The land for the Saratoga Hills development was purchased from the estate of Raoul Paul Esnard by Montgomery Fisher, i.e., Kathmont Land Company in 1965. According to long-time resident Fern Huddelston, the name was Saratoga Hills was selected by the developer's sister, Virginia Covell, from whom the Huddelstons purchased their home. Virginia formerly lived in Saratoga, Northern California and found it a very appealing area; hence, the suggestion to her brother to name this development, Saratoga Hills.
The development came in three stages and totals 221 houses with 5 basic floorplans, offering large square footage and ample living space for growing families. As late as the mid-1970s, the closest market was Whizin’s in Agoura (now the Canyon Club).
Saratoga Ranch development came later (in the 1980’s) and remained as a ranch until it’s development. On the open ranch-land there was a rustic ranch house, livestock, horses and the landmark that remains as the logo for our community newsletter, a windmill.
Saratoga and the Malibu Canyon communities (Las Virgenes) were the only areas in the original Agoura county area that were not included in the new City of Agoura Hills, when it incorporated in 1982. There was one annexation effort to add Malibu Canyon communities to Agoura Hills lead by the Las Virgenes homeowners Federation. That effort failed and in a way started the Calabasas cityhood effort. The Saratoga Hills community decided to become a part of the new city of Calabasas when it incorporated in 1991.
There are still several of the original families who purchased their homes when the development started in 1965, including the Dorr, Hughes, Mooklar and Stokes families.
The Ventura Freeway was completed through the San Fernando Valley starting in 1960, the Lost Hills Bridge was constructed in 1963. Prior to the completion of the Freeway, Ventura Blvd. extended from the Valley through to Ventura County on what is now Agoura Road. Evidence of the original Ventura Blvd. can still be seen up the canyon just east of where Agoura Road dead-ends into Las Virgenes Road.
