Although it closed in 1997 to make way for the California State University-Channel Islands campus, the Camarillo State Mental Hospital had been open since 1932.

Due to its proximity to Los Angeles, many celebrity types used the facility as a detox center. Charlie Parker wrote Relaxin' at Camarillo while recovering from heroin addiction here. Frank Zappa has a song called "Camarillo Brillo".

The opening scene of Bottle Rocket takes place on the Camarillo State Mental Hospital grounds.

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