Cayucos - California

64 Pages 1 2 3 >»

Cayucos, California

Cayucos was built on part of a Spanish land grant by founder, Captain James Cass and partner, Captains Ingals, who put up the original buildings, a store, the pier and a warehouse, in about 1867. Cayucos means kayak or small canoe, in Spanish, describing the type of vessel used by the Aleutians who hunted sea otters along the coast of Estero Bay. The populations of sea otters have still not recovered in this area.

A well-known real estate promoter, C.H. Phillips, subdivided another section of the land grant into town lots and this marked the beginning of the town. Rich soil for orchards, growth of legumes, dairy farming and berries, in addition to the fishing possibilities, increased the likelihood of a good living. Phillips was probably the first to recognize the commercial value of the natural deep water harbour.

Of the original buildings, Captain James Cass' home stands at the north end of the town of Cayucos. The warehouse presently houses the Art Society Gallery. The pier is still a place for excellent, if sporadic, fishing and extends out into the Pacific Ocean, breaking the rollers that are a feature of the large sandy beach.

Cass House has bed and breakfast accommodations plus a restaurant
Old West look to town buildings
Montana de Oro State Park
Morro Rock
wine country tours
Hearst Castle
pier has shops and services for various kinds of fishing
Gull Cottage Folk Art Gallery