The ten-acre Field Station serving Sedgwick Reserve was once the La Laguna Ranch headquarters and the Sedgwick family home. In 1996, a campaign by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara was successful in purchasing a final 782 acre parcel that had been left by Duke Sedgwick to his heirs when he bequeathed the majority of what is now Sedgwick Reserve to UCSB.
Infrastructure improvements in the years since include a new headquarters building, new housing for Reserve staff, road improvements, distribution of drinking water, installation of a photovoltaic array that provides enough electricity to power the Field Station, and renovation of historic buildings including the hay barn and Duke Sedgwick’s art studio. The acreage surrounding the Field Station is permanently protected for conservation.
Sedgwick’s facilities are available for rent by educators, researchers, University of California departments and local non-profit organizations that fall within the constraints of our mission. Unfortunately, the Reserve cannot be used for commercial uses, weddings or fundraising events.
Facilities, equipment, trucks, and personnel must be booked using the Reserve Access Management System (RAMS). Check availability by logging into the RAMS Calendar and selecting Sedgwick Reserve.
Read about individual Sedgwick facilities below. Learn about what is included with overnight rentals by going here.
Active Research at Sedgwick Reserve
December 2024 “Adaptive Capacity of California Oaks”Kaili Brande / Brooke RoseSan Diego State University (CSU) / University of California, Santa Barbara “Assessing the Determinants of Collective Behavior of Veromessor HarvesterAnts at the UCSB Sedgwick Reserve”Sean O’FallonUniversity of CA, Los Angeles “Assessing the Effects of Climate on Tick Community Composition, InfectionPrevalence, and Human Risk of Tick-Borne […]
Bunkhouse
Bunkhouse is perfect for 2-6 researchers whose work requires overnight stays at Sedgwick.
Camping
Camp facilities serve as the Reserve’s primary housing for visiting students.
FAQs about the Lake Fire
The Lake Fire started on July 5th, 2024 near Zaca Lake. By July 6th, the fire had reached Figueroa Mountain Road at the north end of Sedgwick Reserve. Between July 6th and 15th, fire fighters conducted back burning operations that protected reserve buildings and nearby communities. Reserve is familiar terrain to Santa Barbara County fire, […]
Ranch House
The sprawling 4 bedroom ranch house serves as Sedgwick Reserve’s primary housing.
Santa Barbara TREX 2024
Sedgwick Reserve hosted an annual Santa Barbara Prescribed Burn Training Exchange (TREX) Sedgwick Reserve hosted a third annual Santa Barbara TREX, a prescribed burn training exchange November 9th – 18th, 2024. After eight months of preparation and planning, weather conditions were just right to burn on Friday November 15th. Santa Barbara County Fire and California […]
Studio
The Studio Apartment is able to house 2 people in a single bedroom with one twin and one full bed. It is an ideal space for long-term stays.
Studio Classroom
The Studio Classroom is an ideal spot for small meetings and classes. It can comfortably seat 25 people.
Tipton Meeting House
Tipton Meeting House the heart of the Sedgwick Reserve, serving as its headquarters and meeting space.
Vinyl Tent Cabins
Three vinyl tent cabins can accommodate 12 people, with 4 beds each.