How a Santa Maria Business Saved a Rain-Soaked Royal Visit

A massive winter storm nearly derailed Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic 1983 trip to California, forcing state officials and President Ronald Reagan to abandon their outdoor plans and host the official arrival ceremony inside an airport hangar.

But a hangar needs more than concrete to welcome a monarch. With the clock ticking, organizers knew exactly who to call and turned to Santa Maria’s own Ron Ferrari of Valley Flooring Carpet One. Known throughout the Central Coast for premium commercial work, Ferrari was tasked with rapidly fabricating and delivering the ceremonial red carpet.

The team met the high-stakes deadline. The pristine carpet was rolled out across the hangar floor just in time for Air Force One to park directly alongside it, keeping the Queen and First Lady Nancy Reagan completely dry. Images and video of the event are well documented, but the scramble behind the scenes is not.

After the visit, the carpet was cut into sections and sold. When Ron was asked why he didn't keep a section for himself, he responded that he and his crew were more interested in the community of Santa Maria and had their eyes set on working on their next project.

More than 40 years after that historic day, Valley Flooring is still operated with the same community trust and dependability that local, state, and federal leaders relied on during a global media spotlight.