Ridgecrest is a quiet pocket of about 40 larger homes on half acre and bigger lots in north Thousand Oaks, tucked between the Wildwood neighborhood and California Lutheran University. It suits families and move-up buyers who want room between houses, open space and trails close by, and almost no HOA overhead. The original 1999 homes sold for about $1.27M to $1.7M in 2024 and 2025, and the handful of custom estates on the biggest lots trade well above that.
Turn onto Briar Bluff Circle and the Conejo Valley opens up below you. Houses sit back on wide lots, driveways are long, and the loudest thing most afternoons is wind in the oaks. Wildwood Regional Park and its 17 miles of trail are a short drive west, Cal Lutheran is down the hill, and the dues are so small most owners forget they pay them. It is a neighborhood for people who want land and quiet without leaving the city.
| Homes | 41 |
|---|---|
| Built | 1999, with a few custom homes added through 2010 |
| Price range | $1.27M to $1.7M for the original plans in 2024 and 2025; customs higher |
| Size | 4 bedrooms, 2,625 to 3,608 sq ft; customs larger |
| Lots | Half acre and up, many around 0.7 acre, some over an acre |
| HOA | About $25 to $30 a month |
| Gated | No |
| Schools | Wildwood Elementary, Redwood Middle, Thousand Oaks High |
Life on Campus Drive and the Briar Bluff Cul-de-sacs
Ridgecrest is small enough that neighbors know each other's cars. The homes run along Campus Drive and loop into Bainbridge Court, Briar Bluff Circle and Briar Bluff Court, and the lots are large enough that you rarely see into the next yard. There is no pool, clubhouse or tennis court. What you get instead is space, views across the valley from the upper lots, and a street that feels more like a custom-lot enclave than a subdivision.
The outdoors is the real amenity. Wildwood Regional Park covers 1,765 acres with 14 trails and about 17 miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, including the roughly 40 foot Paradise Falls on the Arroyo Conejo and volcanic landmarks like Lizard Rock. The main trailhead is on Avenida de los Arboles, about a mile west of Lynn Road. Cal Lutheran's 225 acre campus on Olsen Road adds athletics, lectures and community events nearby.
Campus Drive is a through street that also serves a large senior living campus at 3415 Campus Drive, so it carries steady daytime traffic. The Briar Bluff cul-de-sacs are noticeably quieter, which is worth keeping in mind when you compare two homes at similar prices.
The Homes: Two 1999 Plans and a Few True Estates
Most of Ridgecrest was built in 1999, and the homes generally follow two plans: a roughly 2,625 square foot four bedroom and a roughly 3,608 square foot plan with four to five bedrooms. Both show up on Briar Bluff Circle and on Campus Drive. Lots start around 0.43 acre, run to just over an acre, and the median is close to 0.7 acre, which is unusual for a tract of this age in Thousand Oaks.
A handful of the biggest lots were built out later, between 2001 and 2010, as custom estates. One on Briar Bluff Circle is a single story of about 5,300 square feet on 1.4 acres, built in 2003. These are a different product from the 1999 homes and sell in a different bracket, so a buyer should compare like with like.
In 2024 and 2025 the original plans sold for about $1.27M to $1.7M, with the larger plan on an acre lot at the top of that range. For context on how the wider city has moved, see our Thousand Oaks home values page.
The HOA is minimal. Dues are about $25 to $30 a month and cover common area basics rather than amenities. CC&Rs exist and there are pet rules, so order the documents from the management company during escrow.
Schools: Wildwood, Redwood and Thousand Oaks High
Ridgecrest is assigned to Wildwood Elementary, Redwood Middle School and Thousand Oaks High School in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. Thousand Oaks High sits on North Moorpark Road with about 1,700 students and competes in the Marmonte League.
Because a few of the outlying custom lots sit at the edge of the city limits, confirm the assignment for the exact address with the district before you count on it. Families who want to compare the feeder pattern with the neighborhood next door can read our Wildwood Homes guide.
Getting Around and What Is Nearby
Ridgecrest sits on the north side of Thousand Oaks, with Cal Lutheran below it and the Wildwood neighborhood beside it. The Wildwood trailhead and the university are both close by, and Los Robles Hospital Medical Center on West Janss Road is the nearest major medical anchor.
