Follow
Ivy Lawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home consists of 60 acres located a mile north of the Santa Clara River, and 2 miles East of the Pacific Ocean in Ventura County, California. The earliest extant tombstones have burial dates going back to the early 1870's - about the same time that Ventura County was officially split off from Santa Barbara County. It is the only Historic District Cemetery in Ventura County "because it derives its primary significance from the graves of the persons of transcendent importance, from its distinctive design features, and its association with historic events." One of the historic events occurred in March of 1928 when the St. Francis Dam (located about 54 miles up river from Ivy Lawn) collapsed taking the lives of at least 400 persons in its wake. Many of these victims were buried in a mass grave at Ivy Lawn. The cemetery has a variety of features including gardens, historic areas with large upright tombstones and flat markers (near the front entrance off of Valentine Road), woodland gardens, and scenic overlooks. There are both indoor and outdoor niches, as well as crypts, and modern scattering gardens - one of which is designated for Veterans. The grounds are beautifully maintained throughout the year.
NOTE: If anyone wants a photograph of a relative's grave marker, they must call the cemetery at (805) 642-1055 and make the request. Supposedly, their office staff will mail a photograph of the grave marker to relatives for free.
The cemetery is located on 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, California, 93003.