SLO LIFE Magazine AugSep 2021

| GETAWAY
Desert Oasis
It’s a funny looking name, with a funnier pronunciation: kwee-yahma. But there is
something about it, a palpable buzz reverberating throughout the sprawling high
desert called the Cuyama Valley. And standing watch over this place not far off the
beaten path, a place the locals call The Hidden Valley of Enchantment, is the most
enchanting place of all: the Cuyama Buckhorn. Back in 1952 when the area was best
known—if it was known at all—as a booming little oil town, the property served as
a community hub of sorts. Over the years, the wells went dry and the oilmen left,
which put a dent in the local economy. The once proud highway lodge decayed as
the population receded. Then, something happened. Husband and wife team, Jeff
Vance and Ferial Sadeghian, of Los Angeles, saw something behind the boardedup
windows. It was so faint that everyone else had missed it—a heartbeat. The
couple swallowed hard before signing on the dotted line and went on to spend years
restoring the little lodge to its former glory. Now ready for its coming out party, we
were treated to an unforgettable night at the Cuyama Buckhorn.
And, the rooms—a little bit cowboy, a little bit hipster,
and whole lot just right! Adorned with custom furniture
and a generous variety of everything you need. Hey,
wait, is that complimentary Verve Coffee? Well, hello,
and good morning!
80 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | AUG/SEP 2021