Entry No. 40 — the Santa Barbara file — filed under: ruins

Asphaltum Mine

Established in the late 1890s by the Alcatraz Asphalt Company, the Asphaltum Mine was a major source of natural bitumen located on the historic Rancho Sisquoc. The company constructed a state-of-the-art liquification plant here, transporting liquefied asphalt through a groundbreaking 30-mile pipeline to a refinery on the Gaviota Coast. Today, the mine is completely abandoned, with no active operations, though it remains a historical geographic landmark on private ranch land.

The move: Take a scenic drive along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail to visit the nearby Rancho Sisquoc Winery, where you can enjoy estate-grown wines and take in views of the rolling hills that once housed the historic 19th-century mining operations.

📍 Before you go The historic mine site is located deep within the private property of Rancho Sisquoc, a working cattle ranch and vineyard, and is not open to the public.

• 📍 Asphaltum Mine
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Asphaltum Mine, California 93454, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: edhat.com · goletahistory.com · anyplaceamerica.com · songsofthewilderness.com · independent.com

last checked: 2026-07-20