[1] The neighborhood was originally developed as an office, motel, and restaurant complex named Wagon Wheel Junction with a convenient roadside location near the historic community of El Rio.

The demolition of the trailer park waited until completion in 2014 of the first phase of the apartments that has five rent levels based on income and family size.

[13] During excavation of the site, Smith uncovered branding irons from the Hobson Brothers' feedlot operations in the area in the 1920s, and he used this as the basis for his western theme.

He began with the repurposing of surplus Seabee barracks purchased at auction in Port Hueneme, which he relocated in the typical sweeping U shape of period motels.

Along the highway real wagon wheels were placed in the median next to a rustic wooden sign that read: WAGON WHEEL MOTELNEW AND MODERNBREAKFAST SERVICE DAY AND NIGHTSINGLE $3 DOUBLE $4FAMILY SUITES[citation needed] Smith had 40 acres (16 ha) to develop, and the area soon had a bowling alley, shopping center, roller skating rink, industrial units, and a row of restaurants.

In the 1950s, independent motel owners began competing with the cookie cutter Holiday Inns of the time with their gargantuan, green-and-yellow signage.

Independents, such as the Wagon Wheel, developed the art of roadside showmanship through thematic architectural design and elaborate signage that employed porcelain-enameled panels of steel and used a myriad of lamps and neon.

The project proponent hired a consultant to do a historic resource assessment in November 2005 of the entire 64-acre (26 ha) property, including the Wagon Wheel Motel, Restaurant and Bowling Alley and all other buildings on site.

The mitigations proposed a memorial to Martin V. Smith in a coffee kiosk on-site, prominently displaying the iconic features of the Wagon Wheel, the neon sign, a photo-documentary of the architectural qualities of the structures, and the creation a video and two 30 minute TV programs about Wagon Wheel Junction and Martin V. Smith to be run on local cable channels.

Both the initial Peer Review by San Buenaventura Research Associates (of Santa Paula) and the second Peer Review by Applied Earthworks (of Fresno) contradicted the first assessment, and stated that the Wagon Wheel Motel, and Restaurant were eligible for landmark status, and in addition the El Ranchito restaurant and Wagon Wheel Bowling Alley may be eligible as well.

The San Buenaventura Conservancy, a local preservation organization, commented at all the public meetings, and then filed an appeal to the Planning Commission decision certifying the EIR; claiming that there was no cause for a Statement of Overriding conditions that would allow the demolition.

In January 2009, the EIR was certified and the Project was approved by the Oxnard City Council, demolition was scheduled to begin as soon as documentary mitigations were completed.

[14] The project, as approved, requires the demolition of the Wagon Wheel Motel, restaurant, El Ranchito and bowling alley along with everything built on the 64-acre (26 ha) site.

The lawsuit requested issuance of a peremptory writ ordering the City to set aside its approval of the project pending compliance with CEQA.

[12] The office/restaurant complex incorporated a variety of roof lines, primarily low to medium pitched gables covered with wood shingles and punctuated by several decorative cupolas with weather vanes, and neon lighting.

[12][28] The Wagon Wheel was alongside the 101 freeway at the northern edge of a 64-acre (26 ha) site between the Santa Clara River and the Esplanade Shopping Center.