Carpinteria celebrated a special Valentine’s Day gift on Friday with the purchase of the Rincon Gateway by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.
The purchase of the 2.48-acre property on the eastern edge of the Carpinteria bluffs and adjacent to the Rincon bluff preserve will protect the land from development and preserve it as open space.
“This is a jewel of a property at the southeastern tip of the Rincon bluffs,” said Meredith Hendricks, executive director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. “It completes this section of the Rincon bluffs. With the addition of this property, we’ve now protected over 75 acres of the Carpinteria and Rincon bluffs.”
The property has long been sought out by developers. Most recently, there was a proposed glamping project by AutoCamp that included 26 Airstream trailers. The project was abandoned in spring 2023, and the owner became willing to sell the property to the Land Trust, according to Hendricks.
A donation from the La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation made the $3,895,000 purchase possible, and the deal was finalized by Jan. 30.
Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee said it was the best kind of Valentine’s Day gift.
“Now, I’ve been throughout the county, and I have to say this is the best view anywhere,” Lee said.
At an event on Friday celebrating the purchase, Lee said he and the county were committed to protecting open space for the community.
Carpinteria Mayor Natalia Alarcon recognized the work of Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs and everyone in the community who has worked to preserve the land.
“There is no doubt that we deeply value our open spaces,” Alarcon said. “They are not just scenic landscapes, but vital places for recreation, reflection and community connection. Protecting spaces like this aligns with our community’s values and enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.”
Ted Rhodes, former chair of Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, said the purchase is a further step to preserve all of the Carpinteria bluffs.
“It’s been our mission all along to save all of the Carpinteria bluffs, and we are just about there,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes recognized the work of longtime residents who worked for decades to preserve the bluffs and acknowledged how important it is for residents to connect with nature.
“At moments like this, I think it’s always good to remind ourselves how important open space is,” Rhodes said. “Being in contact with nature is essential for children and for us as adults to really reach our full potential as human beings.”
