My Weekend at Blue Sky Center
After roaming the internet for days for the perfect Glamping spot in Southern California, I stumbled upon this beauty: Blue Sky Center. Most people don’t realize, but Blue Sky Center is actually a non profit based in New Cuyama, CA (about a 2 hour drive from LA). You book your stay for Blue Sky Center on Airbnb. Each Hut is rented separately, so you can choose which one you want. I stayed in the Gable Hut. Make sure to look at the layouts of the huts, as some are twin beds and others are queens.
If you are planning to go, make sure to follow my tips below as there are some ins and outs of this spot that are helpful to know before going!
How we got there
We left from LA and actually stopped in Ojai on our way. I definitely suggest this if you are coming from LA. Ojai is about an hour and half from LA and another hour and a half from Blue Sky Center. It is a great spot to stop at a local brewery, grab a bite to eat and walk around to help split up the drive. I suggest trying out Ojai Beverage Co., getting a burger and trying their flights of local beer!
We then drove the next hour and a half to the Blue Sky Center. Check-in is around 3pm, however, they seemed pretty flexible if you were there early. There is not much around the town, so you really shouldn’t need to get there much earlier than 3pm.
What to do
There is not a ton to do in the area besides relaxing, enjoying the view and sipping on a cold beer. There are some hikes, but we did not have time to go on any. What I do suggest is walking over to the buildings next door on the property and saying hi to Alex. Alex hand makes Woody cars and is extremely well known across the world. He will let you come into the shop and take photos, while telling you all about how he makes the cars. Definitely one of those experiences you won’t forget. Overall, Blue Sky Center is meant to be a spot for you to relax and unwind. The point is to not have anything to do and just hang out. Bring a board game, some cards or just some good music and let yourself relax.
Something you absolutely cannot miss is the sunset. Blue Sky Center is actually located on an old airport, so there is a huge landing strip where planes used to land. It is no longer active, so you can lay down on the pavement and watch as the sky turns pink above your head. It is pretty magical.
Where to eat
There is only one restaurant in New Cuyama and one market. They are located on the same street about a 2 minute drive from the campsite. The restaurant is called Cuyama Buckhorn. It was actually pretty good! We got the Tri Tip sandwich and House Salad. Both were tasty and perfect for dinner. We ordered these to go and then ate them at the campsite next to the bonfire. If you want alcohol, I suggest bringing your own. I am not sure what the local market has, but Blue Sky Center does have a fridge to keep your items cold.
What to bring
Sleeping bags. This is one item you have to bring no matter what. The huts are not insulated and are just made out of cloth with holes all over them. So you will literally freeze your ass off if you don’t bring a warm sleeping bag.
Socks. You will want these as soon as the sun goes down!
Big jacket. It gets pretty cold, even sitting next to the camp fire.
S’mores stuff!
Wine or Beer
Snacks. Store is limited, so bring some extra stuff if you get hungry.
Lighter for the bonfire (they supply wood)
Towel if you plan to shower! They do have good showers on the property.
Charger! There are outlets in the hut, so you can charge your phone or any other electronics.
Speaker, board games or cards to keep you busy.
