Vista del Mar hosts grand-opening one year after Thomas Fire

One year after the Thomas Fire, Vista del Mar is celebrating a grand opening.

The private psychiatric hospital ,in the hills above Ventura off Seneca St., almost burned to the ground.

Two of the hospital’s five buildings were destroyed. People attending the re-opening parked on what used to be the wooden floor of the administration building.

They were welcomed into a cafeteria decorated with balloons and a Christmas tree.

CEO Jenifer Nyhuis said they have overcome a lot in the past year. She recalls evacuating patients and moving them to the Ventura County Fairgrounds in the middle of the night last December. Nyhuis said the fire helped them come up with their new ‘Ever Day Matters’ motto that is painted on the cafeteria wall.

They still have some rebuilding to do and plan to add more beds to serve behavior health clients in the new year.