Montecito Hot Springs, once a cherished local site, has become a contentious tourist destination due to social media exposure. Recent incidents illustrate rising frustrations, including neighbors blocking access to the trailhead and a confrontation over pool maintenance. The arrival of a charter bus delivering visitors has heightened community concerns about the capacity and preparedness of the springs. Local leaders emphasize inadequate facilities for large groups, raising serious questions about the sustainability of such tourism in the fragile environment surrounding Montecito Hot Springs.
"The problem of it is that the springs are not ready for prime time. There's no pit-vault toilet at the trailhead, there's no waste management at the springs itself."
"This has sparked widespread concern and disappointment within the community."
"Neighbors were fined in March for placing boulders and other obstructions along the roads to Hot Springs Canyon Trailhead, where visitors often parked when the limited parking spaces at the trailhead filled up."
"The springs have been a point of contention in Montecito for the past several years, after videos posted to social media turned the pools from a beloved local hangout to an Instagrammable hiking destination."
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