THUMS Islands

The landscaping and sound walls were designed to camouflage the operation and reduce noise, and they are the only decorated oil islands in the United States.

After a 1964 court case that gave the state of California mineral rights to the area,[4] the islands were built at an estimated cost of $22 million in 1965.

[4][8] The islands contain significant landscaping, a waterfall, and tall structures concealing the drilling rigs, including one known as The Condo and sometimes mistaken for a hotel by those on land.

The aesthetic mitigation cost $10 million at time of construction, and was overseen by theme park architect Joseph Linesch.

A federal jury cleared Exxon of all charges, and the other four oil companies settled out of court for "hundreds of millions of dollars".