Avila Beach Community Foundation

Dedicated to Enhancing the Community Life of Avila Beach

Post Office Box 297 , Avila Beach , CA 93424

A Compiled History of Avila Beach 

and Surrounding Avila Valley

Source List Provided ~ First Edition 2003

John Harford and his wife came to California in the late 1860s after the Civil War. In the 1870s he built a wharf out into the deep water near the point of land on which the lighthouse stood. It extended 2000 feet out and was 80 feet wide. It is said he built the wharf from the point of land where there was no beach, because Manual Avila refused permission for it to be built out from the beach. Harford also built a tramway of logs from the pier to the point where San Luis Creek meets the ocean. Over this board tramway along the bluffs, lumber was hauled to build the railway, which started in Avila. Competing piers were in Santa Barbara at Point Sal, Pismo, and San Simeon.

Another short wharf had been built into the bay at Avila, closer toCave Landing (south point). It was purchased in 1873 by merchants and extended into deep water so that vessels could lie alongside. This wharf was called the People’s Wharf.

These 2 piers were busy places with steamers landing several times a week with as many as 90 passengers and 200 tons of freight.In 1873, a one-way ticket from San Francisco to San Diego by steamer was $5. From the Arroyo Grande valley, butter, barley, beans, and livestock were shipped to San Francisco markets. 

In 1910-11, a flood year when most of the bridges were washed out between SLO and Santa Barbara , marooning passengers were rescued by a chartered steamer that came from LA to Port San Luis to pick them up. Because of the heavy winds blowing from the Pacific, it is said that the Avila wharfs were the only ports between LA and San Francisco where a steamer could land at a wharf. The present wharf was built in the early 1900s by the county taxpayers.

The first rail was a narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railroad, started in 1874 as the SLO Bay and Santa Maria Valley Railroad.

Built in 1873, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Co. built 10 miles of railroad from Port Hartford to San Luis Obispo . In 1876 the 2 railroads were consolidated and renamed the Pacific Coast Railway Company. Harford was paid $30,000 for his wharf and horse railroad, and the new company completed the railroad to San Luis in August 1876.In 1881 the company extended the line to Arroyo Grande, in 1882 to Santa Maria and to Los Alamos .The grade from Port Harford to Avila was so steep that the 40-ton engine could pull up the grade only five boxcars not heavily loaded.

Pacific Coast Railway’s Engine Number 6 was shipped around the horn in 1883. In 1894 it was converted from a wood burning to a coal-burning engine. It blew up in 1904 in SLO and was scrapped.

From the ranchos, hogs, sheep, and turkeys could be shipped alive to San Francisco markets. More grains were consigned to San Francisco , now that they didn’t have to be hauled the extra miles to water over the steep hills and through the swampy willow thicket.

Passenger fares helped the railroad finances, too. For $1 round trip, hundreds of folk every month took excursion trips on Sundays and holidays to Avila from San Luis. More barbecues and tamale dinners were the order of the day.

In the late 1800s, farm produce from Nipomo and Santa Maria was sent north to the San Francisco market by rail to the pier at Port Hartford and then by boat north. Later the pier at Pismo (Meherin’s) took this business away from Avila . Produce did not go south because Los Angeles was such a young town; Los Angeles County could produce its own grain and food for its pueblo.

Vehicles are still allowed to drive onto the 1320-foot long pier, which is lit at night.

Facilities include different boat hoists, a diesel fuel dock, trailer boat parking, boat storage, and limited visitor moorings.

Because of its resemblance to a whale, the rock at the point near the lighthouse is referred to as Whale Rock.

Port San Luis Lighthouse was built to serve the coastal trade with the connection to the Pacific Coast Railway at Port Harford. The brick foundation was constructed from local bricks, manufactured by Ah Louis, the Chinese businessman, in San Luis. The interior has elegant Victorian Craftsman trusses. It is considered the best-preserved example of a stick-style lighthouse on the West Coast.

The lighthouse area is without natural springs or creek runoff—its staff was always dependent on either water that was carried to the site or captured rainwater in cisterns.

