New Cuyama, California
Blue Sky Center
About Blue Sky Center
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!
Accommodations on the property
- Primitive site
Location
New Cuyama, California
Open in Google MapsWhat people say about their stay at Blue Sky Center
Synthesized from 39 review mentions across 6 aspects.
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Setting & Nature
“Blue Sky offers a mix of scenic beauty and practical amenities, with many guests appreciating the access to clean showers, restrooms, and a well-equipped kitchen. The huts provide …”
15 mentions
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Bathroom
“Campers at Blue Sky Center have praised the cleanliness and accessibility of the bathroom and shower facilities, which are available around the clock. However, some visitors noted …”
7 mentions
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Amenities
“all of the modern amenities such as toilet, shower, and even fully equipped cantina”
6 mentions
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Comfort & Sleep
“there were pretty frequent barking dogs not far away”
5 mentions
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Value for Price
“the coffee shop/restaurant in the nearby hotel was delicious”
3 mentions
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Host & Communication
“Visitors to Blue Sky Center consistently praised the hosts for their friendliness and responsiveness, contributing to an overall welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. While some campe…”
3 mentions
Gallery
Recent reviews
[hipcamp aggregate summary]
The site was well described on the app. It’s simple but very easy and straightforward. That was a lovely sunset and it was quiet over night. It’s a nice stop over location.
Great site and place. We loved staying there. I would highly recomended
I had a great experience at Blue Sky. The Gable Hut was perfect. It had a table and a stool with a full size elevated bed. The bedding was nice and the mattress was heated. There were extra blankets too. The kitchen had everything you would need to cook and the shared fridge was cold. There was firewood to use and at least 3 fire pits available. There was also a great Santa Maria grill out back of the kitchen. There was a nice long communal table in the kitchen and a small “lounge” area to get in out of the elements if you needed to. The area had some horses to check out. I met a nice guy who’…
I had another great stay at Blue Sky, this was my first time in one of the huts. They are super cozy, it got down to the high 30s low 40s overnight, but I stayed nice and warm thanks to the heated blanket & heater. I had a delicious dinner at the Buckhorn, then back to the hut to relax. The sky was so dark at night, you could see so many stars!! I drove through Carrizo Plains on the way in and saw Soda Lake and lots of flowers. I drove through Los Padres on the way home and spotted a condor, just a few minutes past the Bitter Creek National Refuge sign. What a trip.
The dispersed camping at Blue Sky was nice. Lots of space to spread out and access to restrooms and showers was incredibly helpful. The facilities were clean and accessible all night. Take seriously their warning about neighborhood noise though; there were pretty frequent barking dogs not far away so earplugs are essential!
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Blue Sky Center located?
Blue Sky Center is located in New Cuyama, California.
What types of accommodations does Blue Sky Center offer?
Blue Sky Center offers Primitive site. Specifics vary — verify the exact unit availability with the operator before booking.
How is Blue Sky Center rated?
Blue Sky Center has a 4.7/5 rating from 479 reviews on aggregate. Ratings reflect aggregate sentiment from public review platforms; we don't moderate operator reviews.
How do I book Blue Sky Center?
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