Millionaire Montecito homeowners spark fury by BLOCKING public trail to popular hot spring with huge boulders after growing resentment at hikers parking cars outside their mansions
- Millionaires in the exclusive city of Montecito, California have placed boulders in front of their homes to prevent tourists from parking there
- Furious homeowners are fed up with visitors to the nearby trail to Montecito Hot Springs parking in front of their homes
- Santa Barbara County sent letters to 11 homeowners ordering them to remove the obstacles
Furious millionaire homeowners in a luxury California city have sparked anger by blocking a beautiful public walking path with rocks because hikers parked outside their mansions.
Montecito residents received angry letters from Santa Barbara County after passive aggressively placing boulders along the roads outside their homes.
The homeowners tried to deter visitors from the beautiful path near their homes that leads to hidden hot springs, who had parked on their street.
On March 18, the county posted letters to the properties of 11 homeowners living on East Mountain Drive and Riven Rock Road.
The letters demanded that wealthy residents remove the obstacles within 10 days because the roads are “public right-of-way.”
Furious millionaire homeowners in a luxury California city have sparked anger by blocking a beautiful public walking path with rocks because hikers parked outside their mansions
The homeowners tried to deter visitors from the beautiful path near their homes that leads to hidden hot springs, who had parked on their street.
Currently, there is room for about eight cars at the trailhead and all other hikers are forced to park elsewhere, leaving their cars outside the property of the property owners.
County officials then required the angry homeowners to obtain a trespass permit, which is required for anyone seeking to trespass along or on a county road.
“We are currently working with residents to allow items that can remain and to remove items that need to be removed,” Lael Wageneck, a spokesperson for the county’s public works department, told me. SFGATE.
Santa Barbara County faced a similar problem in 2022, when four homeowners sued the county over its plan to create 62 new parking spaces near the trailhead.
Currently, there is room for about eight cars at the trailhead and all other hikers are forced to park elsewhere, leaving their cars outside the property of the property owners.
Homeowners are outraged by visitors parking in front of their homes, despite the fact that most properties are on huge lots with long winding driveways and plenty of room for their own parking needs.
The average home price in the region is approximately $7.5 million and famous residents include Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Scooter Braun and Larry David also all own luxury real estate in Montecito.
Homeowners are outraged by visitors parking in front of their homes, despite the fact that most properties are on huge lots with long winding driveways and plenty of room for their own parking needs
The average home price in the region is approximately $7.5 million and famous residents include Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Hundreds of TikToks have been created by hikers encouraging people to see the nature pools for themselves – some of which have racked up tens of thousands of views
Montecito has approximately 8,500 residents who enjoy large stretches of coastline, beautiful beaches and plenty of nature for hikers to explore.
The trail itself leads to breathtaking hot springs with clear blue water pools surrounded by beautiful trees and rocky terrain.
Hundreds of TikToks have been created by hikers encouraging people to check out the natural pools for themselves – some of which have racked up tens of thousands of views.