When we planned our visit to the Point San Luis Lighthouse, we learned that access is very limited. The only way to tour the actual building, which has been beautifully restored, is on a docent-led tour. Those tours are only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Getting there is an adventure on its own
The first thing we saw upon arriving at the parking lot for our organized ahead of time was a beautifully restored trolley. Wow! Was that going to be our ride? Actually, no. The trolley is just for show. Our actual transportation was on an air-conditioned 24-passenger bus. Okay, not as much fun as a trolley, but it was comfy.
It doesn’t take long for the comfiness to be forgotten, because the lighthouse is at the end of a narrow one-lane road. It’s no wonder they don’t allow other vehicles on that road. (I’m reminded of a literal standoff between our bus and a pickup on the Road to Hana tour we took. Let’s just say, our bus lost.)
Point San Luis Lighthouse restored by volunteers
The Coast Guard actually wanted to get rid of the lighthouse by ploughing it into the ocean at one point. At least, that’s the story told by our docent. Hard to believe, but truth is stranger than fiction. Most of the furnishings are from the period when the lighthouse was in service. The tower for the Fresnel lens is still accessible via a ladder. The tricky part comes at the top because the handrail needed to make the final steps can be difficult to find. Going out on the balcony at the top isn’t on the tour. That was fine with us because we visited on a windy and chilly day.
While these old structures like the Point San Luis Lighthouse hold a place in the hearts of many history buffs, I doubt that their modern equivalents will ever do the same. Look at the photo of the chain-link fence surrounding the small building and gray metal tower. Sorry US Coast Guard. Those modern structures might be functional, but nobody will ever consider them a work of art.
Did you see last week’s entry? You can find it at Shipwrecked Enchiladas…barbecued?. Click here to view more Friday Morning Post entries, or you can follow me on Twitter.