The light in the lighthouse showed first on June 30, 1890 , and continued until 1974, when it was replaced by one that is completely automatic and does not need personal attention.In 1976 the old light was moved to the County Historical Museum in San Luis. The original light, ground in Paris , France , came to Port Harford on four different ships, so if one went down, the whole lamp was not lost. The precious light, after being landed in the surf, was taken up the hill by a wagon pulled by mules. Originally the light ran on whale oil, then kerosene, and finally electricity.The Coast Guard is now in charge of the lighthouses in California , taking over for the US Lighthouse Service.

Closed by the severe storm damage of 1983, the path to the lighthouse is being repaired and widened and will also be open soon to the public.  

Olde Port Inn at the end of the pier is where you can have a beer and taste the sea fare. Tables with glass columns faced with mirror allow you to see the moving seawater under the pier. The fish company next door sells fresh fish and packs it for shipment all over the country.

Fat Cat’s Diner is open 24-hours a day and offers huge portions and a wide menu. Patio dining is also available.

Whale watching is popular from December to February, with charter boat tickets available at Patriot Sport Fishing on the Avila Pier.

Fishing

There’s plenty of fishing going on: from commercial fishing boats, sport-fishing boats, pleasure craft, and from people dangling lines off the pier.

You can go sport fishing for rock cod, salmon, and albacore in season. Fishing contests are also held, headquartered in the Portside Marina Store at the Port.

RV parking along the road is $20 per night.

911 Security at Diablo

Since Sept 11, 2001 , Diablo Canyon Power Plant has a one-mile security zone—no watercraft is allowed in the area. The U.S. Coast Guard enforces this zone.

Diablo Canyon

Diablo Canyon is the site of a PG&E nuclear generating plant and site of many demonstrations by dedicated and patient locals and visitors who opposed the plant. Mothers for Peace is one of the groups that was vigilant in demonstrating against the facility. Diablo’s information center is off Highway 101 on Ontario Road near the Avila Beach turnoff. [Port Buchon?]

This tiny town, with a population of about 200, is tucked into the cove just south of Point San Luis, which protects it from most (not all) offshore winds. As a result it is often sunny, and you can swim without turning blue with cold. The average annual temperature is a pleasant 70 degrees.During summer and holiday weekends the beach is jammed with sun seekers enjoying the miniature beach walk and sandy beach.

Two restored restaurants famous in Avila for serving good fresh fish and seafood—the Old Custom House, Mr. Rick’s were reopened in late 2002.

Before California became a state in 1850, Mexico had granted Miguel Avila 22, 136 acres of land bordering the bay of San Luis Obispo . In 1867 Avila received legal confirmation of his title to the San Miguelito Rancho. Avila was the son of a Spanish soldier stationed at the presidio of Santa Barbara . In 1824 he became a mission guard at San Luis Obispo . In 1826 after being transferred to Monterey for quarreling with Father Martinez, he married into the influential Pica family, which gave him sufficient influence to gain the land grant. His wife, Maria Inocenta, was the niece of Governor Pico. Avila became alcalde of San Luis Obispo in 1849. Like all Californios, Avila suffered heavy losses during the drought of 1863-1864.In 1867 his son, Don Miguel, laid out the town of Avila and sold lots to settlers and businessmen.

The Ocean Hotel was built by speculators to serve passengers awaiting the frequently delayed coastal steamers. The hotel failed to make money and was resold in 1882 to Luigi Marre and Antonio Gagliardo.Marre, the son of a Genoa , Italy , innkeeper, immigrated to San Francisco in 1854. In 1881 he married Angelica Marre, a cousin. He bought 6500 acres of the San Miguelito ranch from John Avila and John Hartford, while acquiring the Ocean Hotel.The name was changed to the Hotel Marre.

