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Moss Beach

Moss Beach History

   Moss Beach is part of a group of communities known as Coastside. These unincorporated towns are governed by San Mateo County and have no municipal governments or control over local ordinances.
   Coastside stretches along the Pacific for about 50 miles, on land originally inhabited by the Ohlone Indians. The region was ruled by Spain and Mexico until California became a state in 1850. At that point, the land along the San Mateo County coast was used primarily as ranchos for raising horses and cattle.
   In 1881, German immigrant Juergen F. Wienke purchased some of the land in hopes of building a health spa. Wienke was attracted to the region's reefs, which were covered by an algae that he called "moss." The entrepreneur built a resort called the Moss Beach Hotel, which attracted a few visitors who dared to make the journey south from San Francisco. The hotel stood until 1911, when it burned down and was not rebuilt.
   Through the early 1900s, Moss Beach and the Coastside communities were isolated from the rest of the state. Only two roads led to the area until 1906, when the Ocean Shore Railway started a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Small seaside communities developed along the rail line, and existing towns like Moss Beach grew to accommodate the new visitors.
   Before World War I, Moss Beach was home to The Reefs, a popular restaurant that hosted celebrities such as Jack London and Luther Burbank. After the war, the good times continued -- even during the Prohibition era, when Moss Beach was the smuggling base for bootleggers who built bordellos and speakeasies in the town.
   Moss Beach is known for the tidepools that line its shore. In 1969, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a bill officially designating the Moss Beach tidepool area as a reserve. The James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, which was named for the board's president, is now a major draw for the small seaside community.

Activities

   The James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve provides up-close views of the region's tidepools, which are exposed twice a day. During low tide, you can see native plants and animals such as starfish, mollusks, crabs, sponges, sea anemones and seaweed.
   Montara State Beach is located just north of Moss Beach. Montara is a popular location for visitors to go surf fishing. It's also home to Montara Mountain, which offers challenging hiking trails and scenic views of the ocean.
   The Moss Beach Distillery is a great place for spirits -- literally. Legend says the establishment is haunted by the ghost of a young woman who  frequented the place during its speakeasy days. If you're not one for ghost stories, visit another of the town's bars and restaurants, some of which also date back to the Prohibition.

Moss Beach Fast Facts

   Location: Moss Beach is located on the Pacific coast, about 23 miles south of San Francisco
  *Total area: 1.79 square miles
  *Population: 1,953
  *Housing units: 771
   Average annual rainfall: 27.96 inches
   Average temperatures: 59ºF in summer, 51ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Schools

   There are no public schools in Moss Beach. Students attend classes in neighboring communities.

Maps of Moss Beach

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