Ojai’s name is taken from the Chumash Indian word A'hwai which means nest or moon, depending on the translator.

Nestled in the Ojai Valley, which encompasses the unincorporated towns of Casitas Springs, Oak View, Mira Monte and Meiner Oaks, Ojai is known for its spectacular views, its mineral hot springs, its spiritual sanctuaries and its rich cultural life.

Ojai was portrayed as Shangri-La in the famous Frank Capra movie Lost Horizon. Reminiscent of Tuscany and Provence, Ojai remains what one of its founders, Edward D. Libbey, set out to create: "a dream city of soft harmonies, smooth-flowing lines and warm colors."

A masterpiece of Spanish architecture, Ojai’s downtown arcade has a Mission-style arch and a pergola in the downtown park that bears Libbey’s name. Residents and visitors alike enjoy Ojai’s quaint shops, bookstores and numerous galleries. At sunset, they delight in the breathtaking pink moment—the extraordinary moment when the sun setting over Topa Topa Mountains paints the sky into eerie gradations of pink.

An artistic and spiritual community, Ojai has attracted great philosophers and artists from from J. Krishnamurti to Beatrice Wood. It is home to a variety of spiritual groups and has a large number of churches, temples, ashrams and meditation centers. Its residents count s multitude of artists, writers, photographers, musicians, sculptors, weavers, jewelry makers and craftspeople. The Ojai Center for the Arts, the oldest arts center in California, offers classes in dance, poetry, literature, theater, photography, arts and crafts. There are several theater and dance companies, and numerous art galleries and exhibits.