Ojala, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = Ojala, California

|settlement_type = Unincorporated community

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|pushpin_map = California#USA

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = California

|subdivision_type2 = County

|subdivision_name2 = Ventura

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|timezone = Pacific (PST)

|utc_offset = -8

|timezone_DST = PDT

|utc_offset_DST = -7

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|elevation_ft = 965

|coordinates = {{coord|34|29|04|N|119|17|57|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}

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|area_code = 805

|blank_name = GNIS feature ID

|blank_info = 1661136{{cite gnis|1661136|Ojala}}

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Ojala ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|h|ɑː|l|ə|audio=En-us-ojala.ogg}}; Spanish: Ojalá) is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California, United States. Ojala is located along California State Route 33, {{convert|4.1|mi|km}} northwest of Ojai. Ojala sits at the foot of Nordhoff Ridge in Los Padres National Forest. Ojala was once served by the smallest post office in the United States, which was the size of a phone booth. It can still be visited in neighboring Wheeler Springs, CA.Massey, Peter and Jeanne Wilson (2006). Backcountry Adventures Southern California: The Ultimate Guide to the Backcountry for Anyone with a Sport Utility Vehicle. Adler Publishing. Page 237. {{ISBN|9781930193260}}.Gudde, Erwin G. (2010). California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names. University of California Press. Page 267. {{ISBN|9780520266193}}. Ojala was one of the first tourist attractions by Ojai Valley, primarily due to its natural hot springs.Hoye, Richard and Tom Moore (2010). Ojai. Arcadia Publishing. Page 59. {{ISBN|9780738581088}}.

Ojala is Spanish and translates into "hopefully" or an expression of hope.Hualde, José Ignacio (2012). The Handbook of Hispanic Linguistics. John Wiley & Sons. Page 415. {{ISBN|9781118228043}}. The community of about 8 houses can only be reached by a single road.{{Cite web |last=Rivers |first=Kimberly |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Ojala residents cut off by swollen Ventura River |url=https://www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/ojala-residents-cut-off-by-swollen-ventura-river/article_5fcb3b5e-9133-11ed-94ad-17801aae1250.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Ojai Valley News |language=en}}