New Cuyama, CA
New Cuyama is a quirky little town in the middle of Southern California, with a population well under a thousand, assumingly comprised mostly of workers for the nearby Power, Oil, and Farming industries. That being said - it hosts two of the most lovely and unique hotels I’ve visited in recent memory. The folks over at Blue Sky Center & Cuyama Buckhorn were nice enough to have me for a trip back in December, so I couldn’t help but pack up the film cameras, grab some portra, and hit the road!
I had recently acquired a new lens for my Nikon film SLR, the AF Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 macro - a superb lens from the early oughts that has a reputation for being sharp as a tack, in a relatively affordable package. This gig was a perfect opportunity to test it out, and as you can see here - it performed brilliantly. The lens provided wonderful micro contrast, color rendition, no distortion, bokeh, and sharpness.
Blue Sky Center is a hotel of sorts, that hosts these 5 incredible huts, constructed on rolling chassis, with draped canvas sides / roof, and large windows that direct you to the gorgeous rolling hills and mountains of the area. It’s a unique blend of glamping (the huts do have power, heaters, wifi access, etc) that makes for a peaceful getaway from the city, without too much planning or gear required.
The second camera I Brought along was my trusty Mamiya 645 E, paired with an 80mm f2.8, a run of the mill medium format film camera setup, which invokes the pure joy of simplicity while using, and of course, creates stunning imagery.
Blue Sky Center is also located next door to the Cuyama Airport, providing occasional views of small aircraft take-offs & landings.
Inside the communal building of Blue Sky Center, you’ll find all of the amenities of a small hotel including showers, kitchen, and lounge, as well as many indoor hotel rooms, and a commercial kitchen for large parties and for artists on residence.
The grounds also host this stunning little bungalow for guests of the huts to utilize.
Being late December, the space was quite sleepy, and the air was chill. Luckily there was ample firewood for the outdoor spaces, and heaters in the huts to keep us warm through the night.
Sunset from the huts was spectacular.
Our next stop was Cuyama Buckhorn, a true gem of the region, and a proper boutique hotel experience, unlike any place else in the region.
Cuyama Buckhorn has a long history, originally constructed in the early 50’s, with many renditions of hotel / bar throughout the years - and this current iteration is a true stunner.
While the rooms at the buckhorn are cozy, welcoming, and offer expertly curated and thoughtful decor to match the region, I was drawn to the manicured landscaping of the hotel, and all of its outdoor attractions, like this large yard for playing corn hole, the outdoor pool table, the fire pits, and the large swimming pool.
The hotel tasked me with creating some imagery of their new Whiskey, Amaro, and Mezcal flights, so I got creative with my lack of available lighting, and produced some fun promotional shots for them to use.
Food and beverage at the Buckhorn are plentiful - and delicious. We indulged as much as one should on vacation - and this led me to a much needed hike. I drove a few miles up the road and brought along my Mamiya 645 to shoot some of the stunning landscapes I saw.
Thanks again to the folks at Blue Sky Center, and at Cuyama Buckhorn for hosting me, and providing the space to create these images, and a few memories. I had a wonderful time at both of these lovely habitations, and would recommend you check them out if you’re visiting the area, or looking for an excuse to get away.
Check them out here:
https://www.blueskycenter.org
https://cuyamabuckhorn.com