Location: Cuyama Valley
Accommodation: 21 rooms
Amenities: Restaurant, bar, pool, sauna hut, hot tub, sprawling parking, pool table, bocce ball court, fire pits (each guest gets a s’mores kit at check-in)
What we love: Distinctive design, cowboy-chic getaway, delicious food, fine wine, and plenty of desert charm
Perfect for: elopement, intimate ceremony, bash, romantic getaway.
When considering Southern California event planning, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. There’s just one problem with all those destinations: Everyone else knows about them. But that’s not an issue at Cuyama Buckhorn, a true gem nestled within The Hidden Valley of Enchantment, a peaceful oasis, which is about two and half hours north of Los Angeles.
Surrounded by small farms, ranches and natural landscapes, it has little to no light pollution making it an incredible place to stargaze, as well as take in stunning sunsets and experience the beauty of the desert, wildflowers, salt flats and sprawling grassland.
This 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. The current owners, two L.A.-based architects, purchased the property in March 2018.
More than 60 years later, Cuyama Buckhorn has transformed into a sophisticated boutique resort boasting historic mid-century glory meets Western vibes and luxurious modern amenities, nestled in the picturesque Hidden Valley of Enchantment. It highlights nature, community and high design. All around it looks like a postcard view. This spot is the perfect setup for a vintage-styled series.
TO STAY:
Each of 21 guest rooms has been designed to bring comfortable elegance to the high desert with modern amenities like free WiFi and Bluetooth radios, complemented by custom-built furniture. Vintage accents, with a nod to the hotel’s mid-century history, add a classic feel to these revitalized rooms. Locally-stocked mini bars, plush linens and sustainably produced bath products are lovingly curated. The guest rooms are complete with patio space for soaking in the desert sun and stargazing under our clear sky.
TO EAT & DRINK:
The Buckhorn Restaurant offers an intimate getaway filled with thoughtfully crafted, farm-to-table meals. The kitchen has built a network of relationships with surrounding farms to source fresh, local ingredients for a range of creative dishes. Featuring everything from locally raised eggs to olives grown just a few miles down the road, the menu celebrates the abundance of the valley and also Central California cuisine.
The bar is another highlight where conversation flows effortlessly. The menu features delicious cocktails, wines from the valley’s vineyards, and craft beers. If there’s daylight left, grab a drink and head outside to look at the sun drops behind the San Rafael Mountains.
TO DO:
The food, design, and atmosphere of Cuyama Buckhorn are enhanced by the rich history of the local community and the bounty of the surrounding landscape. The Inn features a glistening pool to dive into under the warm California sun, outdoor firepits and games to bring together friends new and old, as well as plenty of event spaces to celebrate the beauty of this unmatched haven. The valley offers endless opportunities to experience Santa Barbara County’s high desert through nature walks in national monuments, wine tasting and farm tours with our neighbors, scenic drives that evolve by season, and peaceful evenings watching Cuyama’s magical sunsets.
Some spots around:
1) Los Padres National Forest – hiking and mountain biking trails for gorgeous views of the valley
2) Carrizo Plain National Monument – for spectacular wildflower viewing (during the spring)
3) Hidden Creek Ranch – for archery & horseback riding
4) Sagebrush Annie’s – for wine tastings
5) Mount Pinos – for stargazing
TO CELEBRATE
This property was designed to bring people together for truly one-of-a-kind experiences. You meet a welcome team and bountiful food, and the beauty of this enchanted valley offers a backdrop unlike any other.
Elopement and intimate ceremony
What’s your elopement vibe? When you close your eyes and dream about where to elope, what’s the vibe around you? Do you feel the sun’s warmth on your skin as you stare out over a high desert and pastoral golden mountains? If yes, then Cuyama Buckhorn is definitely the perfect place for you. Plan to host your drinks in The Garden and then say I do in the ceremony space with golden mountain views followed by an indoor or outdoor after-party.
Classic satin dresses or boho-stylized ones all look equally impressive against the backdrop of the Central California mountain ranges, national forests, and breathtaking wildflowers.
Stay at the hotel and enjoy your modern room with vintage accents, tasty meals, craft cocktails, and star-filled night skies, for some of the best stargazing in California.
Bachelorette party
Cuyama Valley is an up-and-coming bachelorette spot curating unforgettable experiences focused around natural beauty. While it can be a relaxing vacation, there are also plenty of activities to create an action-packed weekend that will leave your bridal party thinking this was the best bachelorette trip they’ve ever been on.
Take time to explore mountains, hike through historic cave paintings, plan a trip to see the superbloom in a National Monument, book a farm tour or wine tasting, or just relax and enjoy a meal with a view. If you’ll be lounging poolside, pick up coordinating swimsuits to make your bachelorette party complete. It also has a sauna hut and hot tub.
Cuyama Buckhorn offers farm fresh banquet and event menus, as well as plenty of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, complete with valley views and highlighted by Mid-Century Farmhouse aesthetic.
