Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
| Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park | |
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Looking back from the beach at Pfeiffer Beach in California
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| Location | Monterey County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Big Sur, California |
| Coordinates | 36°15′N 121°47′W / 36.250°N 121.783°WCoordinates: 36°15′N 121°47′W / 36.250°N 121.783°W |
| Area | 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
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 km2) of land. The park is centered on the Big Sur River. It has been nicknamed a "mini Yosemite."
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is named after John Pfeiffer, who lived in a cabin on the property beginning in 1884. He was the son of Michael Pfeiffer and Barbara Laquet. The Pfeiffer family immigrated from France and were among the first European settlers in the area. Many features in Big Sur are named for the descendants of the Pfeiffers.
In 1930, John Pfeiffer had the opportunity to sell his land to a Los Angeles developer for $210,000. The developer wanted to build a subdivision on the land. Instead, Pfeiffer sold 700 acres (2.8 km2) to the state of California in 1933.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park has both a hotel (the Big Sur Lodge) and a campground within its boundaries. The campgrounds were closed in the winter of 2008–2009 due to the Basin Complex Fire, but most are open as of May 22, 2009. The campgrounds have coin-operated showers, bathrooms and a convenience store. The convenience store also offers WiFi access.
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 which is currently open. Reestablishing the old trail, with the wooden foot bridges, was scheduled to begin in 2016.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was damaged by the Basin Complex Fire during June and July 2008, which burned 162,818 acres (658.90 km2) in California. Much of 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 km2), did serious damage to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which was largely closed from September 2008 to May 2009.
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