36-594: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a state park in Monterey County , California , near the area of Big Sur on the state's Central Coast . It covers approximately 1,006 acres (4.07 km) of land. The park is centered on the Big Sur River . It has been nicknamed a "mini Yosemite." A Redwood tree in the park nicknamed the Colonial Tree is estimated to be between 1,100 and 1,200 years old. The Esselen people were
72-516: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of
108-622: A biological research station in 1977. In 2001, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) assumed management of the site and was tasked to offer structured public access, allow site-specific research to continue, and restore the light station to its period of greatest historical significance (1875 to 1940). The Piedras Blancas Light Station Association is a non-profit partner of the BLM, helping to raise funds for restoration and maintenance. The lighthouse continues to serve as an aid to navigation. A Vega VRB-25 produces
144-514: A clearing in present-day Sycamore Canyon, where they camped for several nights. They liked the area so much they decided to wait for spring before moving south. By then they found the area so favorable that they decided to stay put. They had four more children: William, Frank, Flora, and Adelaide. Michael built a small cabin of hand-split redwood north of the mouth of Sycamore Canyon. He filed for patents on his land in 1883 and 1889. Michael's son John and his wife Florence Zulema built their own cabin on
180-567: A farm in Solano County , where Vacaville is now located. Their sons Charles and John were born there in 1860 and 1862 and their daughter Mary Ellen was born in 1866. When the owner raised their rent, they were forced to leave. While living in Tomales Bay , they learned that much of the good arable land in California had been claimed. But a neighbor told them that to the south of Rancho El Sur in
216-519: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about
252-477: A flash every 10 seconds. The light station is managed as a historic park and wildlife sanctuary . The Piedras Blancas Historic Light Station was designated as an Outstanding Natural Area in 2008. Access to the 19-acre (7.7 ha) site is by guided tours. The tour lasts two hours and includes the historic lighthouse and support buildings, wildlife viewing, and spectacular scenery along an easy half-mile interpretive trail. The largest elephant seal rookery on
288-781: A place known as Pacific Valley there remained good grazing land. They knew the Homestead Act of 1862 allowed them to file a land patent for a five-dollar fee. On October 5, 1869, the Pfeiffers boarded the Northern Pacific Transportation Company’s 222 feet (68 m) side wheel passenger steamer Sierra Nevada at the Folsom Street wharf in San Francisco with their livestock and headed 120 miles (190 km) south to Monterey. The ship carried up to 345 passengers. It
324-683: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use
360-650: The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium, is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with
396-639: The California Gold Rush for the gold fields of Sierra County , California, near the border with Nevada. Michael Pfeiffer returned to Illinois and married sixteen-year-old Barbara Laquet on April 14, 1859. A few months later they joined a wagon train which followed the Butterfield Overland Stage route from St. Louis, Missouri, west to California. Michael brought several brood mares with him. They rejoined his brothers Joseph and Alexander and grew wheat in northern California. Then they rented
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#1733085715202432-606: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . Piedras Blancas Light Station Piedras Blancas Light Station is located at Point Piedras Blancas, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) west by northwest of San Simeon, California . It was added to the California Coastal National Monument in 2017. The first-order Fresnel lens at Piedras Blancas was first illuminated on February 15, 1875. The Piedras Blancas lighthouse
468-662: The Hotel Idlewild on the banks of the Little Sur River for customers through about 1920. After completing the eighth grade, their daughter Esther went to live with her grandmother in Monterey so she could attend high school. Due to the stage schedule, she could not easily visit her parents, and returned home only at Christmas, Easter, and during summers. The family home is now the site of the Big Sur Lodge. In 1930, John Pfeiffer
504-738: The Pfeiffer family: Pfeiffer Beach, Pfeiffer Falls Trail, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park . Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is known for its redwood groves and trail to Pfeiffer Falls. Mud slides caused by the Basin Complex fire necessitated rerouting the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, re-opened 13 years later in 2021. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was damaged by the Basin Complex Fire during June and July 2008, which burned 162,818 acres (658.90 km) in California. Much of
540-685: The Spanish mission system and population density, their population has been estimated to have been from 1,185-1,285. Their population was limited in part due to inaccessible nature of the Santa Lucia Mountains . They were and are one of the least numerous indigenous people in California. By about 1822, much of the California Indian population in proximity to the missions had been forced into the mission system. The first known European settler in Big Sur
576-746: The West Coast is located about a mile south of the lighthouse along California Highway One . A few animals began using the rookery in 1990. A large parking area and boardwalk offer easy access to view the elephant seals. Docents from Friends of the Elephant Seal provide insight as to what the visitor is viewing. Open year-round. Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area are marine protected areas offshore from Piedras Blancas Light Station. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems . The 1959 movie The Monster of Piedras Blancas
612-533: The coast in winter to harvest rich stocks of otter , mussels , abalone , and other sea life. In the summer and fall, they traveled inland to gather acorns and hunt deer. The native people hollowed mortar holes into large exposed rocks or boulders which they used to grind the acorns into flour. These can be found throughout the region. Arrows were made of cane and pointed with hardwood foreshafts. The tribes also used controlled burning techniques to increase tree growth and food production. Based on baptism records in
