Have you played the Kardashian game? Have you seen any of their shows? We must assume that you’ve seen at least one episode, or at least clips of an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. If you haven’t, please show us the rock that has let you live under it all this time.
How about Drake? Have you heard Drake brag-rap/rap-brag about riding around Calabasas and waving to Kris Jenner?
Welcome to Calabasas, a suburb of Los Angeles. Calabasas is filled with high-end everything and that especially includes neighborhoods. There are several but this article will focus on The Oaks Calabasas, which is right next to Drake’s neighborhood, Hidden Hills.
The Oaks Calabasas
Where Is The Oaks Calabasas?
If you’ve seen anything Kardashian, even on Instagram, then you have seen The Oaks Calabasas, a private, double-gated community north of Los Angeles and just over the mountains from Malibu. It has its own community center, security force, fitness studios, and many other neighborhood amenities that could make it its own city.
But where the heck is this celebrity wonderland? It’s right next to the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Fernando Valley. So not only can they boast all the awesome amenities in their little oasis but they have incredible views and even more incredible hiking, right next door.
That’s great, you say, but how far is Calabasas from Downtown LA? That’s what you really want to know. It’s 30 miles, which without traffic takes about 40 minutes by car; however, during evening rush hour it can take 2 hours or more if a real loser is driving. 😉
Okay, I hear you say. That’s great, but how far is Calabasas from Hollywood? Well, it’s slightly better than Downtown LA as it’s 24 miles, which without traffic will take you about 30 minutes by car. With traffic, however, it’s typically 45 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. That Los Angeles traffic is no joke.
Is Calabasas a Gated Community?
No. Calabasas is a city on the outskirts of Los Angeles and is accessible just like any other city. However, the most famous community in Calabasas, The Oaks, is a double gated community. There are two portions of The Oaks. The ‘regular’ section, which sits just behind the first gate at the end of Parkway Calabasas, is where the very-nice-but-still-considered-small homes are. They are typically no more than $6 million. So, what is a double gated community? Within that main section of the neighborhood is an additional layer of security for what is known as “The Estates at The Oaks Calabasas”. This is where home prices skyrocket into the tens of millions of dollars…where the uber-famous live. It almost seems criminal to use the word “subdivision” with these castles. Two gates, 24-hour security check, zero paparazzi, and no obsessed fans.
Who Lives in The Oaks Calabasas?
Many celebrities and notable people in the business choose Calabasas for many reasons, privacy and security being among the top reasons. And like most suburbs – again, calling this place a suburb seems so wrong with how palatial and grand it is – you get way more for your money.
We mentioned the Kardashians. Khloe Kardashian’s Mediterranean-style home was made famous on her show with her husband, Lamar Odom, but she isn’t the only Kardashian to live there. The Kardashian family basically owns half of the homes. They are the Kennedys of the San Fernando Valley. Kourtney Kardashian now lives in Keyshawn Johnson’s former home, and Khloe Kardashian lives in Justin Bieber’s former home. This now, of course, includes Kanye West as he and Kim purchased a home in nearby Hidden Hills.
We first saw the community on The Newlyweds when Jessica Simpson asked Nick Lachey if “Chicken of the Sea” tuna was actually chicken. Oh, those were innocent days. Remember how sweet and naïve we all were?
Flash forward through Paris Hilton fleeting through our lives, delivering us Kim Kardashian and the rest of her ‘klan’ and none of us were ever the same. Neither was Oaks Calabasas.
The neighborhood also includes/has included Katie Holmes, Britney Spears, Ozzy Osbourne, Justin Bieber, Clay Matthews, The Jackson’s, Travis Barker, Nikki Sixx, among so many others. JLo is very close by and – wait, hold on. Let’s go back to Justin Bieber. Remember that bit of trouble he got into when he was speeding down residential roads and generally being a pain to his neighbors…egging someone’s house? That was during his time as a resident of The Oaks Calabasas. Needless to say, he was forced to move.
Celebrities in Calabasas
The Commons at Calabasas is a premium shopping center in the heart of Calabasas and just down the hill from The Oaks. There are restaurants, grocery stores, shops, a movie theater…it has everything. Including celebrities. Oodles of celebrities. As you now know, you can’t just drive into The Oaks, but here at The Commons, you’re free to walk and do as you please on the hunt for your favorite stars!
Where Is Hidden Hills?
So, as we mentioned earlier, Drake lives in a place called Hidden Hills, which is located right next to Calabasas. The 101 freeway runs through this part of the valley and splits the two communities. Hidden Hills is on the East side of the freeway, Calabasas is on the Westside.
Hidden Hills is a super-exclusive community, much like Calabasas, full of some of the biggest homes and celebrities in the world. Almost entirely made up of a gated community, Hidden Hills is home to celebrities like Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Leann Rimes & Eddie Cibrian, Jessica Simpson, French Montana, and many others.
Calabasas is a great celebrity magnet and a beautiful little suburb of a city that can’t be beaten in so many ways. With that security, those amenities, the beautiful architecture, and its high profile history, Calabasas (specifically The Oaks Calabasas) is now an iconic part of Los Angeles.
Sources
http://www.ewingsir.com/neighborhood/Oaks-homes-for-sale/estates-oaks-Oaks/