From an English bride’s diary of 1875, there is mention of “I like this place very much and think it extremely pretty. The Bay Hotel is built on piles close to high water mark on the sand. It is delightful weather now.The Sulphur Springs are in a thickly wooded canyon. They have not long been discovered by are now taken by a Mr. D.F. Newsom, who has covered them and made all arrangements for sick people to bathe in the warm sulphur waters. They say the water does a great deal of good in all cases of rheumatism, or skin diseases. Mr. Newsom’s garden has some hundreds of grape vines, peach, lemon, olive and other fruit trees, and many rose and geranium shrubs, all watered by the water from the sulphur springs. Here I saw humming birds flying about sucking the honey from flowers. They looked so pretty in the sun—such tiny little mites darting about.”[Ditmas]

Abram Hasbrouck, from Kingston, New York, had intentions of running away to sea as he had heard his parent’s friends, the Danas, talk too much of the adventures of their nephew and his book, “Two Years Before the Mast.” His father intervened and had him apprenticed to a strict sea captain, who would treat him as a common sailor instead of the blue blood that he was.He served out his apprenticeship and returned home to go to medical school. After his first dissection of a human body, he gave up all thoughts of being a doctor. In 1865 an uncle gave him $10,000 to do with as he pleased.Mr. Greely was then advising all young men to go west, so Hasbrouck went to Colorado and invested his money in a silver mine. The mine was “salted” and his money was spent on feeding his ten workers. His mine having been a failure, he came to California in 1866 and went to work as a vaquero for his father’s friends, the Steeles, of the Corral de Piedra and Bolsa de Chemisal ranchos.He went on to own over 9000 acres at St. Remy rancho, famous for wine, cheese, and cattle. Come good years or bad, owing to the dry years and suffocating mortgages, Mr. Hasbrouck sang a little verse he had learned at sea,

“When storms arise about your lea, and set you all aback,

Just turn about, my boys, and try the other tack.”

In 1915 he died at his summer camp at Avila within sight of the sea he was so fond of watching.

On August 24, 1859 , the famous writer, Richard Henry Dana, returned to California years after he wrote, “Two Years Before the Mast.”The steamer he was on stopped at Port San Luis, where his friend, Captain Wilson, disembarked. Wilson was memorialized in the novel, as the captain of the “ Plymouth .” Wilson, a Scotchman, was at one time the wealthiest man in San Luis Obispo due to his marriage to a wealthy widow, Ramona Carrillo Pacheco. Together they had four land grants!

High on a spit of land, you can see the red-tile roofed San Luis Bay Inn established in 1969. This prestigious residential community located within the spacious San Migeulito Rancho has balconied rooms with views, pool, restaurant, hot tubs, tennis court, spa, and golf course.

This sandy beach is at the foot of the seawall between Port San Luis and the Unocal /Cal Poly Pier.It has a boat launch and fires and dogs are permitted.It is under the jurisdiction of the Harbor District.

Founded in Santa Paula in 1890, the Union Oil Company of California began exploring the central coast of California for oil. In 1909 after surveying a pipeline into Port San Luis to bring oil from Santa Barbara County , Unocal build the producers pipeline from the San Joaquin Valley oil fields to the tidewater facilities at Avila . The entire system consisted of 205 miles of pipeline, which first delivered through the line to Avila in March 1910. Prior to WWI this was the largest oil pipeline project in the world.The geopolitical significance of Port San Luis was given full recognition on April 30, 1903 , when President Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet anchored offshore. Two thousand local residents took the railway out to the beach to view the fleet. Also in 1910 the company completed a 10,000-barrel refinery at Port San Luis.

In 1930 it build another pipeline (80 miles long), from Tar Canyon Station to the Avila Refinery.Oil from the pipeline was shipped out from the Avila Wharf , which Union purchased in 1941. On March 1, 1983 , the wharf was destroyed during one of the roughest storms in California history. Rough seas weakened the pier’s wood pilings; a 25-foot wave broke over the section of the pier where three Unocal employees were standing. The three men were dropped into the sea, later to be saved from a floating section by a tugboat.

In 2002, Unocal leased its pier to Cal Poly, which will use it for a new marine studies program.

During both world wars because of the oil shipment facilities at Port San Luis, artillery, cavalry, and infantry were used to patrol and protect the cliffs and beaches of Point San Luis-Point Buchon area. Following the panic-stricken days after Pearl Harbor , between 90 and 300 men reinforced the lighthouse detachment from 1941-1943.

This second beach, Avila State Beach , is under the jurisdiction of the County. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer. In the 1960s it was hailed as the “safest beach” in California because of the lack of undertows and the few drownings.

Population: about 200 year round residents. Avila Beach is proud of its microclimate, where its south facing beach (one of only two on the California Coast ) provides shelter and warmer water.

