News Release

 

For Release: June 5, 2003

Contact: BLM - Ron Fellows 661-391-6006 or ALC - Kate Rapson 415-957-1705

CCal-03-25

Piedras Blancas Light Station Open to Limited Public Tours

 

For the first time since it was built in 1875, the historic Piedras Blancas Light Station, near San Simeon on California's scenic central coast, is being opened to limited public tours.

 

The first-time tours are the result of a negotiated agreement among a number of key partners dedicated to preserving the light station and its important biological, cultural, historic, and scientific features.  These partners include:

 

·        U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), site manager since the station was officially returned to the public domain by the U.S. Coast Guard in May 2002;

·        U.S. Representative Lois Capps, whose district covers the area and was instrumental in getting the station turned over to BLM for public access;

·        San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Shirley Bianchi, whose district covers the area and has advocated public access to the station for many years;

·        The Hearst Corporation, owners of the Hearst Ranch, which completely surrounds the station, including the only access road to the station from Highway 1;

·        The American Land Conservancy, which holds a conservation option agreement on the Hearst Ranch property and is seeking to permanently preserve the entire Hearst Ranch holdings;

·         Kirk Sturm, the former superintendent of Hearst Castle® State Historic Park and currently the northern division chief for California State Parks, provided strong support for public access to the station. The state historic park will cooperatively operate the tours with BLM.

 

The interim access agreement is part of a much larger effort to preserve not only the Piedras Blancas Light Station, but the entire 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch, which surrounds the station and Hearst Castle®, the most heavily visited state park in California with over one million visitors annually.  The Hearst Corporation donated the castle to the state in 1958.

 

The Piedras Blancas tours trial period begins in late June and continues through February 2004.  Interpretive specialists from BLM, Hearst Castle® or the light station's volunteer corps will lead all tours.  A new toll-free information number, 1-888-804-8608, is now available for more information on the tours including dates and prices of tours. Tickets will be sold the day of the event at the Castle. Advance reservations are not available at this time.  Because of access limitations onsite, the tours will originate from the Hearst Castle visitor center.

 

Ron Fellows, BLM field manager, said the BLM is very appreciative of the cooperation demonstrated by the partners involved.  "When the light station was turned over to us from the Coast Guard last year, we stated our goal was to protect the fragile nature of the historical, cultural and natural resources at Piedras Blancas and provide for structured public access.  Thanks to our partners, that goal has been met and will be the first step to long-term restoration of the station for public use and enjoyment as well as important scientific research."

 

Rep. Capps, who was instrumental in the transfer of jurisdiction from the Coast Guard to BLM, said, "I'm very pleased that the public will finally have the opportunity to see and experience this fantastic public resource.  I will do my part to restore and preserve its significant natural and scenic values."

 

Supervisor Bianchi stated that the local community is looking forward to seeing the light station and sharing it with visitors.  "Piedras Blancas Light Station has been a 'missing link' of the already magnificent tourism opportunities offered here on the central coast.  All of the surrounding communities will be strong supporters and partners in the restoration efforts."

 

Steve Hearst said, "The Hearst Corporation is pleased to cooperate with BLM and the other partners involved to provide interim access across the Hearst Ranch property to Piedras Blancas for the public tours trail period.  This is a positive beginning to working together as neighbors in conjunction with the conservation efforts for the Hearst Ranch."

 

American Land Conservancy President Harriett Burgess said she was "thrilled" the interim access agreement was reached.  "While we move forward toward the larger conservation effort, we are very pleased to have assisted in bringing the partners together and making this spectacular lighthouse open to the public for the first time."

 

Kirk Sturm, northern division chief for California State Parks said he considers the light station and BLM to be full partners with state parks in providing Californians and visitors from throughout the world a chance to experience this important part of the state's history. "As part of the good government practices at Hearst Castle®, we have the infrastructure to provide assistance in making this outstanding resource available to the public," said Sturm. "The Piedras Blancas Light Station, visible from Hearst Castle®, has long been a distant, and inaccessible part of the San Simeon area.  That has now changed and state parks is proud to be able to help provide the public access to one of the most scenic points on the California coast."

 

 

-BLM-