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Blue Sky Center

94%

· New Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California

267 acres hosted by Blue Sky C.

6 lodging sites · 10 Vehicle/Tent sites

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Romantic

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is romantic.

Off-leash friendly

Pets can be off-leash at some sites.

1948- On January 1, 1948 a wildcatter named George Hadley, who had been oil prospecting in the valley for 10 years, made the first oil strike in the Cuyama Valley. Richfield Oil Company soon moved in and extracted nearly 300 million barrels of oil in just a few short years. To accommodate an exploding workforce in the early 1950s, the company built the town of New Cuyama, its infrastructure, public buildings, the Cuyama airstrip (L88) and all the industrial structures that are now home to Blue Sky. Richfield Oil Company, later merging with Atlantic Oil Company forming the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO), created high-paying jobs, a safe and prosperous community, and developed schools, churches, and recreational areas for the employee-residents. 1973- With dwindling production in the area and new discoveries in Alaska, Atlantic-Richfield Oil Company put the town of New Cuyama and its associated infrastructure up for sale. Word of an entire town for sale made its way to entrepreneur, Russell O’Quinn of the Foundation for Airborne Relief (FAR) and Mildred Dotson, a wealthy widow from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The two worked together to acquire the townsite and adjacent land. O’Quinn, an aviator, inventor, and test pilot, aspired to use the New Cuyama airstrip and facilities as a base for humanitarian relief and a non-profit trade school. Though not fully realized, FAR’s primary vision included utilizing converted military aircraft to airlift food and medical supplies to developing countries and global disaster areas. Dotson had loftier goals. Her plans included an 18-hole fly-in golf course, expansion of the Buckhorn Restaurant and Motel, and a 40- to 50-acre lake for amphibious landing and water sports. 1986- Another visionary, Harry Kislevitz, inventor of the popular design tool Colorforms® and founder of Future City/Villages International, sought to develop the site as a “City of Friendship,” an all-electric village of 5,000 earthen homes. The dwellings were to be designed by Nader Khalili, an Iranian-born architect who specialized in earthen structures, worked with NASA on prototypes for lunar homes and received an award from the United Nations for his work towards the development of low cost, sustainable structures for human shelter in impoverished and disaster prone environments. One 628-sq-ft Khalili prototype remains on the property today ("the Cantina"). Khalili went on to form the California Institute for Earth Art and Architecture, Cal-Earth, in Hesperia, CA. 1993- Recognizing the transformative potential of clean, solar power and the attractiveness of a rural destination, entrepreneur Mike Nolan worked to develop the Solar Skypark and Big Sky Guest Ranch with Santa Barbara Architect, Barry Berkus. The Sky Park included plans for sixty-five fly-in residences on one-acre lots powered completely from clean, solar energy. The Big Sky Guest Ranch was intended to function as a clubhouse for Skypark residents complete with an equestrian center, a small subsistence farm, pool and plenty of enriching recreational activities. 2012- At the end of 2011, the Zannon Family Foundation made a long-term investment in acquiring the New Cuyama Airport property with the vision of rehabilitating the site to be a low-cost resource for programs and organizations working to advance sustainable living practices and technologies. Plans began soon after towards developing a framework and organization to develop the space and coordinate with prospective programs and institutions. In 2014 Blue Sky Sustainable Living Center ("Blue Sky Center") received 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status, endeavoring to reclaim this property for the public good. Today, Blue Sky Center provides unduplicated services and technical assistance to support small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as the local food system, with core work focused on community research and advocacy led by Cuyamans. Learn more on our website and consider supporting our community work with your donation or by hosting your next special event here!

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94%

694 Ratings · 431 reviews

Shane M.recommends

December 16, 2024

Lunette Hut

Amazing Time!

Would absolutely recommend! My wife, dog and myself really enjoyed our stay here. We definitely overpacked because they really have everything you need there. The wagons were clean, inviting and cozy. We truly enjoyed every minute of our stay. We will definitely be back!

Riccardo P.recommends

December 4, 2024

Blue Sky Dispersed Camping

We found the dispersed camping area easily. We only stayed one night and we enjoyed our time the off-the-grid experience. We used the restrooms and shower which could use some love but they worked for what we needed. Hot water smells funky though. The Wi-Fi works well in the building but not so much in the dispersed camping area. Seeing a small plane land and take off in the morning was super cool.

Ever C.recommends

December 1, 2024

Blue Sky Dispersed Camping

It was great experience!! 4 nights we stayed we were safe and peaceful 😍

Lindsay And Rich S.recommends

November 19, 2024

Blue Sky Dispersed Camping

Remote, Cool and Conscious

We arrived sitting the day in a Sunday. No one was there or the next morning. The view of saint hold and sweet was very prevail and the night sky was awesome. At first it seemed a bit scrappy and other mention lotta of barking dogs at night. Neither wad true for us. All the buildings were open with a few lounge areas, kitchens and beautiful bathrooms and showers! The glamping wagons are tres cool and clean. Looks like the ninprofit does supportive work for the local community too. The best park was the retro but country Buckhorn Restaurant and cafe. High energy smart bartender happy to share lots of great info about almost anything. He create a tricked out Cadillac Margarita for me that was amazing.

Daeun K.recommends

November 15, 2024

Blue Sky Dispersed Camping

We really enjoyed the campsite and view was amazing!

Eric S.recommends

September 26, 2024

Quonset Hut

Adventure Motorcycle oasis- perfect

Loved the tent camping - yurt-thing. Clean restrooms/showers, comfortable beds with linens, great location, friendly coordinator! Perfect adventure motorcycle trip stop-off. We will be back for sure!

Location

New Cuyama, Santa Barbara, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Chumash, Salinan, and Kuyam First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Blue Sky C.

Joined in June 2016

Response time: Within 24 hours

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Hipcamp acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.