Entry No. 34 — the Santa Barbara file — filed under: cemetery
Santa Barbara Cemetery
Established in 1867 on a bluff above the Pacific, this nonsectarian cemetery quietly holds Old Hollywood: Ronald Colman, Fess Parker (TV's Davy Crockett), Alan Thicke, and director Ivan Reitman rest within earshot of the surf that thousands of beachgoers walk past on Channel Drive without ever clocking the graves above them.
The story
Thousands of beachgoers stroll along Channel Drive near the Biltmore every afternoon without ever looking up at the high cliff directly above them. Established in 1867 as a nonsectarian burial ground, Santa Barbara Cemetery occupies what might be the most valuable piece of oceanfront bluff on the coast. While developers carved up the rest of Montecito, this cliffside patch remained reserved strictly for the dead, who have held the best sunset seat over the Pacific for over a century and a half.
As local historian David Petry documented in his history of the grounds, the cemetery acts as a quiet catalog of the city's architectural and cultural past. Walk the grass and you'll run into the grave markers of George Washington Smith and Peter J. Barber—the master architects who gave Santa Barbara its signature Spanish Colonial look—resting along the same coastal shelf as Old Hollywood heavyweights and television stars. Ronald Colman, Fess Parker (TV's Davy Crockett), Alan Thicke, and director Ivan Reitman all ended up resting here within earshot of the crashing surf.
What it's like
Turn onto 901 Channel Drive and wind up the driveway to park along the interior paved roads. The vibe is quiet, breezy, and far more like an elevated coastal park than a solemn churchyard. Golden hour is the time to go: as the sun drops, warm light hits the west-facing headstones, and you can walk the perimeter lawn directly above Butterfly Beach. Stick to the paved paths, keep your voice down, and check the gate hours before driving up, as the access gates close before nightfall.
The move: Walk the cliffside rows at golden hour hunting for the marked graves of stars and the architects who shaped the city (George Washington Smith, Peter J. Barber), then watch the sunset from the same bluff the dead have had the best seat for since 1867.
- 📍 Channel Drive, near the Biltmore
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 901 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Ganna Walska Lotusland — Follow a quiet cliffside walk among historical gravestones with a visit to Madame Walska's eccentric, botanically obsessed Montecito estate less than two miles away.
- Test Pilot — After hunting for Old Hollywood graves on the ocean bluff, head two miles into the Funk Zone for craft cocktails served in carved tiki mugs.
- Old Mission Santa Barbara Cemetery & Mausoleum — Compare this 1867 coastal nonsectarian cemetery with the historic walled mausoleum and Chumash burial ground at the Old Mission across town.
Good to know
Where is Santa Barbara Cemetery located?
The cemetery sits at 901 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara, positioned on a bluff directly overlooking the ocean near Montecito and the Biltmore.
Who are some notable figures buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery?
Notable graves include actors Ronald Colman, Fess Parker, and Alan Thicke, filmmaker Ivan Reitman, and influential Santa Barbara architects George Washington Smith and Peter J. Barber.
Is the cemetery open for visitors to walk around?
Yes, it is an active nonsectarian cemetery open to quiet public visitors. Respect ongoing services, stay on designated paths, and confirm gate hours before visiting.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia · independent.com · findagrave.com
last checked: 2026-07-20