Tourists swarm Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's luxury neighbourhood, infuriating residents
Some homeowners have resorted to placing boulders and bushes along the roadside to block parking
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ultra-exclusive Montecito haven is being overrun, not by paparazzi, but by tourists.
According to reports from The Montecito Journal, locals in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s California neighbourhood are fuming over the surge of tourists flooding the scenic hot springs trail.
“It’s gotten ridiculous,” said Laura Capps, chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
“The last time I tried to hike the hot springs trail, I had to park so far away that it would have been a hike to get to the hike!”
Some homeowners have resorted to placing boulders and bushes along the roadside to block parking, only for authorities to remove them. And last May, a group of residents allegedly tried to hire a demolition crew to destroy the hot springs entirely.
Amid the chaos, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has voted to restrict parking on days when wildfire or flood alerts are issued.
Officials say overcrowded roads pose a dangerous risk during emergencies — not to mention the fire hazards increased by human activity on high-alert days.
Montecito Fire Chief David Neels said his team is fully behind the move: “This is something we’re very supportive of. We’re working closely with our partners at all levels to make real changes.”
To fund the new restrictions, the county has allocated £19,000 to cover police overtime and enforcement on roughly 20 high-alert days this year. The initiative will begin as a pilot program, with plans to expand if it proves successful.
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