In the 1930s, Avila children attended Port School , with never more than 10 children in grades 1-8.

The Avila Beach Post Office was established on November 21, 1907 with Fred A. Brizzolara sworn in as the first Postmaster.It changed buildings often. The names of the Postmasters echo the names of the old county families:Musio, Canet, Martin among them.Canet was Postmaster from 1925 until 1960. He found it necessary to converse in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. He amassed a huge collection of photos about the history of the area, which his brother-in-law, Harold Martin retains. The Post Office was moved to the Civic Center in 1960, where it remains today.

Redevelopment due to environmental disaster from oil leakage. Master plan, “Specific Plan,” laid out the redevelopment of Avila after the oil cleanup.

Avila Grocery.Originally constructed as an auto garage in the early 1900s, this historic building was converted to the Avila Grocery between 1912 and 1920.Until 1960 it served as the general store and post office for Avila . The store was run by Harold and Nadine Martin for 38 years, while Harold’s brother-in-law, Vincent Canet ran the Post Office in the store.It continued as a general store for the community until it was removed in July 1999 for the oil spill cleanup. It was returned to its original location in June 2000.  

Beach Wheelchairs.In April 2003, a motorized wheelchair with balloon tires will be available for checkout from employees of the Sea Barn. The chair was co-funded by the Avila Beach Community Foundation and SLOACCESS.

The Children’s Park, named “ Pinard Park ,” after County Supervisor Peg Pinard, and dedicated in 2001, boasts a Pirate’s Roost.It is the future home of the Port San Luis Marine Institute, which is dedicated to teaching students about the ocean.

New structures:Custom House, Mr. Rick’s, and the SeaBarn.

Future hotels planned:La Fonda, and Avila Coastal Suites.

In 1849 David Mallagh, a descendant of a titled Irish family, came to California and was a captain of sailing vessels on the California coast and Sacramento River . He married Senorita Juanita Carrillo, a cousin of the Mrs. William Dana.Mallagh bought part of the Ortega land, “the Pismo grant,” and built an adobe house, which he was later paid $10,000 for “to get rid of him.”It seems as if the adobe he built was on land not his. In 1860 he built a small wharf at the caves on the Avila grant, which has ever since been called Mallagh’s Landing. The Mallagh home still stands under the hills that now make the Ontario grade. A man with a violent temper, he drove a stage from the landing to San Luis to take boat passengers. One story tells how a passenger fell out of the wagon into a mud hole and Mallagh refused to stop and pick him up, then claimed pay from the man when he showed up later in town, having been picked up by another driver. They settled it by having a drink instead.

A sailing ship would anchor and passengers were put over the ship’s side in a basket arrangement that lowered them into a row boat, which took people and belongings to Mallagh’s Landing, where they were hoisted up the rocks in another chair arrangement. Then Mr. Mallagh would take the people to San Luis in his stage wagon.

The view of San Luis Bay is not the only reason for the popularity of this beach—clothing is optional.Often called, Pirate’s Cove, there doesn’t seem to be any historical backing of the name.Historians prefer it be called Mallagh’s Landing.

There is a reported special Northern Chumash Indian site on the property near the parking lot of Cave Landing.Archaeological sites that are dated from 1500-2500 BC have been recorded, based on the presence of Olivella disc beads. Additionally, the presence of obsidian projectile points at Avila Beach sites indicates direct or indirect trading relationships between coastal San Luis Obispo Northern Chumash and the Southern Sierra Miwok Indians.This site is dated as 500 BC. It is estimated that at one time there were 10,000 Chumash, the last full-blooded Chumash Indian died in 1910.

The Chumash were friendly to the Spaniards, meeting them with gifts of acorns, seeds, fish and game. In return, five of the 21 California Missions were built for and by the Chumash Indians.

A second group of Indians, called Salinan, because they lived in the Salinas River area, were a shy people. Portola reported seeing 10 different towns of 30-400 Salinan people each. Their contact with the early Spanish practically extinguished them. In 1923 only 40 remained. Two of the 21 Missions were built for and by the Salinan Indians—San Miguel and San Antonio .

