Demolition of Vacant Casa Sirena Hotel To Start

Casa Sirena Fence

Demolition of the vacant Casa Sirena Hotel at the Channel Islands Harbor will begin next week, the Ventura County Harbor Department announced today.

Harbor Department Director Michael Tripp said that preparation for the demolition – removing hazards, communicating with nearby Harbor residents, connecting homeless individuals with services, and other mitigation measures – has been underway for about a month.

“I would like to thank the City of Oxnard, County of Ventura agencies, and the non-profit organizations who partnered to connect homeless individuals who were near the demolition site with much needed services,” Director Tripp said. “This was an important step in moving the demolition process forward.”

This week, a chain link fence was placed around the perimeter of the hotel property. Demolition efforts will take an estimated six months from start to finish.

“This is great news for the Harbor and I’m glad a new chapter is being written for this location,” Director Tripp said. “I’m confident the demolition and development of a new hotel will reinvigorate the Harbor along with residents, visitors, and local businesses.”

The demolition of the Casa Sirena, led by Brighton Management, a recognized leader in the hotel industry, will be the first step in a multi-year construction process to revamp the entire south end of the Harbor’s peninsula. After the Casa Sirena is demolished, the Harbor Department will repair the riprap surrounding the south end of the peninsula.

The original Casa Sirena hotel, constructed in 1972, had 197 rooms with additional space for meetings. The proposed development of the site will include a new Hyatt House Hotel and a restaurant of up to 5,000 square feet, similar to, but not smaller than, the former Lobster Trap Restaurant which was located nearby. The proposed Hyatt House will feature 210 rooms in a 55-foot structure and occupy approximately 203,000 square feet along the Channel Islands Harbor waterfront.

Editor’s Note: this story was published on Dec. 23, 2021.

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55th Annual Parade of Lights Winners Announced

Brightly light and playfully themed boats on Parade in the harbor

Forty nine vessels took to the water at the 55th Annual Parade of Lights but only one took home the Sweepstakes prize, an award that goes to the entry with the highest overall score at the parade.

This year’s theme was Jingle Jungle and the winning vessel, entered by the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club, didn’t disappoint.

Gillty, a 58-foot Spindrift skippered by Don Yokaitis, went all out to fit the theme of the parade. The entry featured Santa Claus, jungle landscape, a waterfall, and a crew who also won “best dressed” for the parade.

This is Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club’s first Sweepstakes win since 2017.


Here is the full list of winners:

Sweepstakes:

  • Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club

Yacht Club Over 30’

  • 1st Place: Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club
  • 2nd Place: Channel Islands Yacht Club

Yacht Club 30’ and Under

  • 1st Place: Channel Islands Yacht Club

Electric Boat (Boat Name/Boat Owner)

  • 1st Place: Roarin’ Good Time, Scott and Kelly Morford
  • 2nd Place: Habeas Porpoise, Craig Adams and Kelli Hawley
  • 3rd Place: The Duck Whisperer, Craig Maxwell

Commercial/Non-Profit/Government

  • 1st Place: Central Coast Electric Boats

Individual Over 30’ (Boat Name/Boat Owner)

  • 1st Place: Walkin’ on Water, Elijah Brower
  • 2nd Place: Family Therapy, Andrew & Holly Sieber
  • 3rd Place: Déjà vu, Katherine Bashaw

Individual 30’ and Under (Boat Name/Boat Owner)

  • 1st Place: Excalibur, Deb Zumerling
  • 2nd Place: Papa Pietro, Marko Bratina
  • 3rd Place: Knotty Hooker, Samantha and Troy Croce

Best Dressed Crew

  • Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club

Most Humorous Display

  • Walkin’ On Water, Elijah Brower

Editor’s Note: this story was published on Dec. 12, 2021.

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Where to Watch the 55th Annual Parade of Lights

A boat draped in purple and white Christmas lights cruises the harbor at the Oxnard Parade of Lights

Residents and visitors who plan to attend the Harbor’s 55th Annual Parade of Lights on December 11, 2021 have a variety of indoor, outdoor, and on-the-water options to catch a glimpse of this magical event.

This year’s parade theme is “Jingle Jungle” and viewers will be dazzled by the sights and sounds the procession, which can be viewed from almost anywhere in the Harbor.

Outdoor Viewing

Longtime parade watchers have surely staked out their special spots. We’ve put together a downloadable map to help those first-timers watch the parade.

Click here to download the 2021 Parade of Lights Map

Please note: these are the “prime” spots to watch the Parade of Lights, so consider bringing your comfy chairs, warm blankets, cooler, and family early.

Indoor Viewing

The Harbor has a variety of restaurants that offer breathtaking views of the Parade. If you want to get in to one of these, you better book early! Here they are:

Toppers Pizza Place

Sea Fresh Channel Islands

The Lookout Bar and Grill

Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine

The Waterside Restaurant and Wine Bar

The Parade of Lights is an annual event co-sponsored by Seacoast Yachts, the premier Channel Islands, Oxnard area yacht broker, with more than two decades of experience connecting buyers and sellers in the Channel Islands, Oxnard area.

Editor’s Note: this story was published on Dec. 6, 2021.

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