Photos by Sarah Malone
Hidden in the Santa Monica hills sits the Calamigos Ranch, one of Malibu’s most prominent wedding venues, home to the Biggest Loser Resort and — as of Jan. 2 — new off-campus housing for sophomores.
About 11.5 miles from campus, the 130 acres of land features various recreational activities from horseback riding to hiking in the Santa Monica hills to free paddle boating on the lake to a high ropes course.
“[Housing and Residence Life] was looking for some place that would be a good fit for students,” Associate Dean of Students Brian Dawson said. “We looked for a number of apartment complexes in the area, and at Calamigos Ranch we felt it had all the right amenities we were looking for.”
Though sophomores are required to live on campus, Dawson said HRL had to find additional housing due to the increase in the number of enrolled students.
“We currently have 34 students out at Calamigos, though we hope to have around 50 next semester,” Dawson said.
Calamigos Ranch was chosen to resemble an international experience for sophomores who could not study abroad, according to Dawson. Along with various trails, fields and places to explore, Calamigos features bigger bedrooms, larger beds and fewer residents per bathroom than traditional on-campus sophomore housing — all for the same price.
“There are both two per room and a handful of singles out here,” Dawson said. “The best way to describe it is like individual cabins or houses. Many of them have their own kitchen, some have a hangout or living area as a part of them and lots of open spaces.”
Along with their own kitchens, students can use their meal points or Waves Cash (money loaded onto student IDs) at the Malibu Cafe on the property, though sophomore Annie Mitoma, who lives on the ranch, said the food is more expensive than on-campus dining.
After studying in Lausanne in the fall, Mitoma said she returned to Malibu to avoid getting behind as a math major.
“Last semester my roommate from freshman year told me about the ranch,” Mitoma said. “It’s really fun being out here. I love being outdoors, so I’m particularly very fond of the ranch. I like to run out on the trails.”
Mitoma said Calamigos offers sophomores a good transition from living in the dorms to moving off campus.
“I can see how people relate it to an abroad experience,” Mitoma said. “I like how we are in the mountains because you get to see a different side of Malibu. It is quieter, but on the flip side it can get a little deserted and isolated at times.”
Especially since she is involved in activities on campus, Mitoma said the commute to and from the ranch (which she said takes 15 to 20 minutes) is often inconvenient even though she has a car.
“I’m really busy and involved on campus, so I love being removed from the school, but the commute is probably the most difficult part living out here,” Mitoma said. “It’s a little difficult scheduling rides and getting back to the ranch when it’s late, though they’ve set up a pretty good carpool system over here.”
Dawson, who moved with his family to Calamigos Ranch in January, serves as the “host family” out on the property.
“Each one of the IP programs has a faculty or staff that lives with the students, so I moved my family out here,” Dawson said. “We regularly have students at our house over for dinner and whatnot. There are a lot of sophomores who don’t have the chance [to study abroad], especially when they are athletes or theater majors. Calamigos Ranch gives students the opportunity to live in a small community and get a chance for the abroad experience as well.”
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Follow Julia Naman on Twitter: @Julia_Naman