The creek rises up in Cuesta Canyon and is joined by the creek from Reservoir Canyon . It meanders through the city of San Luis until it is covered by some of the main business buildings. It appears again at the Mission Plaza in San Luis where it was an early source of water for the Mission. It flows at last into the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach . In the 30s, a fire started at the refinery on Tank Farm road and burned all the way to the sea at Avila, with the oil and fire running along San Luis Creek .

Historic Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort has small private soaking tubs and a huge twelve-footer for groups. Guests at the resort can choose from a range of rooms, including the new units on stilts built across the road in the flood plain of San Luis Creek. Watch for the new draw bridge spanning the road—it can be raised to accommodate tall vehicles and carries the electric transport vehicles the Resort uses to carry employees and guests.The Resort is an old one, from the mid 1800s, when people suffering from rheumatism and skin ailments sought refuge in the Springs.This watering hole is very popular with tourists from Japan and east Europe .

Note the sheltering sycamore trees, with their huge palm-shaped leaves. In the fall season, the colors of the leaves bring a seasonal change to this area.

Dr. DeVincenzo, a local San Luis dentist, owns the Avila Barn, a working farm. It supplies farm produce and gift items from spring to New Year’s.The Barn includes a bakery, children’s petting zoo, hayrides, pumpkin gathering, and apple picking.Soon to be added—an ice cream factory and windmill, and in the future, a hotel!

This old swimming pool, private camp ground, and pizza parlor is now owned by Sycamore Resort.The natural sulphur water from the springs fills the pool, which is enjoyed by people for its medicinal and therapeutic value. The slide is new, as are its water aerobics classes.

Highway 101 follows the route of the Spanish missionary father, Junipero Serra, as he founded the 21 Catholic missions of California . Originally the highway was called, “El Camino Real”—the king’s highway. The missions are strung out along the coast, approximately one night’s horseback ride apart or 30 miles, serving as early inns for travelers.Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772, is to the north in downtown San Luis Obisp. Mission Purisima, in Lompoc , is the closest mission to the south.

This beautiful residential community is the sight of many a wonderful sunset—hence its name, Sunset Palisades.There are spicy stories of some of the structures along the bluffs having underground rooms, where liquor could be smuggled in from the cove during Prohibition.

In 1905 an ill-fated oil port and refinery, California Petroleum Refineries, was started employing over 500 men.It was closed down in July 1907, just two weeks after it was completed, because a giant tidal wave completely destroyed the half-mile long pier and wrecked the refinery.

Shell Beach has several parks: Spyglass City Park , Seacliff City Park , Margaret Dodd City Park , and Elmer Ross Beach. Both bluffs overlooking the rocky shore have tide pools below. The bluffs are eroded and care should always be taken when walking there.

Shell Beach cascades down a marine terrace to the ocean. There are 2 staircases that let you reach the rocky shore and tide pools.Watch for sea lions, seals, and otters offshore. One resident reports counting 60 seals and pups languishing on the rocks just off shore during the winter birthing season.

Spyglass Deli is operated by a daughter and son-in-law of Dr. Tedone, a long-time, now retired, pediatrician in San Luis, whose Italian ancestry prompted him to make and sell a line of mozzarella cheese, available in the deli.

The Post Office in Shell Beach is worth a visit—the tiny structure still houses the beautiful old brass mail boxes with combination locks!

Ocean kayaking lessons are available from the kayak shop along the frontage road.

F. McLintock’s Saloon and Dining House is famous for its steak and beans. It is on the site of Matti’s Tavern, an old bar-restaurant-brothel from the speak-easy days of prohibition—now closed.

Look for developer’s signs and million-dollar ocean-front lots.

Cabrillo named Morro Rock “moro” meaning turban of a Turk. This intrepid Portuguese explorer was sailing under the flag of Spain . You can see Morro Rock from the top of Prefumo Road , high above Avila in the Irish Hills.

Pedro de Unamuno, a Portuguese, put in at Morro Bay in 1587, and took possession of the land near San Luis Obispo in the name of the King of Spain, Philip.

Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeno, another Portuguese, sailing from the Philippines to Acapulco, explored the California Coast in 1595 . When his unwieldy galleon was wrecked by a storm near San Francisco, he used a small launch to explore the coast and came into San Luis Bay at Avila in 1595.He also discovered Monterey Bay .

