a trailer on the property, and loose rotting decks. The final blow to the exterior was that because the lagoon was over 24" deep the city wanted a 5' fence around it because it posed an "attractive nuiscence" and were afraid a child would fall in, like a residential pool. Not sure why they don't fence off the local lakes and beaches. The remaining photos are all that is left today, the RV and auto sales lot has been there for over 20 years. They took out the demo permit. Large rubber trees Palms over the sales office Note the base of that middle mailbox. Telephone pole posts still surrounds part of the site. There is a large new residential development across the 101 from the site. The name of one of the home models is the Tradewinds. I wonder if they know?

With the help of some Oxnard friends (library, historian, city staff, retired contractor) and some TCers, I have been able to find out more about the Trade Winds Restaurant (aka; Port Of Seven Seas Inc.) and would like to it share here.

It was built by Martin "Bud" Smith. He became one of the largest developers in Ventura County with projects between Santa Monica and Santa Maria. He also built the Colonial House Restaurant in Oxnard and others on Wagon Wheel Road next to the 101 Highway. He had a yacht named "The Dry Martini" and passed away a few years ago. Some of the historians photos here were taken with an older digital camera of pictures that were borrowed from the family albums years ago, so some of the quality isn't too good (Mrs. Fury fixed them the best she could).

Permit for construction of a 10,875 square foot structure with a value of $75,000.00-1963

The first sign - open early spring-Exotic Food & Grog fron the Seven Seas. Check out those torches. Some of the structure of a former building (not sure what it was previously) was used,
as seen in the background and mentioned in the blueprints.

Unfortunately the city did not start putting blueprints on microfische until 1970, but I managed to find copies (18''X24") of the foundation, front elevation, interior, lagoon, and sign. I am restoring the images and hope to end up with some cool images to frame. Part of the exterior print.

A shot of the exterior with the boat and Tiki.

The tiki as it is today.....posted by Vontiki

Matchcover

Rear of postcard

Entrance.....gift shop was inside on the right.

Ad for the Trade Winds (with some of the text from the back of the full sized menu) and Colonial House

Part of interior print. The gazebo was the Samoa Hut and had a water feature aroung it on the plan as did the curved bar behind it (tempura bar on left, Somoa waterfall on right behind bar). The Zanzibar room in the back had it's own bar and fireplace. There was also an East Indies Room, another room that I can't quite read (Secte Trompsoy Room?), dance floor and stage area, gift shop, a liquor room, office, dressing areas, a huge kitchen and service bar, porter and gardner room, and storage. Looks like it had a covered car port/valet area like the Mai Kai also.

Interior shot of the Samoa Hut similar to the postcard except the outriger that hung from the ceiling is not visible.

Exterior close up at night.

Exterior at night.

Part of lagoon print. There was a gazebo and waterfall to the right.

Matchbook interior.

Mailing menu cover, like the one Sabu posted in artist renderings.

Part of print for a new sign (1968) with "Hop Louie Presents" . Not sure when he took over the restaurant as he is not mentioned in paperwork I have and saw until the late 60s when his name was added in front as Hop Louie's Tradewinds.

This application for a new owner-Don The Beachcomber-and this sign was in 1976.

The de-evolution begins with the next owner a couple years later-Coconut Joe's Warehouse Restaurant.

And further as this sign application for 1981-Hawaiian Cowby- following the popular Urban Cowboy craze. One person remembered going there. They had removed some of the decor to put in barbeque pits and the had a mechanical bull. She said it was not in business long and became an ice cream parlor (name unknown) for about a year. The demolition permit was pulled in 1984 and all was destroyed (except the Tiki)
The city had cited the place on numerous dates for electrical violations (extension cords), someone living in a trailer on the property, and loose rotting decks. The final blow to the exterior was that because the lagoon was over 24" deep the city wanted a 5' fence around it because it posed an "attractive nuiscence" and were afraid a child would fall in, like a residential pool. Not sure why they don't fence off the local lakes and beaches. The remaining photos are all that is left today, the RV and auto sales lot has been there for over 20 years. They took out the demo permit.

Large rubber trees

Palms over the sales office

Note the base of that middle mailbox.

Telephone pole posts still surrounds part of the site.

There is a large new residential development across the 101 from the site. The name of one of the home models is the Tradewinds. I wonder if they know?

Post #226752 by bongofury on Fri, Apr 14, 2006 2:53 PM