Refugio State Beach Re-Opens

Refugio State Beach reopened Friday after thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled into the ocean and the coastline.

A line formed at the entrance of the park starting as early as 8 a.m. to camp, paddle board, surf, swim, check out just how clean the ocean was.

This coming after a Plains All American pipeline ruptured spilling over 100,00 gallons of oil nearly two months ago.

“It looks terrific it’s incredibly clean. We were trying to find any kind of oil and we couldn’t see any I was really surprised,” said Santa Barbara native Bob Kennedy.

The oil is 98 percent contained and completely safe to take a dip.

“There are still sections of our park there are a couple of pocket beaches down coast and some up coast that are still being cleaned and those are closed to the public so we ask the visitors while we are happy to have you back please stay out of those closed areas, ” said Eric Hjelstrom, State Parks Superintendent.

The park also received a make-over. Plain All American Pipeline paid the tab for new black top in the parking lot as well as repainted bathrooms.