Sebastian Vizcaino, a Basque, was sent to check the valuable coast that Cermeno had reported. He also rediscovered Monterey Bay .

All three explorers also carried China Trade on their boats—tea, silks, embroideries, china, and porcelain, plus sandalwood from the Sandwich Islands, and ivory and Persian rugs from the Middle East . 

In 1769 Gaspar de Portola and Father Juan Crespi passed through this area on their way from San Diego to rediscover Monterey . They recommended building the mission in San Luis, which occurred three years later.

In March 1776, Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza and his 240 colonists bound for San Francisco, arrived in San Luis Obispo and were guests of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.DeAnza was presented with beautiful Chumash baskets, made at the mission.

Look south and you can almost see the spot where General Fremont and his army, sent to “conquer” California , camped on Arroyo Grande Creek in 1846. Coming from the north, they crossed the Cuesta (the steep grade to the north of San Luis) in the dead of night, as Fremont reportedly was deathly afraid of the Californians and made many night marches on that account

This lovely RV park sits near (in the flood plain of) San Luis Creek .

Bridges are historic in Avila and Avila Valley , as they have had to be rebuilt to often.

The Buddhist Temple , a relatively new structure, serves members of the Buddhist community in the county.

Originally, a 2-room school—the old school house with the cupola on the top, closed its doors in the early 60s. It still has its sliding door that divides the room into two and its blackboards, which are mounted on pure redwood walls. It’s been used for many things over the years, an art studio, music recording studio, pottery studio, and hippy residence.It was recently purchased by John Salisbury and Jim Merzon and will be developed into a cooperative wine tasting room for central coast wineries.It will be called the “Avila Schoolhouse Cellars.”

Across the freeway and up Squire Canyon you will find many hidden small and large ranches and rustic homes. It is the home of President Ford’s son, Jack.The castle house is being built by hand by a man who owns the horse and carriage business in San Luis.

Between the mountains and the coast the topography exhibits considerable range. Some of it is wooded, some brushy, some is grassland.But all of it agrees in the general climatic pattern spoken of as a Mediterranean type. The moisture comes overwhelmingly in the cooler winter months and is followed by a long dry period that is very hot toward the interior and cooler only near the coast, where the fog and humidity of the ocean air help to prolong the growth season.Overall, our California conditions produce much open country that becomes green with the advent of the rains in late fall or early winter.[Munz]

There are 2 roads leading into Avila Beach , San Luis Bay Drive and Avila Valley Drive .They converge into one road at the Bridge ahead. Avila Beach has only one egress, which is of concern during storm conditions, such as the 1983 and 1995 storms, when San Luis Creek overflowed its banks and isolated the town.

This public elementary school combined the former populations of two country schools, Bellevue and Santa Fe . It is now a “charter school” for San Luis Coastal Unified.It houses a growing space science museum.

On part of the former Bassi Ranch is a gated community of million-dollar homes, many with ocean views.The Bassi home is still intact, with a separate, private entrance.

Behind the gates are two new vineyards:Coeur d’Avila Vineyards, owned by Salisbury , Merzon, Rossi, Young, and Duggan, and Maridel Vineyards owned by the Salisbury family. These vineyards were planted in 2000 and will produce their first harvest of Coastal Pinot (red) wine grapes in 2003.

The old red barn by the creek is part of a historic ranch, once used as a nursery, and now part of this new vineyard operation.

Avila Valley is unique, surrounded by high hills and having the highest mean temperature of all the coastal valleys from San Luis Obispo to San Diego while still enjoying the cool, foggy nights necessary for growing premium Pinot Noir grapes and apples.To develop, apples require 1000 hours where the temperature is below 45 degrees.  

Also behind the gates in a little treasure—the Salisbury Fine Art Gallery.The Gallery shows national and regional artists and provides fine art consultation and residential and commercial design work.Open weekends and by appointment—the owner, Maridel Salisbury, lives in Avila and is happy to give you a private tour—just call. 878-4243

Initial visitors to See Canyon always think the road sign is misspelled, but it isn’t.

