August 27, 2023 - NoCali Vacation
Sea Ranch - Point Arena Light House
After the scenic hike at Salt Point State Park, we continued heading north on Highway One.  The next thing we came to was Sea Ranch.  Sea Ranch is a planned community beginnning in the 1960s.  It is known for its distinctive timber-frame structures designed by several noted American architects.  A residential community was envisioned that would be built in a way that was not only in tune with nature, but driven by nature.  Sea Ranch which encompass 10 miles of the Sonoma County coastline.  As of 2020, Sea Ranch had a population of 1,169.
   
We stopped in and checked out the Visitors Center.
 
The majority of the 1800 or so homes are smaller second homes, though there are about 300 full-time residents. Approximately half the homes are rented as weekend rentals. The eventual build-out is expected to comprise approximately 2400 homes
   
A look at some of the homes and the unique architecture.
   
We checked out the unique Sea Ranch Chapel, designed by James Hubbell
   
 
   
P15
   
Next stop up the road was the Point Arena Lighthouse.
   
The small museum and gift shop.  We toured this before going up the lighthouse on a guided tour.
   
A close-up look at a Fresnel Lens.  That's some serious glass.
   
I saw these newspaper clippings of how they filmed part of the movie "Forever Young" here.  I had seen the movie long ago, and immediately I remembered Mel Gibson landing a B-25 close to the coast.  This was the place!
 
Forever Young was a good flick; I'll have to watch it again.
 
 
   
An aerial shot of Point Arena lighthouse.
   
Why are lighthouses necessary?  So this doesn't happen.
   
Joe and Lynnette at the top of the lighthouse.
   
Nice view from up here.
   
That little gazebo at left was used in the movie.  They laid down metal plates to make a temporary runway ending at the gazebo and landed a B-25 on it.
   
Looking for whales; didn't see any.
   
Looking north up the coast.
   
Looking south.
   

Looking west across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Leaving Point Arena Lighthouse, we continued north to the Mendocino area where we would be staying in an AirBnB for two nights.
   
 
   
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