Rancho Oso Horse Ranch and Campground began evacuations on Jan. 11 for 400 residents, campers and staff who had been trapped by flash flooding for days when the driveway, Paradise Road and Highway 154 were shut down due to landslides and gushing water caused by the atmospheric river that had been drenching most of California for the last two weeks.

The park will remained closed until at least March 31, as per an announcement on the Thousand Trails website, Rancho Oso’s parent company. 

In the morning of Jan. 11, Rancho Oso opened their camp store for those short on water and food. Most shelves were already empty. Shoppers were careful to only take what was immediately needed and left products for others. 

A bridge leading to the tent camping area was destroyed by a shocking amount of water coursing through the creek which has not been running since 2017. 

One annual renter’s car (this author’s Suburu Forester!) was flooded up to the seats when she followed rangers out and tried to cross a stream flowing across the driveway: undetectable under the water was deep holes and mud.

A week later, tow trucks still could not reach it. In another spot at the top of the driveway, a landslide had caused a fresh stream to form a river and waterfall, and some of the driveway had given way: the Santa Barbara County Fire Department sent an excavator-bulldozer to clear it. There is a danger now that parts of it may crumble, and completely get washed away. 

On the evening of Jan. 11, campers noticed there was no running water in their RVs.

The next morning staff was shocked to find the entire well and potable water retention system had literally disappeared, according to a ranger named Brett, who has worked there for 17 years.

He reported that the well was consumed by a raging river that formed in the creek bed that had been mostly dry for decades, and said it could be months before the system can be replaced and potable water available. 

Concerns of losing power and more rain in the coming days were also stated. A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputy met with staff and occupants to discuss evacuation plans, and many followed the police to Santa Ynez.

Most of the park was evacuated by Friday. By Jan. 17, people, horses and farm animals had to be off the property by 2 p.m., as a construction crew will be coming to evaluate the safety of the road and assess necessary repairs. 

In a letter distributed by acting Ranch Manager Liz Garcia, she writes: 

“Dear Valued Members and Guests:

“Rancho Oso was recently affected by an extreme weather event, and more storms are anticipated. The safety and well-being of members, guests, and employees is our top priority.

“Rancho Oso has been in regular communication with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, and with the California Highway Patrol. As you may know, the California Highway Patrol has shut down access to the road that leads to Rancho Oso. The access road into Rancho Oso was affected by a mudslide, and Rancho Oso, once weather permits, plans to have the damage inspected and assessed so that any necessary repairs to the access road can be arranged. The extreme weather also caused a loss of water service at the campground.

“As a result of the extreme weather and damage it caused to the access road and the campground, Rancho Oso was fully evacuated and must remain evacuated at this time. All guests and employees have been ordered to evacuate the premises. Due to the damage to the access road into and out of the campground, at this time, only cars, trucks, or rigs that are 20 feet or smaller have been permitted to vacate the campground via the access road. Until further notice, large rigs cannot safely traverse the access road. Rancho Oso will keep members and guests updated once we have assessed the integrity of the access road and whether larger rigs can safely be removed from the campground.”

Many guests forced to leave their rigs are also now separated from their only homes.

One man with a newer, 40-foot fifth wheel tried to leave with his RV home, in spite of the prohibition by management to take any rigs over 20 feet on the driveway: he was worried about how his three kids, wife and two dogs would survive, since “most hotels don’t allow pets.” But other guests and staff blocked him from getting on the driveway with their own bodies.

According to Garcia, “if the weight from his RV had collapsed the road, not only could his family die, but it could make it unstable for others, and cause everyone to be trapped again.” 

Full timers, residents and staff are hoping FEMA will be able to assist. No other agency in Santa Barbara is making funds or housing available, aside from the regular, communal, privately owned homeless shelters like PATH and Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, which are dangerous due to Covid, flu, etc. 

Amy Katz is a Rancho Oso resident.