| Ragged Point is located 15 miles north of San Simeon's
Hearst Castle and midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in San Luis Obispo County
in a mountain region called Big Sur. Big Sur is a steep stretch of
California Coastline where the roads sit atop the mountains, providing
spectacular vistas to the Pacific Ocean, whales, dolphins and sheer
drops to rocks or small sand beaches below. Some regions offer trails to
the beach for those physically fit and wearing sturdy hiking shoes.
Ragged Point is one of the small
communities making up Big Sur. Ragged Point is comprised of a privately owned property
where travelers are welcomed with gourmet dining,
a gas station, hotel, wedding facility, hiking trail and outdoor cafe with
an espresso bar. Towering high above the Pacific on a promontory
with 400 foot sheer cliffs, Ragged Point offers one of the finest ocean
vistas in the world, often called the "Million Dollar View". One of the
few places on this coast with a trail down the face of a cliff, it also
boasts the largest waterfall on the Big Sur coast.
Though the trail is sometimes closed due
weather conditions such as strong winds the day the photo above was taken,
the trail to the beach at the base of the cliffs is short (1/2 mile).
Few tourists are willing to brave the trail with it's 400 foot change in
elevation. It is not recommended for small children and those fearing heights.
Views of the beach below are spectacular as are the ever changing views
of the cliffs to the north. This cliff face is well watered and lush in
vegetation but makes the trail somewhat slippery. The beach has dark colored
and common to this section of coast. The view of the cliffs is imposing
looking from the bottom up.
One of the most commonly asked questions
on the internet is, "Where are the most scenic views for a California wedding?"
Ragged Point would fit the bill for such requests. For decades, there has been
great demand for Ragged Point as an outdoor wedding venue. Several
years ago, a beautiful wedding pagoda was constructed and a full service
wedding department was added to the services offered by Ragged Point Inn
20-unit lodge on the edge of a cliff. For weddings, contact the Ragged
Point Inn and Resort at 805-927-5708 Address: 19019
Highway One • Ragged Point, CA 93452
Ragged Point once tickled the fancy
of carnival owner Monte Young. He had two gas pumps, a few trailers and
a flashing neon sign, which said "EAT", according to proprietors Wiley
and Mildred Ramey. They bought the roadside business from him in 1961and
for over 30 years, have modified and redesigned Ragged Point to fit the
tastes and needs of travelers. Contemporary but classic in its approach,
the decor and atmosphere are casual. Patios, dining areas and the wedding
gazebo overlooking the ocean are not ostentatious but blend with grace
and comfort into the natural environment. The Ragged Point Restaurant features
the freshest ingredients and creativity discriminating travelers have come
to expect. Salads are served with dressings such as Raspberry Walnut
and smoothies with fresh fruits are a popular midday thirst quencher. Casual
outdoor dining and an espresso bar, gift shop, convenience
store, gas station, horseback riding and countless photo opportunities
are available, as well.
Before the Ramey's were around, however,
native Americans dominated the coastal stretch from present day Cayucos
to San Carpoforo (near Ragged Point) for nearly 10,000 years.
'Playano' ( Spanish for beach people) coastal residents shared a common
language known as 'hokan', with intermarriage, trade and commerce common
amongst the Chumash, Salinan and Esalen native groups. Native Americans
continue to live in the region today.
Along some 20 miles of glorious shore,
the view from two-lane Highway 1 is open in all directions, almost entirely
free of manmade structures except for the few stops such as Ragged Point.
The Santa Lucia Mountains parallel the central California coast. For a
stretch of about 100 miles, starting at Ragged Point in the south, and
ending at Big Sur in the north, the mountains drop straight into
the ocean forming an almost unbroken line of cliffs the entire distance.
In a fabulous engineering feat, Highway 1 has been built onto the cliffs
generally about 400 feet above the water. This section of Highway 1 is
considered by many to be the finest scenic drive in the world.
California's central coast is a mountainous
region with remarkably sharp drops to sea level; one of the most dramatic
meetings of land and sea in the world. Relatively undeveloped and pristine,
the region has a moderate climate with average temperatures ranging between
65-85 degrees in summer, and 50-70 degrees in winter. The Big Sur region
has an average of 300+ days of sunshine, yearly. Seasonal rain is generally
between November and March, with clear, warm weather between rainfalls.
The area is a natural refuge for a variety of wildlife.
BIG SUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO
BOX 87 BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA 93920 Telephone: (831) 667-2100 Hours: 9:00
am - 1:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
