The Douglas Family Preserve

The Douglas Family Preserve is one the most beautiful and romantic places in Santa Barbara. It is an untamed park, grown with cliff-hugging trees and a spectacular coastal view stretches all the way to Goleta where you can spot the UCSB Storke tower. It is also one of the few parks in the US where dogs are allows to run around unleashed. Due to its proximity to my home, I love going there to relax and ease my mind, especially after a long, stressful day at work.

In addition to all the magnificent things the park offers, it also has an interesting history which makes this place even more special. In 1949, Roy Wilcox moved his large nursery from LA to Santa Barbara. Azaleas, palms and a wide variety of decorative indoor plants were grown on the fertile land, as well as in greenhouses, and shipped to market around the country. The business closed in 1972 and the property became a hot item in the market. Of course, developers wanted to build luxurious hotels and homes, but many SB residents wanted a park. The property sat in limbo for a long time until 1996 when SB residents raised $2 millions in 2 months to help the Trust for Public Land to purchase the Wilcox property for $3.6 million. Still short on fund, actor Michael Douglas, a graduate of UCSB and whose family are long time residents of Santa Barbara/Montecito, made a sizable contribution in honor of his father Kirk Douglas at the very last moment to help make the purchase. Hence the park was named the Douglas Family Preserve.