Buyers weighing this part of town often look at Val d'Or and Summerfield at the same time. Our full list of Thousand Oaks neighborhoods is a good place to see how Ridgecrest fits among them.
Who It Suits, and What to Know Before Buying
Ridgecrest fits a family or move-up buyer who wants a bigger lot than most Thousand Oaks tracts offer, open space and trails close at hand, and a nominal HOA. It also draws estate buyers for the custom lots. If you want a gate, a community pool or a walkable retail district, it is the wrong fit; the appeal here is privacy and land.
- Not gated. Some buyers assume otherwise because of the size of the lots. No listing in the neighborhood mentions a community gate.
- Mixed vintage. A 1999 tract home and a 2007 custom on the same street are different products. Price each against its own kind.
- City limits. A couple of the homes in the association fall outside the city boundary, which changes service providers and permitting. Confirm which side of the line a given home sits on.
- Open space interface. The neighborhood sits near canyon and grassland. Pull the fire hazard zone designation and an insurance quote early in escrow.
- Few sales. With about 40 homes, only a couple trade in a typical year, so pricing relies on judgment as much as recent comps.
We sell across this part of the Conejo Valley and are happy to walk the streets with you and compare Ridgecrest to its neighbors before you commit.
Owning in Ridgecrest
What a typical home costs to own
About $9,260/month
- Principal and interest$7,905
- Property tax (about 1.1% of price, Ventura County)$1,329
- HOA$25
Estimate for a $1.45M home, near the middle of the recent range here, with 20% down at 7.24% (30 year fixed, Freddie Mac, October 29, 2026). Homeowners insurance is extra and varies with fire zone, so get a quote early. Your lender's figures will differ.
Thousand Oaks market, latest data
- Median sale price$1.13M
- Change over 12 months-5.0%
- Typical days on market34
Citywide, three months ending May 2026. Thousand Oaks home values
Our experience here
We sell across this part of the Conejo Valley, including the neighborhoods around Ridgecrest, and are glad to talk through how it compares.
Thousand Oaks home prices, the last five years
Questions people ask about Ridgecrest
Is Ridgecrest in Thousand Oaks a gated community?
No. Ridgecrest is not gated. It is a small pocket of about 40 homes along Campus Drive, Bainbridge Court, Briar Bluff Circle and Briar Bluff Court, and no listing in the neighborhood mentions a community gate or guard.
How much are HOA dues in Ridgecrest?
Dues are about $25 to $30 a month. There are no shared amenities like a pool or clubhouse; the association covers common area basics. CC&Rs and pet rules do apply, so request the documents from the management company, Community Property Management, during escrow.
What do homes in Ridgecrest cost?
The original 1999 homes sold for about $1.27M to $1.7M in 2024 and 2025, with the larger plan on an acre lot at the top. The handful of custom estates built between 2001 and 2010 on the biggest lots sell well above that range.
How big are the lots in Ridgecrest?
Lots are large for Thousand Oaks. They start around 0.43 acre, run to just over an acre, and the typical lot is close to 0.7 acre. Several of the biggest lots were built out as custom homes, including one of about 5,300 square feet.
What schools serve Ridgecrest?
Ridgecrest is assigned to Wildwood Elementary, Redwood Middle School and Thousand Oaks High School in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. Because a few homes sit at the edge of the city limits, confirm the assignment for the specific address with the district.
How close is Ridgecrest to Wildwood Regional Park?
Very close. The neighborhood sits beside the Wildwood area in north Thousand Oaks, and the park's main trailhead on Avenida de los Arboles is a short drive. The park offers 1,765 acres, 14 trails, about 17 miles of hiking and biking, and Paradise Falls.
Thinking about Ridgecrest?
Whether you are weighing a move here or wondering what your home would bring, Davis and the team are happy to talk it through, street by street. No obligation.
Sources
- City of Thousand Oaks HOA registry (Ridgecrest HOA)
- City of Thousand Oaks parcel layer
- Conejo Valley Unified School District attendance boundaries
- Thousand Oaks High School
- California Lutheran University campus locations
- Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park
- Wildwood Regional Park overview
- Ridgecrest HOA listing detail, Briar Bluff Circle
Facts checked October 2026.
