By Editor,James Cirrone

Copyright dailymail

An iconic California coast beauty spot is on its last legs as businesses have been left struggling due to an ongoing road closure.

The Regent’s Slide in February 2024 sent rocks crashing onto Highway 1, which has forced authorities to close a roughly 6.8 mile stretch while its repaired.

San Simeon, a town of about 300 people, is about 40 miles south of the road – and business owners say they’ve been struggling ever since it was cut off.

They rely on tourist traffic from those driving up and down the Big Sur Coast, which is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful routes in the United States, if not the world.

Highway 1 hasn’t been entirely open since January 2023, when a different rockslide closed a separate two-mile section for over a year.

So, many who want to do a complete drive through the seaside cliffs up to Carmel or make a stop at the magnificent Hearst Castle in San Simeon, have been postponing their trips until the road reopens fully.

Albert Barreto, owner of the Coast Riders Inn, described the closure as ‘the kiss of death for us’.

Barreto, who took over the hotel in 2020, told SFGate that he has gone through every options to try to attract visitors and that he has exhausted all avenues of relief from the Small Business Administration.

A ‘spark of hope’, according to Barreto, came this week when Caltrans announced that it plans to reopen the Regent’s Slide area closure to ‘traffic by the end of March 2026’.

However, Barreto and other business owners aren’t holding their breath, as the state transportation agency didn’t confirm that next March would definitively be the time of reopening.

‘The projected date is an estimate based on repair progress but could be influenced by additional slide activity that has posed significant safety concerns,’ Caltrans said in a statement.

‘Seasonal weather effects on site conditions may also impact the estimated reopening timeline. Caltrans will continue to provide regular updates.’

Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski told SFGATE that weather is hard to predict, especially in the upcoming winter months.

‘The caveats of weather and additional slides are supportive of us prioritizing worker safety on the job site,’ Drabinski added. ‘If we take care of our crews and create conditions where they can work safely, the road gets open as soon as possible.’

Areas business owners have been told to expect weekly updates on the progress of repairs.

‘It’s a spark of hope, but it’s also six months later than we were expecting,’ he said. ‘I was hoping they’d tell us a couple weeks, maybe a month.’

Diane Ramey, whose husband owns the Ragged Point Inn just north of San Simeon, said they are struggling too.

‘As a small, family-owned business, though, it’s been challenging to provide excellent service while bringing in less money,’ she told SFGate. ‘We feel so fortunate that loyal customers and newcomers have pulled us through and we’re still in business.’

Despite this, Ramey has been able to find positives in the wake of the yearslong road closure.

‘Locals and visitors from the south have actually enjoyed the closure,’ she said. ‘It’s quieter, the hiking trails and beaches are less crowded, cycling the highway is safer and more fun, and many businesses have reduced their prices.’

Drabinski pointed out that most of the coastal highway remains open and encouraged Californians and tourists alike to explore the area.

‘We talk about a closure when in fact 109 miles is open between Cambria and Carmel,’ he said. ‘It’s the worst-kept secret that the next few months are prime. The weather is favorable, schools are back in session, and it’s less crowded. It really is a delightful time to go exploring the wonders of the Big Sur Coast.’

Barreto agreed with this sentiment, telling would-be visitors to stop by for the beautiful weather and sights.

‘We’re dying, but that doesn’t mean everything in San Simeon is dead,’ he said. ‘It’s beautiful. The weather’s great.