Victoria Beach Pirate Tower

January 26, 2018 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Los Angeles Area → Victoria Beach Pirate Tower

Location: Laguna Beach, South of Los Angeles

Time Required: 1 hour

Red Tape/Notes: Use the public stairway access to Victoria Beach (located on Victoria Drive); the tower is located just north of the stairway. Tower is accessible around low tide only; it may be easiest to find parking on Route 1 (S. Coast Highway) and then walk the short distance to the access stairway.

What’s Nearby?: Crystal Cove State Park, Wayfarers Chapel

Built in 1926 to provide beach access for the summer home of senator William E. Brown, the iconic 60 foot tower has managed to endure the ravages of time and remains as a pleasant reminder of the past. Walking along the base of the cliffs beyond the tower, you’ll see the remains of many other private beach access staircases, collapsed and crumbling in the rock, and often replaced with modern (and generally less picturesque) versions. The Pirate Tower’s longevity is likely due to the fact that it’s freestanding with a solid stone foundation, and not dependent on the constantly eroding cliffs for support. Although the tower had nothing to do with pirates originally, the name was presumably earned due to the influence of retired naval captain Harold Kendrick who bought the property (including the tower) from Brown in the early 1940’s. Kendrick was an eccentric fellow, and something of a pirate aficionado, dressing up as a pirate and inviting local children over for games, and hiding coins in the nooks and crannies of the tower foundation. The stretch of coastline where the tower is located is pleasant enough for a stroll, with some interesting craggy coastal rock formations, interesting historical/architectural elements from the remnants of historic beach access stairways, and tide pools. And Victoria Beach is a pleasant enough beach in itself, if you’re into that sort of thing.