648-731: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with
684-407: The damage was to the outskirts of the park, however, and the campgrounds were able to reopen at the end of July. The Chalk Fire of September and October, which burned an additional 16,269 acres (65.84 km), did serious damage to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which was largely closed from September 2008 to May 2009. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at
720-474: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are
756-546: The first known residents of the Big Sur area. They lived in the area from about Point Sur south to Big Creek, and inland including the upper tributaries of the Carmel River and Arroyo Seco watersheds. Archaeological evidence shows that the Esselen lived in Big Sur as early as 3500 BC, leading a nomadic, hunter-gatherer existence. The aboriginal people inhabited fixed village locations, and followed food sources seasonally, living near
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#1733085715202792-637: The house with four friends and a string of five pack mules. After a meal and a night's rest, the four friends left on the stage without even a thank you. As he was departing, the packer began to beat one of the mules with a stick. Florence was incensed at the man's discourteous and abusive nature. Stepping out of character, she rebuked the man and forbade him from beating the animal any further. In her memoirs, she recounted telling him, “From now on, I expect to charge you so much for each horse, so much for each bed, and so much for each meal every time you stop here.” They began charging visitors and Pfeiffer Ranch Resort
828-484: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to
864-465: The north bank of the Big Sur River in 1884. The family supported themselves by farming, ranching, logging, and beekeeping. John produced sixteen tons of premium honey in a year. As was customary at the time, the Pfeiffer family welcomed travelers along the trail to Posts and the southern Big Sur region into their one room cabin. They gave travelers their own beds, and meals, and they fed and stabled
900-567: The passengers and crew were saved, but the ship and its cargo were a total loss. After traveling for four days and about 40 miles (64 km) down the rugged coast, they had passed through the Cooper Ranch and the Molera Ranch . On October 14, 1869, one of their sons became sick. Unsure how many more days it would take to reach Pacific Valley, they decided to stop and rest. They traveled south about 6 miles (9.7 km) more miles until they found
936-469: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by
972-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park
1008-418: The stock. The Pfeiffer home became well known among travelers along the coast, and the number of guests grew. People were attracted by the fishing, hunting and exploring. Florence Pfeiffer bore responsibility for caring for visitors and became increasingly disgruntled by the number of visitors, the cost, and workload. Visitors returned often. On one occasion, a repeat guest whom John Pfeiffer disliked stopped at
1044-497: The sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in
1080-823: Was John Davis, who in 1853 claimed a tract of land along the Big Sur River. He built a cabin near the present day site of the beginning of the Mount Manuel Trail. In 1868, Native Americans Manual and Florence Innocenti bought Davis' cabin and land for $ 50. Sébastien Pfeiffer (born in Dolving, Moselle, Lorraine, France, in 1794) and his wife, Catherine Vetzer (born in Haut-Clocher, Moselle, Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine, in 1795), were married in 1819. Around 1830, they and their five children immigrated to St. Clair County, Illinois. Their son Michael (born on September 18, 1832) and two brothers, Joseph, and Alexander, left Illinois during
1116-450: Was born in 1908. It was the first formal lodging along the coast. Over time they added a porch that served as a dining room and several cabins. Because the coast road was impassable in winter, it was only open in summer. Food was served family style. Most guests traveled by stagecoach which during summer months arrived on Monday. Wednesday, and Friday. In 1920, the 26 mi (42 km) trip from Monterey took about 11 hours. It competed with
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1152-468: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like
1188-556: Was moved and is on display in the nearby community of Cambria . A sound signal was added in 1906. In 1939, management was transferred from the United States Lighthouse Service to the United States Coast Guard . In 1975, the light was automated, the sound signal removed, and the light station was unmanned. A group of biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received permission to establish
1224-411: Was offered $ 210,000 (or about $ 3,726,000 today) for his land by a Los Angeles developer who intended to build a subdivision. Pfeiffer wanted to preserve the land he and his family had grown to love, and instead sold 700 acres (2.8 km) to the state of California in 1933. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is named after John Pfeiffer and his family. Several features in Big Sur are named for the descendants of
1260-437: Was originally 100 feet (30 m) high to the top of the ventilator ball, but earthquakes damaged the structure over the years. On December 31, 1948, final damage from an earthquake centered 6 miles (9.7 km) off the point led to the decision to remove the upper three floors: the fourth landing, watch room, and lantern. Missing the ornate upper floors, the truncated lighthouse now stands about 70 feet (21 m) tall. The lens
1296-424: Was struck by a raging storm while at sea, causing waves to break over the deck. When they arrived at Monterey after two days, their mother was so sick she could not walk. The Pfeiffer family was fortunate to get off the ship in Monterey. On the night of October 17, having left Monterey that afternoon, the ship was wrecked in dense fog on a reef 1.6 nautical miles; 1.9 miles (3 km) north of Piedras Blancas . All of
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