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| Mission Viejo circa 1960. |
Most know that Mission Viejo was developed by the Mission Viejo Co., which was created in 1963 by Donald Bren, the developer who later went on to the Irvine Co., along with funding from the George F. Fuller Investment Co. and the Richard O’Neill family.
But to understand Mission Viejo’s community spirit today and the success enjoyed throughout the 40-year history, one needs to look at how the community was developed. Community spirit and pride are a direct result of the earliest activities of the Mission Viejo Co.
For example, did you know that early on, the Mission Viejo Co. promoted Mission Viejo as a “hometown”?
Apparently, the earliest sales slogans for Mission Viejo were: “Where Home is a Hometown Again” and “America’s Most Successful New Town.”
New residents believed that they were moving into what was going to be the best town in the United States even though in those days there were very few amenities; in some cases not even a place to shop, according to Community Services Supervisor at City of Mission Viejo, Dru Maurer.
During that time, the company provided a wide array of events for “hometown” participation. Through the establishment of the Mission Viejo Activities Committee, residents helped stage the annual holiday home lighting contests, holiday home tours, a holiday craft boutique, the coming of Santa Claus, and every January from 1977 to 1986, Mission Viejo had a float in the Rose Parade. The company brought in renowned float designer Raul Rodriguez and many floats won top awards. There was always a “thrill” for residents to see their town float go down Pasadena Boulevard, Maurer says.
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