Our Story

With God’s unfathomable providence, my children & I were led to Ojai, California in 2010, and with His guidance this property was changed from secular use to a faith based retreat center Honoring old-world traditions and organic living.

“Much like other conversions, we started seeing our lives and the property as it transformed itself with a fresh voice,” explains Zara. “There is a particular charm about historic character viewed through a contemporary lens.”

The walls are coated in earthly hues, stacked the shelves with early editions of classic literature, installed sacred images, and covered the floors with antique rugs. Down-filled sofas and chairs, vintage furnishings, and one-of-a-kind objects- each item was hand selected and carefully placed throughout the property to conjure an ambiance of old-world savoir-faire.

Bed and kitchen linens are line-hung and sun-dried. Vintage silverware, bone china, and crystal vessels elevate the dining experience. The scent of sun-kissed lavender permeates the air. And, of course, outdoor sitting areas across the property allow guests to savor the breathtaking scenery.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Retreat Center is not a corporate experience.

Based on each group and their specific interests, tastes, and needs. Let us know ahead of time what you are looking for, and we will ensure you have a perfect stay. Ultimately, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Retreat Center aims to envelope you in what it takes for God’s voice to be heard.

“I truly believe that when we experience the beautiful, there is a sense of homecoming,” Zara insists. “I’d like to welcome you to my home-and encourage you to make it your own.”

History

Sacred Heart of Jesus Retreat Center is nestled inside Matilija Canyon, 560 private acres within Los Padres National Forest. The forest extends over 1,950,000 acres from the mountains of Ventura to Monterey. For thousands of years the southern range was inhabited by the Chumash Indian tribe. The canyon is named after the Chumash Chief Matilija (pronounced ma-til-EE-ha) who resided here in the 1800s. The Chumash knew this canyon to be sacred and visited often to rejuvenate and hold spiritual rituals and retreats. Until the early 20th century, the bountiful streams and grasses running through the valley sustained the lives of the tribe and their animals. The land continues in the same way today nourishing and healing it’s visitors and inhabitants.

In 1903 John and Phillis Dent English immigrants and ranchers purchased 153 acres along Ventura Avenue for the purpose of planting a fruit farm. Here he cultivated apricots, walnuts and beans. In 1908, Dent commissioned William Anderson, a local carpenter, to build his family an arts and crafts home which at the time was considered contemporary. After the death of John Dent in 1956, the Dent estate was acquired by a public agency for public housing, and the house was turned into a boarding house.

In 1980, the Dent House and cottages were threatened with demolition, thus prompting a television producer and his actress wife from Los Angeles to move the structures into Matilija Canyon where it resides today. With the addition of the houses, the property began operating as the Matilija Wildlife Refuge, a bed-and-breakfast-style facility. On September 10,1985 the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board passed a resolution designating the Dent House as a Ventura County Landmark #96.

The Colla Family continued to run the facility until June 2017 when Basil Zara of Sacred Heart of Jesus Retreat Center acquired the land with the timeless vision and intention to steward the healing gifts of bountiful and sacred Matilija Canyon.