Some of the Rally Stops

I though you might appreciate a little information about some of the stops along the way for the rally.

The first stop from the South to pick up your raffle tickets will be Cold Springs Tavern on Highway 154 out of Santa Barbara. Many of the Old-timers are familiar with Cold Springs as it's been a popular bike stop for many, many years. But for those unfamiliar with it's history, I thought you might like to hear about it's history.

Set down in a canyon in the Santa Ynez Mountains, just 20 minutes from Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley wine country, Cold Spring Tavern is a part of California history. Established in 1886 as a stagecoach stop for weary travelers (at the time it took eight hours to get there from Santa Barbara!) to rest and replenish with a delicious meal. Today the tavern still offers a rest from modern life and serves its delicious meals to travelers from near and far.

In the 1860’s and 1870’s folks desiring to travel up the coast from Los Angeles or Santa Barbara were required to take a stagecoach over the San Marcos Pass(now Hwy 154) or through Gaviota Pass(Hwy 101) on the coast. The Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Turnpike Road Company was incorporated in 1868 and operated a stagecoach company that provided passenger service and carried mail under contract. The turnpike company completed construction on the San Marcos Pass Road by 1870. The Cold Spring Tavern started its life as a stagecoach rest stop in 1886. It is a must-see and the food is good too! The horse drawn stage line ceased operation in 1901.

There are many interesting nooks and crannies at Cold Springs Tavern with equally interesting stories! The most obvious one is the Log Cabin Bar which at one point in time was a water bottling plant! Since the equipment was too big to remove through the door, the owners tore down a wall to get it out and replaced it with the beautiful fireplace there now.

Another is the Ojai Jail built in 1873 by the then Ojai Sheriff on his own property (I’m going to guess because it was easier for him to watch folks in his jail there rather than to the cover the almost 50 mile one way trip daily to feed them!) Ojai refused his offer to let them keep the jail after he retired.

Across from the jail sits the Chinese Road Gang house where the Chinese workers bunked while building the stagecoach line through the San Marcos pass.

And then there’s Blisshaven Garden which sits behind the original Tavern and you wouldn’t even realize was there from the street!

Every weekend the live entertainment at Cold Springs Tavern is extraordinary, and they have a great schedule of who will be appearing there http://www.coldspringtavern.com/entertainment.html

So, even if you can’t make the Rally, be sure and add Cold Springs Tavern to your list of Must See California stops! The food and service are great, from Tri-Tip sandwiches on the patio, to wonderful sit down meals served in The Tavern itself, and the atmosphere is fantastic!

Scroll on down to  purchase tickets, and remember you'll not only have a great outing on the rally, you'll be helping a wonderful group of people in the Northern Santa Barbara County Special Olympics group!

Sam