View from Vista Area looking toward Santa Cruz.
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In 2015, Vista Area became off-limits to the public. It was re-opened by 2016. |
Community
Santa Cruz County.
On southbound Highway 1 between Aptos and Watsonville. The freeway exit is marked by a blue sign that says "VISTA AREA." The area is south of exit 431.
History
During the decade of the 1960's there was an effort to build stops along some freeways to give drivers a chance to stop, rest, stretch, and take in the view. Formerly called "Vista Point", the Vista Area is the only example in Santa Cruz County. It is maintained by the state. (Which partly explains why the display at the Vista Area, in Santa Cruz County, advertises an attraction in Monterey County.)
Why the name was change from Vista Point to Vista Area is unclear. One possible reason is to avoid confusion with other places called Vista Point outside the county on Highway 1. (There are also a few areas of that name on hiking trails in Santa Cruz County.)
Entrance to Vista Area. 
This sign still shows the former name, Vista Point. Photo: April 2011.
As well as being a rest stop, some people have used such areas for meetings, (illegal) camping, and solicitation. A popular scam is to ask for funds to preserve the rest area. Many believe this to be a dangerous area at night.
An article in the October 24, 2011 issue of the Santa Cruz Sentinel mentions how a person tried to use Vista Area as an escape route. "A wanted parolee from Hollister fled from officers at speeds near 120 mph on Highway 1 early today before rolling a vehicle down an embankment at the Vista Point rest stop, the California Highway Patrol reported."
November 29, 2011 (Santa Cruz Sentinel) "The California Highway Patrol recovered a stolen Lexus Tuesday and arrested a 33-year-old Hollister man at Vista Point off Highway 1..."
On April 19, 2010, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported, "An armed robber held up one man at gunpoint, then hit a second man with the butt of a handgun at a Highway 1 overlook on Friday night, the Sheriff's Office reported.
The robbery and beating happened around 10:25 p.m. at Vista Point, a rest area between Aptos and Watsonville on the southbound side of the highway."
Phones
No coin slot! Credit card or collect calls only. Phone reception is good at Vista Area with all carriers. There is a pay phone there that does not accept coins. You use a credit card or make a collect call. The charge for using that phone — even for a local call — is expensive. (Several dollars a minute.) A safe practice is to inquire about the charges with the operator whenever you make a collect call at a payphone.
There is also an emergency callbox to report road hazards, crimes, accidents, or medical emergencies.
As a practical matter, if you are there because of car failure, it is best to call a tow service located in Watsonville to take you to Watsonville. The area is closer to Watsonville than to any tow service in Santa Cruz. To get to the area from Watsonville, a truck would drive North on Highway 1, exit at Freeway exit 431 and go south on Highway 1 to reach Vista Area. (The service may know it as Vista Point.)
Transportation
Area is reachable only by car from Highway 1, and only going southbound. No buses stop there. There are no trails to the area for walking or bicycling.
