The Bowling Alley scene from the movie Sideways was filmed in Lompoc. Haven't seen it? No better place to than in Lompoc itself!
Lompoc, California is a charming community nestled along the famous coast road Highway 1 and next to Vandenberg Air Force Base
The Bowling Alley scene from the movie Sideways was filmed in Lompoc. Haven't seen it? No better place to than in Lompoc itself!
Lompoc, California is a charming community nestled along the famous coast road Highway 1 and next to Vandenberg Air Force Base. It's in Santa Barbara County, about equidistant from Santa Maria and Santa Barbara in the coastal hills that typify the region. The city takes its name from the Chumash Indian words meaning "stagnant water." Another translation is lagoon, and that sounds much better, so let's go with that one. A sign on the way into town terms it a "City of Arts and Flowers," formerly the premier flower seed growing region in the world, the area is seeing a resurgence and may regain that title soon. That makes for a very colorful agricultural countryside in bloom season! It was originally meant to be a temperance colony, but fear not, drink aficionados, those days are long past. With Vandenberg AFB close, military personnel naturally make up a good portion of the local workforce and contribute heavily to the local economy. In addition, the Federal Corrections Institution is a major employer. It's a minimum security "Club Fed" facility, mostly filled with people who are probably quite happy to not be somewhere more notorious. The city grew rapidly starting in the late 50s when it was announced that the base would be a test site for intercontinental missiles and the population "exploded." Since then, Vandenberg and the city have been inexorably linked. The area also saw boom times when shuttle missions were taking off from the base but experienced a recession after that program ended.
Around 43,000 people call Lompoc home, with more living outside the city limits in the agricultural areas. Renters make up about 48 percent of the households in Lompoc and turnover is slightly higher than average. The vacancy rate for homes is small at 2% and a little higher for rentals at 7%. That's high enough to give potential apartment renters some options but low enough that they shouldn't dally too long. Giving yourself the most time you can is the best option. Once you know you are moving to Lompoc, begin looking, even if it's not for a few months. Starting your apartment search right away gives you time to get a feel for where you want to be, as well as to research all the fun things you will be doing. On the good news side, rents are lower here than in many coastal California locales. It's a smaller city but there are still defined areas. Here's a look at some of the neighborhoods in Lompoc to help you in your rental search.
Westvale - Westside: The part of the community around Westvale Park and north to Ocean Boulevard near the Westside Shopping Center is mostly single-family homes with some duplexes and small apartment complexes with available rentals. It is bordered on the south by wide open hilly spaces going down toward the ocean.
Mission Hills - Mesa Oaks: This is the northeast part of town and moving on out to the farmland and brush hills. The closer sections offer some apartments to rent, but further out the options are less. The Mission Hills shopping center and La Purisima Mission State Historic Park are here. It's a good area to find a 3 bedroom house to rent.
Woodstone: Centered around a very large apartment complex is this area. There is also an established manufactured home park.
Vandenberg Village: This area on the north side of old Lompoc is where most of the latest development has taken place. It has more of the feel of a planned community and has large apartment complexes and a big retirement center. It starts where Highway 1 intersects Purisima Road and goes north until reaching the hills east of the base. The Village Country Club is in the northern section and features a nice course with homes and condos around it.
Bailey - West Ocean: Starting west of Woodstone and going to Floradale Ave is this neighborhood that includes Briar Creek Park. There are quiet residential streets and some green space and the community fades into open farmland as you go west.
It's a cross between rural farm town, military facility, and beach side community. With the different influences, Lompoc can't be categorized into one simple description. It can be the California Dream or Main Street, USA. There aren't that many jobs not associated with the military, the prison, or the government that pay well. That said, it's an outstanding place to be if you have a good job, and a decent place if you don't. The cost of living is lower than the averages seen in most coastal California towns.
As far as recreation, there are boundless opportunities to enjoy an active lifestyle. Jalama Beach County Park is a favorite not just for locals, but for people in the know who want to experience great beaches and camping. There are some very nice low sand dunes and a great stretch of beach. Of course, exploring more up and down the coast is always a great thing to do. The local hills have hiking and mountain bike and equestrian trails. The climate is Mediterranean with a strong Pacific influence, meaning there are marine layer clouds and fog at times. Usually, that gives way to a nice sunny afternoon. There are several art galleries in town, the Lompoc Museum traces local history. There is a growing wine industry with tasting venues in town and of course, fresh produce is easy to find. Taking a day trip south to Los Angeles is an easy thing to do whenever you get a hankering to head to the big city for a concert or big sporting event. Lompoc is a nice compromise between city and rural life - and it's close to the beach!
