OUR STORY
Cuyama Buckhorn is a timeless roadside resort in the heart of California’s high desert within Santa Barbara County, where community, locally-inspired food, and artistry flourish.
Our iconic property was originally built in 1952 as the community hub for the valley of Cuyama, at a time when New Cuyama was a booming oil town. More than 60 years later, Cuyama Buckhorn has transformed into a sophisticated boutique resort boasting historic mid-century meets Western vibes and luxurious modern amenities, nestled in the picturesque Hidden Valley of Enchantment.
POSTCARDS FROM THE PAST
Our iconic property was originally built in 1952 at a time when our dining room sung with live piano music, our bar bustled with games and activity, and our pool was enjoyed by travelers soaking in the desert sun.
We’re bringing these glory days back with our new, glistening pool to splash into, a jacuzzi to warm up in on cool desert nights, a sauna to take in our amazing sunsets and plenty of event & gathering spaces to celebrate the beauty of The Enchanted Valley.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
We handle the details, so you don’t have to.
We believe that what elevates an experience from enjoyable to exceptional is the attention to detail. It’s the little, unexpected touches along the way that we all remember, and our mission is to provide those in all that we do.
MEET OUR REIMAGINEERS
JEFF VANCE
Owner Jeff Vance brings a devotion to the merged perspectives of architecture and history in a hospitality environment. As founder of Los Angeles-based design firm iDGroup, Jeff seeks out spaces in which to build the seemingly impossible and make it feel like home, with a notable appreciation for mid-century restoration projects.
Jeff began visiting the Valley as just a little lad to visit his childhood best friend’s family ranch. Ever since then, he has been pulled to this magical piece of Central CA. He has developed many connections to the area over the years including his residence in the nearby town of Pine Mountain Club. During his time living in Pine Mountain, Jeff became very familiar with Highway 166 and would stop by The Buckhorn on his drives and rides. A classic and sports car enthusiast, and a long time visitor of Cuyama Valley, Vance was thrilled when the property came on the market and jumped at the opportunity to purchase and revamp the iconic roadside stop.
FERIAL SADEGHIAN
Originally from Iran, Ferial has spent much of her life traveling around Europe and the Middle East. She has vivid memories of visiting a restaurant on the outskirts of town for a pork tenderloin being cooked in a fireplace, or driving to a remote hotel on the top of a mountain to have an unpretentious, yet completely unexpected meal cooked by the Executive Chef, who also owned the property. This love of travel and food shaped her life passions and she and Vance had wanted to get into hospitality for years, specifically looking for a remote property that could provide an unexpected, destination experience for travelers.
A wonderful cook herself, Ferial’s dedication to amazing cuisine centered around sourcing locally helps drive our culinary vision, and her acute attention to detail, love of all things vintage and amazing design eye enhance the beauty of our property and events.
CUYAMA BUCKHORN X KIND TRAVELER
We're thrilled to announce Cuyama Buckhorn's partnership with Kind Traveler's Every Stay Gives Back. Kind Traveler's Every Stay Gives Back program allocates $1 per night toward supporting Blue Sky Center, ensuring that 100% of the funds are directed to positively impact the local community:
- Meals provided for Cuyama residents participating in skills-building workshops.
- Supplies for food access workshop, encompassing activities like nopales canning, garlic planting, or seed harvesting.
- Starter plants for Jardines Victoria (Victory Garden) in local residents' backyard, fostering organic food growth at home.
- Artist-in-residence programs
- General operational expenses
Read more about the program here.