Edhat Reader
August 9, 2024, 10:11 am
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5 Comments
Hi edhat community. I’m curious what it’s like living off Highway 154.
I’m newer to Santa Barbara and would like to live in a semi-rural space that’s still close to town so have been looking to purchase a property in Painted Cave and off W. Camino Cielo.
But I’m curious what it’s really like living up there. Specifically relating to traffic, fire danger, fire insurance, and any other things I should be aware of before committing. Thanks in advance.
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Fire danger and insurance will be a big deal. Painted Cave Road is also very narrow and twisty.
Pets and coyotes/mountain lions will be a concern.
But the views are majestic.
Try the trout club.
Unfortunately due to the wildfire danger one, the only insurance you can get is with Fair Plan for a lot more than in town. They also plan to raise their insurance rates and you need to spend about 20 k dollars on additional fire preventing measures.
It does not help that about half the properties there are not kept up adding to the danger with overgrown plant fuel. Another worry are the dangerous roads. If you have an emergency and have to get down that mountain at night without any street lights present and in a hurry, it is very dangerous. Also, many are speeding along the 154, so getting back on that main road in either direction or crossing it, is very dangerous.
There are packs of mountain lions up there, lately, one of them crashed through a glass door and attacked a pet dog. The dog survived because the owners had bear spray on the ready and immediately acted, but that is the wrong kind of excitement and amzing they were so prepared and did not panic. A woman fleeing a fire that came close there died. You also have to calculate ongoing drive time and much more gas if you drive daily. The steep roads take a lot of gas. Hope this helps.
Very warm in summer and cold in winter, as no ocean influence.
Totally agree- high insurance, risky roads , extreme weather , minimal entertainment except the tavern. Great views, clean air, lots of hiking trails, not congested, unconventional neighbors,. I lived there over 20 years. Loved the school bus and the Cielo Store and the Tavern.I started the Stagecoach Road Run. Back in the 90’s.