This month marks one of the most significant milestones in the history of Channel Islands Harbor.

For generations, Fisherman’s Wharf, opened in 1978, has been more than a collection of buildings along the waterfront. It has been a place where families created traditions, fishermen offloaded their catch, visitors discovered the harbor for the first time, and countless memories were made. As we prepare to turn the page, we do so with tremendous respect for everything it has meant to our community and visitors.

The future of Fisherman’s Wharf is being shaped through a partnership with Karls, a family-owned German company led by developer and strawberry farmer Robert Dahl. Karls has created destinations in Germany that bring families and communities together through unique experiences centered around food, agriculture, entertainment, and local culture. Their vision is to bring that same spirit of connection to the harbor by creating a new waterfront destination, Karls Village, that celebrates Oxnard’s and Ventura County’s agricultural and maritime heritage while introducing new opportunities for residents and visitors.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been the level of community involvement. From the initial public workshop in September 2022 and 22 community presentations in 2023-24 to the overwhelming support at Board of Supervisors and California Coastal Commission meetings in 2024-25, residents, business owners, and harbor visitors have helped shape the vision for what comes next.

On August 15, 2026, the Karls team will host a special community event to officially kick off the transformation of Fisherman’s Wharf. This celebration represents the beginning of a lively new waterfront destination, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2028. Through our partnership with Karls, we are taking an important step toward revitalizing this iconic property into a place that honors the past while creating new experiences for future generations.

The response from the public to the August 15^el event has been outstanding. Every ticket made available online was claimed in less than six hours. This demonstrates the excitement and anticipation surrounding this project and reinforces what we have heard throughout this process that our community is eager to see the next chapter of Fisherman’s Wharf begin.

As the Karls team welcomes the community to celebrate this historic milestone, attendees will have the opportunity to leave their mark on a community mural, bid on salvaged items from the original Fisherman’s Wharf via auction, and witness a ceremonial “first strike” that signals the beginning of redevelopment. It is a fitting way to honor the memories of Fisherman’s Wharf while embracing the exciting future ahead.

The Ventura County Harbor Department is thankful that Karls is making this transformational investment at Channel Islands Harbor. This project represents an important step forward for our waterfront and will create a destination designed to serve residents and visitors for generations to come.

Thank you for your continued support of the Ventura County Harbor Department and Channel Islands Harbor. I look forward to seeing this exciting vision become a reality and celebrating this historic moment with our community.

Michael TrippDirector
Departamento del puerto del condado de Ventura

Editor’s Note: this message was published on July 30, 2026.