Wagon Wheel brewery and restaurant opens in Oxnard

Using pieces of history, a brewery is bringing excitement back to a part of Oxnard once known for its western-themed attractions.

The Wagon Wheel Brewing Co. restaurant and brewery opened to a full house earlier this month in north Oxnard near Highway 101.

The menu boasts about 15 beers brewed on site and a variety of dishes made from scratch.

"A lot of passion and love has gone into opening this, as well as the food and beverages," Chef James Bailey said Friday.

The brewery has been three years in the making and is part of the Wagon Wheel development — a 62-acre community that will have 1,500 apartments and homes by 2025.

The area was known as the Wagon Wheel Junction throughout the second half of the 20th century and served as a rest stop for motorists traveling between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Designed by Martin V. "Bud" Smith, an Oxnard developer who died in 2001, Wagon Wheel Junction hosted a number of attractions. There was a small amusement park, bowling alley, skating rink, restaurants and a motel.

While the former buildings are now gone, bits of the old Wagon Wheel days remain.

The Wagon Wheel neon sign that was once posted outside the original motel currently hangs near the entrance of the building. The iconic sign depicts a cowboy driving a stagecoach pulled by a pair of speeding horses.

Inside the restaurant, horseshoes from the area can be spotted welded to the legs of tables. Wooden lanes from the bowling alley have also been converted into table tops.

Bits of décor handpicked from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico line the interior walls and complement the modern take on the Wagon Wheel western theme.

Guests are greeted by a spacious lounge in the building's entrance. To the right, customers can drink a variety of beers in the taproom while surrounded by large, round brew kettles.

Although the brewery makes about 15 beers, four anchor the beer menu.

Wagon Wheel is a blonde ale that Chef Baily described as an easy-drinking ale.

Salsera Sour is a fruited gose made with local strawberries. The Roller Gardens, a West Coast India pale ale, is named after the former skating rink that once stood in the area.

A hazy double IPA called Road Rash is the strongest of the four, boasting 8% alcohol.

On the restaurant side of the building, patrons can dine inside near the bar, in a private dining room or on the patio. Several items on the menu — the Smash Burger, Sheet Pan Nachos and Wagon Wheel Wings — have already become customer favorites.

Fire pits are scattered throughout the patio along with games and canopies. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor section and have their own menu.

Jorge Zambrano and Brent Hanson were enjoying a flight of beer and tortilla soup Friday afternoon as wind blew gently through the patio. It was their first time at the brewery.

Alyssa Torkelson and Claudia Raiti sat nearby drinking champagne and chardonnay. Raiti had been to the brewery once before and brought Torkelson along for a second visit.

The two said they enjoyed the outdoor atmosphere and were waiting for such a business to open up.

"This is just what this county needed," Raiti said. "It's the perfect place to hang out."

Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at [email protected] or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.