Looking up at the sandstone formation known as “Lizard’s Mouth.”
The bottom underside of the Lizard’s Mouth formation beneath the mouth shown in the previous photo.
Looking eastward toward Santa Barbara.
Looking over Old Town Goleta, Goleta Beach and the Santa Barbara Airport.
The Lizard’s Mouth outcrop, as seen from Goleta Beach, is located center frame at the crest of the mountain.
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A barrier and “No Motor Vehicles” sign alongside West Camino Cielo at the old Goddard Campground site.
According to the old man, there was once a drive-up campground along the crest of West Camino Cielo, south of the road, called Goddard.
Today a few rusty barriers and signs testify to the fact that there was indeed something there at sometime.
North of the road, atop the mountain just above where the campground was located, a short trail leads into the forest and to the site of what was indeed, as per a USGS map from 1988, Goddard Picnic Ground.
Yet, in contacting the USFS I was unable to obtain confirmation or any information at all about either the campground or picnic ground. The people I spoke with had never heard of Goddard.
Clint Elliott remembering (sorta) Goddard as it was:
“Oh do I have some fond memories of Goddard. As you know, when passing the cluster of mailboxes to your left as you make that right sweeping turn up past the huge boulder, you get an insight into the beauty of West Camino Cielo.
But the true majesty is when you finally break out of the chaparral on the rim and are treated to the sweeping vistas of Goleta, Santa Barbara and Campus Point almost directly below.
Goddard Campground was the jewel of West Camino Cielo. I spent many, many Friday and Saturday nights up there partying. Sometimes just for a few hours before heading back down into town and out to Isla Vista or staying until the wee hours of the morning. It was a spectacular place to party—unbelievable place to drop acid or mescalin on a summer evening.
You can just imagine how mystic it was on a warm night when the Santa Ana winds were blowing. Eighty some degrees at 2:00 a.m. and the city lights twinkling below like a jewel encrusted serpent hugging the coast.
It was very popular back when I was in high school. During the week the word would spread about a party up at Goddard and everyone would get so pumped and start preparing all their favorite party favors, lining up dates with the cuties, passing the hat for a keg, tracking down some hash—you get the picture.
Obviously most of my fondest memories revolve around these hedonistic adventures. There is no more spectacular setting than Goddard for a Bohemian night around the camp fire.”
Hat tip to Craig R. Carey for providing the following excerpt from the campground guide authored by Bob Burtness (1963 edition), which describes the now defunct Goddard Camp as follows:
“Goddard Camp
Overlooking the coast and Channel Islands, Goddard Public Camp features the following: 1 double pit toilet, 1 garbage pit, 3 klamath stoves, 1 barbecue pit, 5 tables, 1 entrance sign, and 1 bulletin board. Situated at 2,500 feet elevation, the camp is open all year, but there is no nearby water supply. Goddard can be reached by Camino Cielo, just off Highway 150 (sic). The 1.2 mile stretch into camp is mostly paved, though sometimes narrow and winding. Total distance from Santa Barbara is 15 miles; and from Santa Maria and Lompoc, 55 miles.
This camp was part of a 40 acre parcel, deeded to the U.S. Forest Service for recreational purposes. The donor, a Mr. Goddard, was a prominent member of a Buddhist colony in the area. Yogi was also practiced there at one time.”
The hilltop where Goddard Picnic Ground was located.
Remnants of the old picnic grounds.
Goddard Campground noted here by the red dot.
The flat under the oaks where Goddard Camp once existed.
There are numerous dates carved into the sandstone at the lower Goddard site, such as the header photo showing “1977” and this marking here which appears to have once read “1962.”
The view from Goddard overlooking Goleta and the Pacific Ocean with Santa Cruz Island in the distance.
The three red arrows note the location of the caves shown below.
The person seen here is sitting in the cave noted by the red arrow on the upper right of the previous photo. It is actually a hole through the rock that can be entered from either side.
The view looking northward from the cave shown in the previous photo or what is seen if one is looking behind the person.
The hole.
Looking southward through the hole and over the trail.
The cave-like overhang noted by the upper left red arrow in the first photo.
Island view from the overhang shown in previous photo.
Looking east over Gaviota Pass and US-101.
Heavy marine layer pushing in from the Pacific.
View from the cave noted by the lower left red arrow in the first photo.
Inside in the cave.
The cave noted by the red arrow in the previous photo. Visible on the lower left there are two other openings to this lengthy cave.
Looking down the length of the cave from just inside the large entrance shown in the previous photo.
A California condor at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The California condor species had endured the elements and rigors of life in nature’s arena of competition and thrived for some 11,000 years. By 1982, due to a variety of human caused circumstances, the condor population had been decimated and only 22 birds were known to be alive. Three years later a mere single breeding pair was all that was known to exist in the wild for the entire species. Extinction loomed.
As of 2010, after an aggressive captive breeding program and reintroduction to their native range, there exists 370 California condors 181 of which are flying free in the wild. Yet, though free, those condors in the wild are still very much hemmed in by humanity and continue to face many of the same existential threats that nearly ended their species forever.
Timeline of Tragedy
1890—Wild California condor population estimated at 600.
1940—Wild population estimate drops to 100. Species disappears in Mexico.
1960—No more than 60 California condors estimated to exist in the world.
1967—California condor listed as an endangered species under the precursor to today’s Endangered Species Act.
1975—To address the species’ decline, the California Condor Recovery Program is established, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Audubon Society, and also including the U.S. Forest Service, the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos, and the California Department of Fish and Game.
1982—Only 22 California condors known to exist. Conservationists begin to take condor chicks from the wild for captive rearing.
1983—Conservationists begin to remove eggs from the wild and hatch them in captivity. Chicks born in captivity are raised in boxes that simulate a cave environment and are fed by conservationists using condor hand puppets.
1985—Six wild condors disappear, leaving a single breeding pair in existence in the wild for the entire species. At this desperate point, the Fish and Wildlife Service makes the controversial decision to capture all remaining wild condors in an effort to keep them safe and begin a captive breeding program—a last ditch effort to save the species from extinction.
1987—The last wild condor is removed from the wild. At this point, the entire species population numbers 27 individuals.
Reference:
Timeline quoted from United States Fish and Wildlife Service
California Department of Fish and Game
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