See Canyon is famous for its apple farms, which follow the east side of the picturesque2-lane road, and which are open to visitors in the Fall and early winter.Loyal customers all have their favorites--Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, Mutsu, Splendor—to name a few. The Gopher Glen Ranch, the last apple farm on the road, will send you a postcard letting you know when your favorite variety is being picked.The owner, Dr. DeVincenzo, also owns Avila Barn.History buffs recall a time when opium was grown in the Canyon.

See Canyon Winery is owned and operated by the Kelsey Family, who live and work in See Canyon . Mrs. Dolores Kelsey is from the old Avila Family, the Sylvesters, who operated the tug boat service and other port businesses for many years. The Kelsey’s winemaker is Leonard Cohen, who operates the restaurant at the end of the pier, “The Olde Port Inn.”

See Canyon Road connects to Prefumo Canyon Road .You can drive over the Irish Hills and drop down onto Los Osos Valley Road , behind San Luis Obispo . The road is 2-lane and part gravel, so drive it during good weather and in daylight.There are no tourist attractions once you pass the last of the apple farms, so take it for the view only.

Nine volcanic cores constitute a natural phenomenon in San Luis County that have been noted landmarks since Cabrillo’s time. These nine peaks are:  

1. Islay Peak (named for a Chumash Indian word meaning wild cherry)

2. San Luis Mountain (named for St. Louis , Bishop of Toulouse, France)

3.Bishop’s Peak (1559 feet, the highest)

4. Chumash Peak

5.Cerro Romauldo (named for Romauldo, a Chumash Indian, the only one to receive a Mexican land grant in our county. Now Camp San Luis Obispo .)

6. Hollister Peak , once called Cerro Alto (name changed to honor a pioneer family. Also called The Holy Mountain, because of natural placement of a dozen or more boulders on its top resembling the Holy Family.)

7. Cerro Cabrillo Peak (named in 1964)

8.Black Hill

9.Morro Rock (originally Moro, named by Cabrillo in 1542). The only peak in water.

Behind these tightly secure gates are 5 new and unique housing areas, which a realtor at Blue Heron Realty will be happy to show you.The Avila Bay Club is a full-service athletic club and spa.

Other businesses here are the San Miguelito Water Company, McWhorter’s Farmer’s Insurance, and Keller Financial Services—serving new homeowners.

California has long been considered an earthly paradise. There are perhaps 6000 flowering plants in the state, thousands that are considered to be wild flowers. Seedlings of flowering annuals develop slowly through the winter as does the new growth on shrubs and trees. The great season of flowering is from February to April or even May. Then brownness and dormancy again set in and the summer is largely a period of inactivity.Watch for the golden California poppies (Eschscholzia californica)—the state flower of California --along the road, plus the blue lupine. [Munz]

Also watch for the juicy poison oak shrub, which has ruined the vacations of many unsuspecting people.In the fall it appears red and orange on the hillsides beneath the oak trees.In the spring, it’s green and tender, resembling berry vines.

Birds abound in this area. Watch for turkey vultures, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets (alone and in groups), great blue herons, owls, sea gulls, meadow larks, red-winged black birds, ravens and black birds, hummingbirds, finches, and other migratory birds.

• Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks live in the Valley and if you listen carefully, you’ll hear their high-pitched “whee whee” call.

• Mammals sighted: bob cats, coyotes, red foxes, skunks, squirrels, feral cats, gophers, white tail deer, rabbits

• Marsupials sighted: opossums

• Rodents sighted:mice and rats

• Reptiles: gopher snakes, garter snakes, rattle snakes, and lizards

According to Madge, Madge C. Ditmas1983. (collected history of Arroyo Grande).

Avila Beach Post Office (pamphlet)

California Coastal Access Guide

Combing the Coast, Ruth A. Jackson

Glimpses of Childhood in the Old West 1840-1940, Loren Nicholson.

SLOCountyArchaeological Society Occasional Papers, No. 3, No. 4 April 1971

Vignettes of History in San Luis Obispo County,LouisianaClayton Dart.

Welcome to Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort    

Johnston, Kathy. Irish Hills Are Distinctly San Luis Obispo. SLOCountyJournal, Vol 1, No. 6, January 2002

Munz, Philip A.California Spring Wildflowers. UC Berkeley Press. 1961.

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