Gaviota Rest Stops Are Still Closed

My cynical side notes that the absence of these rest stops which are the only public option in about 100 of miles, is a boon for the businesses in Buellton and Goleta etc. No local politician seems willing to put some heft behind getting them working probably because of the opposition of these consumer shops. The ones who are denied the respite they should provide are not local voters in general. In the decades that I have live in SB I remember these being closed more time than open.

I have lived in the area for over twenty years and I can count on 2 fingers the number of times that I have found these open - seems to be a low priority.

Seems like they are always closed

The next nearest rest stops, north of Paso Robles, have also been closed in both northbound and southbound. It seems like, if there are only two rest areas northbound and two rest areas southbound between San Jose and Los Angeles, maybe possibly you might want to have two of the four, or minimally one out of the four to remain open. And a northbound person who really needed a rest stop could use an offramp and double back to an open southbound rest stop, or a southbound person could double back to an open northbound one. But two have 2 out of 2 northbound AND 2 out of 2 southbound closed at the same time, and that same time lasts for YEARS, that's kind of lame. It also seems like "mobile restrooms" are a thing... perhaps CalTrans could bring in a semi trailer that's all restrooms and just park it next to the parked backhoe?

I can not say for certain but I believe they may not have the water supply necessary to operate per CA requirements. They have remodeled them in recent years and closed them shortly after. Can't get to upset when a motorist pulls off the road and takes care of business.

Large parts of Mississippi are without drinking water. Not so concerned about a rest stop.

Yep, pee on the side of the road.

Many years ago (early 80s?) headlines were made when a pervert was arrested at the rest stop after being caught sitting in the muck with plastic sheeting over himself staring up at folks doing their business.
Wonder where he's plying his trade now?

I have had a few conversations with Caltrans managers. Possibly the most shameless liars this side of Hollywood.

They just spent $6 million on this upgrade. They built a new septic system and installed more water tanks. They get their water from a spring above the Gaviota hot springs via State Parks. Not a reliable source and there are questions about whether it is a properly permitted water source. Caltrans knows this is a dangerous location and that the rest areas should be relocated to the off-ramps at Mariposa Reina, just east of the Gaviota Curve. They could utilize the desal water available there from the old Chevron facility. But it literally takes them 10-15 years to do anything.

See this newsletter for more on the rest area water issue.

https://mailchi.mp/51115d562c98/the-latest-news-from-the-gaviota-coast?e=%5BUNIQID%5D

Oregon and Washington have the most beautiful rest stops and they are never closed

In December, 1846, scouts for Lt. Col. John C. Fremont reported that the much awaited Gaviota Pass Rest Stops were closed. Fremont said "Screw it then, we're taking San Marcos Pass to Cold Spring Tavern and the Cielo Store."

Quite locally there’s a single locked port-a-potty at East Beach. Probably easier to jump in the ocean than hike to a public restroom

@Rinconer and Benround - so true!! As a frequent driver in this area, I often stop at Albertson's in Buellton. Open most hours and free public bathrooms.

@Curmedgeon....the pervert in the pit toilet that you're recalling was at the Montana de Oro State Park Campground in SLO.

Another curiosity...Why over 40 years of closures is it so hard to maintain the Gaviota Rest stop facilities and yet the Gaviota State Beach campground has running water and toilets? One is closer to the ocean than the other. Two different State administrators?

A rest stop is a small thing. But a rest stop that does not work for years, it is a sign of a failed government. CA leaders can't keep the rest stops nice. You can tell a lot about how well a states leaders and how it functions by its road qualities and rest stops. CA leaders are focusing on all of the wrong things. Just get the freeways built faster than 30 years of construction so we don't have to wait in traffic for hours, and fix the rest stops. They can start there.

I’d prefer to see it shut down rather than wasting countless taxpayer dollars over the decades. The state should sh-t or get off the pit on this one.

Oh good lord - this is so easy to solve. Heading northbound - swing into the 76 station at Winchester and go wee. Going southbound, stop at Buellton - plenty of fast food joints and gas stations right off the freeway and they all have potties.

Get a sudden hankering in between - then swing off at Nojoqui or Lompoc exits and pee behind your car.

If a surfer can pull off a full naked butt swap from street clothes into a wetsuit standing between two car doors 3 feet off the side of the road- surely, you can wee behind a bush if it comes to that.

Easy to solve? Yeah, but we’re not talking pissing here we’re talking our collective taxpayer dollars.

The guy that got caught in the out house in the mucky muck was a Caltrans top official and just forget the rest stop they can’t even fix the freeway

Time to give up on them as rest stops and build a bridge for wildlife to safely cross the highway there.