Residents in the millionaire and clave of the California enclave from Montecito called to tourists to visit their beloved hidden attraction.
The Montecito Hot Springs used to be known as a picturesque, quiet space for the locals to sit and enjoy the area above one of the richest neighborhoods of California.
But after the hot springs became a hotspot of influencers when the Vista went viral on Instagram and Tiktok, residents say that the meeting place was overwhelmed.
The issue teased the Hot Springs for years and in March some locals were fined for placing boulders and obstacles along the roads that led to the hot springs to stop outsiders on the trailhead.
But this week the tensions cooked over while residents of Montecito saw a chartered tour bus from Orange County Ferrying Bus loads of Tourists to the Hot Springs, Noozhawk reports.
Houghton Hyatt, executive director of the Montecito Association, told The Outlet that after the tour bus was seen by residents, his association 'had received countless e -mails, videos and messages about the problem.
“This has led to widespread concern and disappointment within the community,” said Hyatt.
Apart from the annoying presence of too many visitors, the locals say that the inflow can have an environmental impact in the area.
The hot springs of Montecito above one of the richest enclaves of California used to be known as a picturesque, quiet space for the local population to enjoy before it became a favorite of influencers
This week, furious locals saw a tourist bus that fell out of the hot sources, creating anger of the rich inhabitants who hope to keep it for themselves
“The problem is that the feathers are not ready for Prime Time,” Woody Jackson, an adviser from Primitive Hot Springs Stewardship at the Balneology Association of North America, told Sfgate.
He said that the hot springs does not have the facilities or means to welcome huge crowds of people in the summer months.
'There is no Pit-Vault toilet at the Trailhead, there is no waste management with the sources themselves. So that's a big problem, “he said.
According to Noozhawk, the officials of Santa Barbara County were confronted with a flood of complaints from residents in the hope of regulating access from the tour bus to the hot springs.
However, the hotspot is accessible through a public road, which means that local authorities can only do so much to stop tourist journeys.
Jackson added that the Hot Springs are also owned by the US Forest Service, so that all legal action that authorities could continue to take, but said he was concerned about the rise of tourists to the area.
He warned that unless the tour bus company “is actively involved in finding a holistic solution” for the overcrowding problems, “their presence” probably adds to the problem and makes the matter worse. ”
Local authorities have confronted in recent months with a wave of complaints from residents about overcrowding, but officials say that their legal options are limited
The Hot Springs have become a strong favorite of the locals in recent years, because they serve as an idyllic place to relax and enjoy the weather in California
The overcrowding problem has been teasing the hot springs for years
To stop them, Jackson said that some locals have merged to create a group of 'Neighborhood Watch' type to try to stop litter and party groups to ruin the area.
He suggested that the group should form an accredited land confidence to preserve and maintain the sources, which he said could cost more than a million dollars.
“The feathers are not ready for the public,” he concluded.
'It requires a sustainable financing mechanism. It requires a sustainable volunteer mechanism to serve as teachers or trailhead and SOAK area guides to ensure that the behavior fits in with the Forest Service, Santa Barbara County and the affected neighborhood. '
