Did You Know?
That started here?
Hidden Valley Ranch, Motel 6, Kinko's and the Egg McMuffin all got their start on the South Coast. Here are 65 things most people don't know about Santa Barbara: what began here, who was born or grew up here, and the odd bits in between.
Random fact
Started here
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Motel 6 started with six-dollar rooms
The first Motel 6 opened in Santa Barbara in 1962. A room cost $6 a night.
Source: G6 Hospitality
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Kinko's began in Isla Vista
Kinko's started in Isla Vista in 1970 as a small shop offering inexpensive copies, school supplies, and film processing.
Source: UC Santa Barbara
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The Egg McMuffin was invented here
Herb Peterson, who ran McDonald's restaurants on the South Coast, invented the Egg McMuffin in the early 1970s.
The argument: Plaques at the Milpas Street, upper State Street and Fairview restaurants each claim the first one, and the inventor's family points to Fairview in Goleta.
Source: SantaBarbara.com · en.wikipedia.org
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Sonos started in Santa Barbara
Sonos began in Santa Barbara in 2002. Four engineers wanted to make it easier to play music throughout a home.
Source: Sonos
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The Habit started in Goleta
The first Habit burger restaurant opened in Goleta in 1969. Its original name was the Hamburger Habit.
Source: SFGATE · habitburger.com
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GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting have local roots
Expertcity began in Santa Barbara as a way to connect computer users with technical help. Its technology became the foundation for GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting.
Source: The Santa Barbara Independent · wired.com
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Sambo's started on Cabrillo Boulevard
The Sambo's chain began on Santa Barbara's Cabrillo Boulevard in 1957 and grew to more than 1,000 restaurants. The name drew years of criticism as a racist caricature, and the original restaurant was renamed Chad's in 2020.
Source: KEYT News Channel 3-12 · independent.com
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Deckers started with a flip-flop
Deckers began in Santa Barbara in 1973 with a striped flip-flop. It later grew into a footwear company with several brands.
Source: Deckers Brands
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America's first offshore oil field, drilled from piers
In 1896, oil prospectors extended a pier into the Pacific at Summerland to drill beneath the seabed. The field became the nation's first offshore oil field developed using wells drilled from piers.
The argument: Keep the qualification about offshore wells drilled from piers. Earlier over-water wells existed on Ohio lakes, and accounts distinguish construction in 1896 from production in 1897.
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Santa Barbara helped inspire Earth Day
The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill helped inspire the first national Earth Day in 1970.
Source: Community Environmental Council · earthday.org
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Google's Sycamore quantum processor was built here
Google's Sycamore quantum processor was built in Goleta under UCSB physicist John Martinis's leadership. In 2019, the team used it to announce a major quantum-computing milestone, though its comparison with conventional computers was challenged.
The argument: IBM disputed Google's claim of quantum supremacy and its estimated classical-computer runtime; describe the announced milestone, not an uncontested first quantum computer or universal computing advantage.
Source: UC Santa Barbara College of Engineering, Convergence · ibm.com
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Hollywood animation software grew from Wavefront
Wavefront Technologies was founded in Santa Barbara in 1984 to make computer-animation software. It later merged with Toronto's Alias Research, forming the company that released Maya.
Source: Digital Journal · cs.cmu.edu
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America's first architectural review board began here
After the 1925 earthquake, Santa Barbara created what a federal historical study identifies as America's first Architectural Board of Review. That first board lasted nine months and helped guide the city's rebuilding.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Santa Barbara County: Two Paths · santabarbaraca.gov
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The first native-plant botanic garden in the U.S.
Founded in 1926, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was the first botanic garden in the United States devoted exclusively to native plants.
Source: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
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Channel Islands Surfboards started here
Channel Islands Surfboards began in 1969, with its early factory by the beach in Santa Barbara.
Source: Channel Islands Surfboards
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Mr. Zog's Sex Wax came from Goleta
Mr. Zog's Sex Wax, the surfboard wax with the memorable name, was invented in Goleta in the early 1970s.
Source: Visit Santa Barbara
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Powell-Peralta started on the Eastside
The company behind Powell-Peralta traces its Santa Barbara start to November 1976. Powell Corporation began on the Eastside, producing skateboards and Bones wheels.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent
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Big Dogs opened its first store here
Big Dogs opened its first clothing store on Santa Barbara's State Street in October 1984. The brand later spread across the country with its dog-logo clothing and slogan shirts.
Source: The Santa Barbara Independent · referenceforbusiness.com
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Toad the Wet Sprocket formed here
Toad the Wet Sprocket formed in Santa Barbara in 1986. The band went on to release the platinum albums Fear and Dulcinea.
