Thanks to Vie and George Obern, trails are thriving throughout Goleta and Santa Barbara County, earning the lasting gratitude of hikers, bikers and equestrians.

The couple’s decades of devotion to the community’s trails are culminating now in numerous honors and acknowledgements of their contributions, especially Vie Obern’s.

On Jan. 20, the Obern Trail was officially dedicated, renaming in their honor the section of the Coastal Bike Route that runs through the Goleta Valley.

Vie and George live in Hope Ranch, in a handsome dwelling overlooking the Pacific that they’ve shared for 50 years. The living room is filled with prize ribbons from horse shows, banners from California’s de Anza historic trail, and mementos from their years of hiking, riding and working to preserve the coastal pathways.

"We’re still riding the tandem bike that we rode in 1975 to Goleta Beach," said Vie Obern. "People are always amazed at our antique," added her husband.

The Oberns are still riding horses, too. George goes to the stables every morning to feed the two mounts that they keep on their property, and muck out their stalls.

After returning from a weekend visit to Borrego Springs and a meeting of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Advisory Commission, the two described the current celebrations in their honor.

On Jan. 20, the Oberns were praised by the Board of Supervisors, which unanimously proclaimed the Goleta Valley portion of the Coastal Bike Route to be named the Obern Trail. Rep. Lois Capps introduced a resolution on the House floor this week, recognizing the renaming.

"We even had a resolution in the State Legislature," Vie Obern said happily. "Hannah-Beth Jackson (Santa Barbara’s assemblymember) introduced it.

"A dedication ceremony is planned, and there will be eight signs along the trail" recognizing the Oberns.

Vie Obern has been working on behalf of the county and state trails since the 1960s, and credited former Republican Congressman Robert Lagomarsino with helping the process along. "He was very supportive," she said. "We’ve had Republicans and Democrats on our side."

The local segment of the Coastal Bike Route is planned to extend all the way to Gaviota, she said. "I haven’t got it there yet," she said, "but it will make it."

Working on the county’s trails is their labor of love, but both Oberns have put in many years in other fields as well. George Obern, now retired, began his career as the public information officer for UCSB when the school was still at its Riviera campus. "We had 1,700 kids when I started and there were 18,000 students when I left," he said.

Vie Obern became a dedicated worker for the trails in 1967 when she first saw maps of proposed subdivisions in Goleta. She visualized green trails winding through the community, and enlisted then State Senators Robert Lagomarsino and Omer Rains and State Parks Director William Penn Mott to lobby for the state funds to pay for them.

The Oberns also raised three children: son Vaughn, who is chairman of the cinematography department at Los Angeles City College; daughter Dale Hoeffliger, who lives in Hope House near them; and son Reade, a park ranger who is stationed at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in Washington State.

Among their many enthusiasms are Santa Barbara’s annual Fiesta Parade, in which they ride, and preserving the birthday celebration for the community’s famous preservationist, Pearl Chase.

"George and I worked at the knees of Pearl Chase," Vie said. "We have her birthday event in April at the Cabrillo Pavilion."

The Oberns also serve as guides in this area for hikers who participate in the yearly coastal trek honoring Juan Bautista de Anza, as well as helping to plan the event. It celebrates the Spanish explorer and his troops — and their families — who marched up the coast to found communities and counter the perceived invasion of Russian settlers.

"What we’re celebrating is the hardiness of these wonderful families," Vie Obern said.

George Obern recalled that in the 1970s, he and his wife were part of a group reenacting the de Anza expedition to Northern California. "We followed the … trail all the way and camped out where they did," he said. "We had a hard time keeping up with their schedule, and they had 5,000 head of cattle and a hundred kids, including eight infants; three were born along the trail."

The coastal walk comes through Santa Barbara County on June 23 this year, and the Oberns will be providing their usual support and guidance.

However, "I’m looking seriously for somebody to take over next year," Vie said. "I’m determined to do it this year. I’m looking for someone to train for next year."

But they will still continue riding, hiking and promoting "their trail" and its colorful history.

"Goleta people should go on Patterson to the bike path," Vie Obern said. "There is where the de Anza sign is. That was the campsite for the expedition on Feb. 25, 1776."