The Camp Wildwood sign still proudly marks the entrance, carrying the charm of time, even as its letters have gently faded over the years. The Wildwood team, with recently hired international consultant Irina Busurina, is now restoring both historic signs in collaboration with local woodworker and painter Alex Wright.

Camp Wildwood opened back in the early 1920s on about 13 acres of canyon land. It started as a simple mountain camp. In 1944, Topanga residents Julia and Oka Stewart bought the property and turned it into a rustic resort and community gathering place. They built the hand-crafted lodge and cabins, and managed the camp for about forty years. One local story says “Oka and Julia Stewart were the ones that built that land” and that growing up, “I have had many memories going there as a kid.” The Stewarts really made Camp Wildwood a place where neighborhood families could come to swim, picnic, hike, and enjoy music and community events.

Oka Stewart sponsored free events at Wildwood, led the Lions club and donated building materials for the Community House. 1940-1960

Stewart Family’s Legacy

Oka and Julia Stewart were a big part of Topanga history for decades. After they bought the camp in 1944, they worked hard to turn a wild canyon grove into a thriving retreat. As Julia’s obituary later noted, the family “transformed that patch of wild woods into a resort that flourished for more than four decades.” Under the Stewarts, Camp Wildwood became a gathering spot. Neighbors remember swimming in the pool, hiking the nature trails, and attending dances and potlucks there. In the 1960s, local kids paid 50 cents to swim on summer afternoons, creating memories that still echo through the community. The Stewarts even lived in a house on the property and took care of everything. The main lodge they hand-built is still there, built around 1923, along with many small guest cabins they added for visitors. Julia and Oka continued to oversee Camp Wildwood into the 1980s, and after they passed away, the camp gradually saw less activity.

Owner Oka Stewart supervises Camp Wildwood swim classes. 1955

Music, Festivals, and Fun

Camp Wildwood was more than just a summer camp; it hosted Topanga’s famous music contests in the 1960s. The Topanga Banjo-Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival, one of America’s oldest folk music events, moved to Camp Wildwood in 1962. For several years the bluegrass and folk music contest took place on the camp’s meadow. A history of the festival notes that “for the next eight years it was held on the grounds of the 1920s-era Camp Wildwood” until 1969. Young and old came out to hear banjos, fiddles, and folk singers under the oaks. (The festival later moved to larger parks, but it all began at Camp Wildwood.)

Justin Kirby and Matthew Andrews leap from the diving boards into the swimming pool at Camp Wildwood. Owners Oka and Julia Stewart purchased the 15-acre property in 1944 and operated it for four decades. June 1979

Besides the Banjo-Fiddle festival, Camp Wildwood hosted all kinds of community events. The Stewarts often held holiday dinners and backyard dances on the lawn. The open space on the grounds made it a perfect spot for group activities. Many Topangans remember climbing the hills, camping out by the creek, and enjoying starry nights at the camp. It truly became part of local tradition. Over the decades it was popular for Cub Scout outings, youth camps, and family reunions.

An old wooden footbridge crosses the seasonal creek on the Camp Wildwood grounds.

Camp Wildwood Today

Camp Wildwood still stands on approximately 13.47 acres in the canyon foothills. The original hand-built lodge, constructed in 1923 is still intact. Several smaller buildings added over the years remain throughout the property, offering a glimpse into the camp’s long history. There are a number of guest cabins and cottages where campers once slept. A large swimming pool (often called a Junior Olympic pool) sits in the shade of oaks, where kids used to splash and play. The camp’s own store, Fernwood Market, is on site. It served both the neighborhood and travelers on the canyon road. There are also two small office buildings on the property. At one time, the camp owners rented those offices out for extra income.

In the back of the property, a creek flows through the canyon. A rustic wooden footbridge allows hikers to cross the creek among oak trees and bushes. Beyond the bridge, nature trails weave through wooded hills and meadows. Deer and small animals are often spotted in this quiet enclave, just minutes from busy Topanga Canyon Boulevard. It feels like you’re deep in a mountain forest, even though PCH is only a 10-minute drive away.

Karen and Katina Wood at Camp Wildwood swimming pool. (February 1962)

Today, Camp Wildwood operates as a private recreational club. Many of the historic cabins are still standing, and several buildings are being restored. The property is zoned for resort and recreational use, which is relatively rare in Los Angeles, and combines commercial potential with a strong sense of place and history.

Here are the main features of the Camp Wildwood property today: Main Lodge (1923) – The original lodge is about 9,000 square feet. It has a big living area and fireplace, plus a bedroom and bathroom. The lodge was hand-built by the Stewarts and still shows its rustic style. Cabins and Cottages – Several smaller wood cabins and cottages are spread around the grounds. These used to house campers and guests. Some have two stories and are set in the trees. Swimming Pool – A large Junior Olympic swimming pool sits at the center of the camp. Many locals remember jumping into this pool on hot summer days. Commercial Buildings – There are two single-story office buildings toward the front of the property. In recent years they have been leased out to local businesses. Fernwood Market – A small market/store building is on site. It used to sell groceries and goods to Topanga residents (and campers). Natural Grounds – The rest is nature: oak woodlands, creek sides, and trails. As one listing notes, you can “sit on a rock in the creek and never know you’re in a major metropolis.” The old wooden footbridge (pictured above) and picnic areas are still there.

Topanga Elementary School, Sixth Grade Class Graduation Party at Camp Wildwood. Left to right: Michael McGovern, Carol Knittle, Karen Wood, Ray Boyette, and Guy Hoover. 1961

Looking Ahead – A New Chapter?

Camp Wildwood is a quiet piece of Topanga history that’s still standing. You might notice the old sign by the road, hear the creek running nearby, or catch a glimpse of the 1940s Fernwood Market building, a classic Quonset-style structure that once served the neighborhood. Although it’s private property, a new team has started restoring the site by clearing overgrowth, caring for the oak trees, and bringing the original buildings back to life while keeping the natural landscape intact.

It is a first step toward bringing the place back with respect for the land, its history, and the role it’s played in the story of the Canyon.

Fernwood Market, 1949. Evelyn Russell, Paul Gripp, Joe Baker, Bill Smith, Mr. Crawford, Paula Crawford, Jim Lucas, and Mike Evans.

Share Your Camp Wildwood Memories!

Camp Wildwood is a piece of Topanga history, and we want to help keep its story alive. Did you ever swim in the pool, sing songs by the fire, or attend the Banjo-Fiddle contest when it was still held there? Have you stayed at the camp or remember a specific day or event? Do you have old photos, even just of the sign or the cabins? Share your memories and pictures with the community. Your stories help us all remember why Camp Wildwood holds such a special place in the Canyon.

Feel free to comment below and visit @topanga_wildwood on Instagram to learn more and stay connected.