Point San Luis Lighthouse

The Point San Luis Lighthouse enjoys dramatic vistas stretching from Avila to Vandenberg. Whales, Sea Lions and Otters are frequently seen leaping or cavorting on the surface. Travel back in time in our classic trolley to the historic Light Station. Tours are every Wednesday at 12 PM and 1 PM, and Saturday at 12 PM, 1 PM, and 2 PM. Fares include the cost of docent led tours in the lighthouse buildings and grounds. In 1867 President Andrew Johnson issued an executive order directing the Department of the Interior “to take the necessary steps to cause the reservation for Light House purposes of an area … of land at … Point San Luis”.  The first pier at Port San Luis was built the next year.    Congressman Romaldo Pacheco of San Luis Obispo introduced a bill in 1877 to build a lighthouse at Point San Luis.  Construction would not commence until 1889.  By 1890 whaling vessels, cargo ships, tankers and fishing boats were all guided around the treacherous point into the safe harbor. The Lighthouse used a fourth order Fresnel lens to project a beam of light 20 miles out to sea. Currently a new light projects the same distance. The station is still an operational lighthouse.