Brea's
historic sites include Olinda Townsite located at Carbon Canyon
Road. Oil in Brea was discovered about 1896, in what is now Carbon
Canyon Regional Park. A town called Olinda was built. But the town
dwindled and in 1965, 114 acres were set aside for a park.
Other places to visit when you are in Brea include Birch Hills Golf
Course, Brea Municipal Golf Course, La Vida Mineral Springs, Brea
City Hall, and Brea Branch Orange County Public Library. If
you like to shop you can always visit Brea Gateway Shopping Center, Brea
Mall Shopping Center, Brea
Marketplace Shopping Center, Brea Plaza Shopping
Center, Brea West Shopping Center, Brea-Imperial Shopping Center, and
Imperial East Shopping Center Brea Mall This upscale center hosts 5 major
department stores - Nordstrom, Macy's, Robinsons-May, JCPenney and Sears
- plus 175 specialty shops, the Foodworks Food Court and several fine
restaurants, including the new Le Diplomate Cafe and California Pizza
Kitchen, which both feature outdoor patios. There is also Curtis Theatre
which is located in the Brea Civic &
Cultural Center, the 199-seat Curtis Theater offers a variety of
entertainment opportunities including fully-staged productions for
citizens of all ages and interests. The theater is also available to
rent for special performances and meetings.