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California's First Scenic Highway 1 Opens, Area Hotels and Restaurants Report No Damage, State Parks Remain Closed
Like a Phoenix, that iconic stretch of California Coastline encompassing El Sur Grande – or Big Sur – once again rises! Tourism facilities along the rugged 90-mile stretch linking Carmel to San Luis Obispo report no damage following the Basin Complex Fire, which started June 21, 2008. Highway 1 officially reopened in both directions Sunday, July 13. Air quality in the Big Sur area is “moderate” with low particulate reading; visibility is unrestricted according to Ed Kendig of the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District (www.mbuapcd.org).
HOTELS REPORT POSITIVE BOOKINGS
Just like its rugged coastline, Big Sur has weathered its share of adversity – from fires to mudslides – without charring its core. This redwood playground dubbed the “greatest meeting of land and sea” is a master at reinventing itself, as this new rebirth will showcase. Area hotels, including some 250+ guestrooms, readying to recoup the summer season noted occupancy rates rising above 90% as early as July 25th. “We have a strong following in the international market and an emotional pull that draws repeat visitors,” according to Janet Lesniak, General Manager at Big Sur River Inn, who credits the quick comeback to the region’s loyal clientele. Other properties reporting in the 90 percentile as of July 25th: Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur River Inn, Ripplewood Resort, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, Big Sur Campground & Cabins, Riverside Campground & Cabins, Big Sur Lodge, Gorda Springs and Treebones Resort (98%) in south Sur.
Deetjen’s Big Sur River Inn, a mainstay along Highway 1, plans to reopen July 18th. At the other end of Big Sur, Ventana Inn & Spa will open Cielo restaurant July 19. The Inn & Spa will open August 1st, following a refreshing and revitalizing of surrounding landscaping; no Ventana buildings were harmed. Esalen Institute, perched on 27 acres of classic Big Sur coastline, will also reboot July 18 with a full roster of upcoming seminars including Living Love: The Ingredients of Successful Relationship Renewal, August 22-24 2008; Body and Mind: The Spiritual Challenges of Our Time, September 5-7, 2008 and Deep Thinking Through Writing, September 21-26, 2008 (www.esalen.org).
LANDMARKS, RESTAURANTS GEAR UP FOR SEASON
Visitors on a literary trek can still mark the Henry Miller Memorial Library as a key stop. The library opened with no reported damage on July 15. This funky outpost honoring one of Big Sur’s best, has two upcoming events worth note: the 5th Annual Henry Miller Library Benefit on August 22 and the summer-long Big Sur International Short Film Screening Series, featuring 50 of the world’s best shorts every Thursday (www.henrymiller.com.) Other coastal icons, from the Bixby Bridge, one of the world’s top ten highest single-span bridges, to Point Sur Lighthouse Station are fully operational. Full moon tours of the West Coast’s only complete turn-of-the-century lightstation open to the public (1889) is a great fall outing: August 16/17, September 15/16 and October 14/15, ($8/adults; www.pointsur.org.) Molera Horseback Tours, based in Andrew Molera State Park, will resume business when the park opens. The Ventana Wildlife Society offices in Andrew Molera State Park will also reopen shortly.
Local restaurants, galleries and tourist attractions in Tripadvisor’s® #2 ranked destination in the U.S. (2008) have also opened including Nepenthe restaurant, the Big Sur Bakery, Sierra Mar, Big Sur River Inn restaurant and the Roadhouse.
MAJORITY OF STATE & NATIONAL PARKS ON HOLD
Currently, Garrapata State Park is open to visitors. The remaining California State and National parks in Big Sur remain closed. These include Soberanes State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park, Limekiln State Park and Ventana Wilderness. Updates are available at www.parks.ga.gov. This fall, Big Sur Hiking Guides will deliver a full line-up of new excursions for visitors including treks to McWay Falls, the lost Limekilms and the Robinson Jeffers Hike for literary buffs (www.bigsurguides.com).
BASIN COMPLEX REPORTS/AIR QUALITY
Big Sur lies 160 miles/258 km south of San Francisco. Monterey County’s top tourism attractions including 25 golf courses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, National Steinbeck Center, Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the 17-Mile Drive are open.
As of July 14, 2008, the Basin Complex Fire has burned 119,773 acres, 27 residents and 32 other structures. The fire is 61% contained with a full containment date set for July 30, 2008. Air quality reports for the region change daily, given the coastal location of Big Sur, reports have been favorable. Updates: Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District; www.mbuapcd.org. Fire updates are available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres, www.fire.ca.gov and www.surfire2008.com.
VISITOR INFO.
Monterey County is located 120 miles/192 km south of San Francisco and 345 miles/552 km north of Los Angeles along the classic California corridor. The region boasts 99 miles of prime Pacific Coastline, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, three historic missions, 40,000 acres of premium vineyards, 25 golf courses and nearly 200 lodging properties. Monterey County includes the Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, North County and the Salinas Valley. The Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), just three miles from historic downtown Monterey and minutes from the area’s major attractions, is served by non-stop flights to and from Denver (DIA), Salt Lake City (SLC), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Los Angeles (LAX and ONT), San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO). Visitor info: www.montereyinfo.org.
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