Source: Music Connection · toadthewetsprocket.com
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Direct Relief has Montecito roots
Direct Relief was established in 1948. The international medical-aid organization traces its early relief shipments to a home in Montecito.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent
Born here
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Katy Perry was born here
Pop singer Katy Perry was born in Santa Barbara in 1984.
Source: Biography.com · time.com
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A princess was born at Cottage Hospital
Princess Lilibet, the daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan, was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 2021.
Source: ABC News Australia · sussex.com
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Top Gun's Goose was born here
Anthony Edwards, who played Goose in Top Gun and Dr. Mark Greene on ER, was born in Santa Barbara in 1962.
Source: TV Insider
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Randall Cunningham was born here
Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham was born in Santa Barbara in 1963.
Source: Philadelphia Eagles
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UFC legend Chuck Liddell was born here
Former UFC champion Chuck Liddell was born in Santa Barbara in 1969.
Source: Fandango
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UFC's California Kid was born in Isla Vista
Urijah Faber, the mixed martial artist known as the California Kid, was born in Isla Vista in 1979. He held the WEC featherweight title and entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.
Source: Sactown Magazine · ufc.com
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Mets pitcher Jesse Orosco was born here
Mets pitcher Jesse Orosco was born in Santa Barbara.
Source: MLB
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Little House's Mr. Edwards was born here
Victor French, who played Mr. Edwards on Little House on the Prairie and Mark Gordon on Highway to Heaven, was born in Santa Barbara in 1934.
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A Foo Fighter was born at Cottage
Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett was born at Santa Barbara's Cottage Hospital in 1971.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent · en.wikipedia.org
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Toad the Wet Sprocket's singer was born here
Toad the Wet Sprocket singer Glen Phillips was born in Santa Barbara in 1970.
Source: The Bluegrass Situation · en.wikipedia.org
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The director of Ray was born here
Taylor Hackford, director of Ray and An Officer and a Gentleman, was born in Santa Barbara in 1944.
Source: TV Insider · en.wikipedia.org
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The star of Longlegs was born here
Actor Maika Monroe, known for It Follows and Longlegs, was born in Santa Barbara in 1993.
Source: TIME · tvinsider.com
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Monique Limón was born here
Monique Limón, the first Latina to lead the California State Senate as President pro Tempore, was born in Santa Barbara in 1979.
Source: U.S. House of Representatives
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The Last Picture Show's star was born here
Timothy Bottoms, star of The Last Picture Show and The Paper Chase, was born in Santa Barbara.
Source: TV Insider · en.wikipedia.org
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Overhaulin's Chip Foose was born here
Car designer and Overhaulin' television star Chip Foose was born in Santa Barbara in 1963.
Source: Foose Design · en.wikipedia.org
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The voice of Obi-Wan was born here
James Arnold Taylor, who voices Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars animation, was born in Santa Barbara in 1969.
Source: Wikipedia · voiceactors.wordpress.com
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Apocalypse Now's surfer was born here
Apocalypse Now actor Sam Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara.
Source: Wikipedia
Grew up here
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Gigi Hadid grew up in Santa Barbara
Fashion model Gigi Hadid grew up in Santa Barbara, where horseback riding was an early passion. She was born in Los Angeles and later attended high school in Malibu.
Source: [Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/celebrities/gigi-hadid) · vogue.com
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Bella Hadid grew up in Santa Barbara
Fashion model Bella Hadid was raised in Santa Barbara with her siblings, including Gigi. She was born in Washington, D.C.
Source: [Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/bella-hadid-cover-april-2022) · biography.com
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Josh Brolin grew up in Montecito
Oscar-nominated actor Josh Brolin spent part of his childhood in Santa Barbara and Montecito, living here from 1979 to 1984. He was born in Santa Monica.
Source: [Noozhawk](https://www.noozhawk.com/actor-josh-brolin-shares-stories-of-a-messy-life-and-coming-out-the-other-side/) · freshairarchive.org
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David Crosby grew up in Santa Barbara
David Crosby, a founding member of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, grew up in Santa Barbara. He was born in Los Angeles in 1941.
Source: Noozhawk · en.wikipedia.org
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Kathy Ireland grew up here
Model and business founder Kathy Ireland grew up in Santa Barbara from age three.
Source: Visit California · en.wikipedia.org
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Charles Schwab captained the Dons golf team
Brokerage founder Charles Schwab moved to Santa Barbara at 12 and captained the Santa Barbara High golf team.
Source: Wikipedia
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Eric Stoltz was a San Marcos student
Mask actor Eric Stoltz was born in Whittier and moved to Santa Barbara when he was eight. He later attended San Marcos High School.
Source: [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-04-ca-34630-story.html) · independent.com
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Martha Graham went to Santa Barbara High
Modern-dance pioneer Martha Graham moved to Santa Barbara at 14 and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1913. She was born near Pittsburgh.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent · kennedy-center.org
Only in Santa Barbara
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A Japanese submarine shelled Ellwood
On February 23, 1942, Japanese submarine I-17 shelled the Ellwood oil field near Goleta. It was the first Axis attack on the continental United States during World War II.
