Cuyama Buckhorn is an artfully-restored roadside resort in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s high desert, located in between Bakersfield and Santa Maria on Historic Route 166, just two hours from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara proper and an hour from Bakersfield Municipal Airport.
We offer an intimate getaway filled with thoughtfully crafted meals, 21 newly refined rooms with stylistic nods to the past, and 2 acres of meticulously-designed outdoor space. Cuyama Valley sits amidst star-filled night skies for some of the best stargazing in California and pastoral golden mountains boasting hiking trails, breathtaking wildflowers, and wilderness. The food, design, and creative spirit of Cuyama Buckhorn is inspired by the rich history of the local community and the bounty of Cuyama.
Our resort retreat boasts a full service, farm-to-table restaurant and bar, as well as a craft coffee shop. Guests can also enjoy a glistening heated pool to splash into under the warm California sun, a spacious jacuzzi to warm up in on cool desert nights, a barrel sauna with sunset views, outdoor fire pits and games, a conference room with views of the grounds, as well as both indoor and outdoor venue and dining spaces.
Our property renovations highlight our original mid-century architecture, and western, cowboy culture, blended with modern amenities and a focus on connecting to the surrounding natural beauty and bounty of our Enchanted Valley.
One of the many wonders of our Hidden Valley of Enchantment is that the high desert experiences a full four seasons. Our team takes pride in working with each and every group to curate customized experiences that celebrate the season in Cuyama Valley from the locally-inspired meals, to off-site valley adventures and appropriate event spaces to accompany the time of year.
The Enchanted Valley also provides endless opportunities to escape, explore, and connect during guided stargazing sessions, nearby group hikes into the national forest or national monument, or through local tastings, tours and equestrian experiences hosted by our valley partners.
The bounty of our valley shines through our event menus, curated by our Executive Chef, Daniel Horn, a Bay Area native with prior experience working with Aman Resorts, who has established close relationships with our neighboring farms and ranches to highlight in-season produce and locally-produced proteins across our banquet and event menus. From more casual BBQ buffets featuring meats smoked on our iconic red oak grill, to elevated family-style seasonal meals to enjoy over candlelit dinners, our team takes satisfaction in hosting memorable culinary experiences for groups up to 75 guests.