Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
Goleta’s Dos Pueblos Ranch is the location of the newest season of “Love Island: USA,” a dating style reality television show.
The show follows a large group of attractive young singles, cut off from the world living in a remote “villa” and surveilled 24/7. Through various games and challenges, contestants must “partner up” for the chance to win the ultimate prize, $100,000.
The Dos Pueblos Ranch’s Casa Grande building has been transformed into a television studio’s idea of a “villa” with artificial grass, neon lights, and an 80 foot catwalk over a sprawling pool. According to the show’s press release, the villa “sits on one of the most beautiful and historically significant sights in California. Tucked between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, it has incredible panoramic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean featuring its own private and pristine beach. It is a private gated 214-acre oceanfront property.”
The ranch was sold by the Schulte family late last year for an undisclosed amount, although previous listings valued the estate at $40 million. Roger Himovitz, a local developer known for the “glamping” luxurty of the El Capitan Canyon campground, has been the new owner since the start of 2022.
The Independent first broke the story of the show’s location and concern from neighbors and the Gaviota Coast Conservancy over disrupting wildlife due to nonstop fliming and bright lights on the ranch and at the beach below.
The season aired on July 19 with one new episode releasing each day on Peacock for a total of 27 episodes, ending on August 28. The episodes are only filmed about a day in advance, so viewers can vote and interact with the contestants in almost real time. Which means, the show will continue to air through the end of the month.
Below is a video of the Dos Pueblos Ranch “villa.” Take a view and see if you recognize any local landmarks:
Well this is a bummer. We really are turning into mini LA aren’t we?
I can see how that fits into the new owners vision to preserve the land and create partnerships with the community based on sustainability, education and restoration efforts.
At least that’s what he said right after the purchase.
Who watches this crap?
It’s funny because some of y’all “locals” don’t seem to know your own history. People have been making content, a fair amount of it exploitive and risqué for over a hundred years in SB.
In fact I can pretty well guarantee you that hundred years ago there were a bunch of pearl clutching people in LA moaning about these damn Santa Barbarans coming to make their crappy movies in L.A. SB was “Hollywood” before Hollywood existed.
So calm down and let go of your pearls before your hand cramps up LOL
TMO, come on, there’s a lot of outrage about the show, I read the Indie article. I don’t know about the rest, but BFD on the show, it’s just another piece of crap show among a whole lot of crap shows. Don’t like it don’t watch it, you know, freedom of choice.
hmmm…..so what? it’s private property. it’s literally at the end of what we call our city/county boundaries in Santa Barbara/Goleta. It’s remote. I have friends that live out there (The Orchid skate park). I don’t see people crying about that. There is a massive skateboard park on private land. They have huge parties, bands, camping, whatever they feel like doing. Guess what? None of you (more than likely) didn’t even know this has been going on for about 7 years or so. So why does it matter if another guy on the same property makes it an RV park? How many of you actually go to DP ranch frequently enough to where this is a problem in your life?
Thank goodness that this TV series is being filmed waaaaaaaaaaaay out there is DP Canyon, which is approximately 15 miles from the SB city limits. My guess is that at some point they will film at places like the Bacara/Biltmore/San Ysidro Ranch/SYV wineries/etc. Our area is soaked with “LA” celebrities, especially Montecito. Unless one has no self-confidence, there’s no reason to go all xenophobic on those who have zero impact on the rest of us. Reminds me of many local surfers around the world when they claim “these are OUR waves”….and you just might get beat up over it if you ever snake one of these surfistas because they are totally serious idiotas. MY waves. MY trails. MY city. MY bar. If you to at least pretend that you are a local, then act like a local at leave those people that you are sooooo afraid of alone. Those “LA people” may be from Italy, Canada, Iowa, or wherever…..do not assume everyone you don’t recognize is from LA.