Source: [Goleta Valley Historical Society, published by Noozhawk](https://www.noozhawk.com/022112_goleta_valley_historical_society_opens_avenge_ellwood_exhibition/) · kclu.org
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Goleta helped put wheels on the Moon
Engineers at Goleta's Delco laboratory helped develop Apollo's lunar rover, including its wire-mesh wheels. Apollo 15 astronauts drove one on the Moon in 1971.
Source: [Science Museum Group](https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8407954/lunar-rover-tyre-tread) · independent.com
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UCSB joined the internet's four-computer ancestor
UCSB was the third site connected to ARPANET in 1969. It was one of the original four sites on the network that helped lead to the internet.
Source: Computer History Museum · ucsb.edu
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Reagan signed his tax cut near Goleta
Ronald Reagan signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act at Rancho del Cielo, in the mountains northwest of Goleta, on August 13, 1981. His ranch was a setting for presidential business as well as vacations.
Source: [Ronald Reagan Presidential Library](https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/audiovisual/white-house-photo-collection-galleries/ranch) · history.com
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Flying boats were built on State Street
The brothers behind Lockheed built their F-1 flying boat on State Street in 1917 and 1918. It launched from West Beach for its first flight in March 1918.
Source: [Santa Barbara Maritime Museum](https://sbmm.org/curators-log/) · independent.com
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Nearly a thousand silent films made here
Flying A made nearly a thousand silent films in Santa Barbara, starting in 1912. The city was a real movie-making center in the silent era.
Source: [Santa Barbara Historical Museum](https://www.sbhistorical.org/the-flying-a-silent-film-in-santa-barbara/) · library.ucsb.edu
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Summerland began as a Spiritualist community
Summerland began in the late 1880s as a community for followers of Spiritualism.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent
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City limits take an ocean detour
Santa Barbara connected its airport to the city through a narrow corridor extending into the ocean and back along the coast.
Source: Santa Barbara Independent
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Isla Vista has New York-level density
Isla Vista's 2024 community mobility plan puts its population density at about 28,000 people per square mile. That's comparable to New York City's average across all five boroughs.
Source: [Isla Vista Community Services District](https://islavistacsd.ca.gov/files/69a958be0/20241115_Isla%2BVista%2BCommunity%2BPlan.pdf) · census.gov
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Chad the whale combines four specimens
Chad, the blue whale skeleton at the Museum of Natural History, combines parts representing four whales. The display is 98 percent real bone.
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Jewels helped pay for Lotusland's cycads
Lotusland creator Ganna Walska auctioned her jewelry and put the money into the garden. It helped pay for its rare cycads.
Source: [Ganna Walska Lotusland](https://www.lotusland.org/about/lotusland-timeline/) · kqed.org
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Alice Keck Park was a person
Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is named for Alice Keck Park, who gave the land to the city. Park was her last name.
Source: Santa Barbara Historical Museum
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A synagogue inspired a courthouse ceiling
A ceiling above the courthouse stairwell was inspired by a 14th-century synagogue in Toledo, Spain.
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UCSB's campus used to be a base
UCSB moved to its present coastal campus in 1954. The site had previously served as a World War II Marine air station.
Source: UC Santa Barbara
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The Lobero once became a roller rink
The original Lobero Theatre building, an opera house from 1873, had a turn as a roller rink in the 1880s.
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An Ojai jail moved to Cold Spring
Cold Spring Tavern on San Marcos Pass has a small jail brought from Ojai. Audrey Ovington received it as a gift in 1959.
Source: Cold Spring Tavern
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Shark skin helped finish Chumash canoes
Chumash boatbuilders smoothed their wooden tomols with sandstone, then finished the sanding with shark skin. The canoes' planks were tied together with plant-fiber cord and sealed with a mixture of pine pitch and asphalt.
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A lighthouse lens fills two stories
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum displays an 18-foot-tall lighthouse lens weighing nearly 6,000 pounds. It once served the Point Conception Lighthouse.
Source: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
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A Mission reservoir served until 1993
A reservoir built for the Mission remained part of Santa Barbara's water-storage system until 1993.
Source: City of Santa Barbara
Each fact is in our own words and was checked against the linked source on November 1, 2026. Where the sources disagree, we say so. "Born here" means the source gives a South Coast town as the birthplace; owning a house in Montecito doesn't count. Know one we missed, or a better source? Tell us
Your turn
Know one more?
Something that started here, or someone who grew up here. Say where you heard it.
Free, every Thursday
One more every Thursday.
The Thursday email has a new one of these every week, after the weekend picks and the beach report.