It’s not often that us Californians get to experience an ancient, old-world relic, and local adventurers are often thrilled to stumble across this hidden gem evoking a swashbuckling fairytale. This is the Victoria Beach Pirate Tower, a 60-foot-tall concrete tower with a conical roof that you’ll find butting up against a rocky cliff face.
For the more imaginative among us, it looks like something out of a fantasy film; and for the more practically-minded, it makes for a dramatic photograph with a backdrop of crashing waves and brilliant sunsets. You’ll find the Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach, California, a small coastal city in Orange County.
What is the story behind the Pirate Tower?
Despite its enigmatic appearance, the Pirate Tower’s history is quite well-known. California Senator William E. Brown built the tower in 1926 as an enclosed staircase to connect his home on the bluffs with the quaint beach down below. He modeled the structure after the castles he and his wife saw in France at the end of World War I, hence its otherworldly appearance. The home itself is a distinctive coastal lodge known as the Norman House.
In the 1940s, Brown sold the Norman House, tower included, to retired Naval officer Harold Kendrick. Kendrick was known as a vocal pirate aficionado, and his penchant for storytelling, combined with his tendency to dress in pirate clothing, naturally led the locals to call the structure “Pirate Tower.”
The property changed hands several times thereafter, even passing under the ownership of Hollywood actress Bette Middler for a brief period. These days, the home and the Pirate Tower remain privately owned.
How do I get to the Pirate Tower?
The Pirate Tower is located on Victoria Beach in the city of Laguna Beach, California. You’ll find beach access stairs at 2700 Victoria Drive, right at the end of Sunset Terrace. The staircase will take you right down to the sand, and you can walk to the right (over the rocks and around the bend) to find the Pirate Tower.
Be advised that the Pirate Tower is not accessible at high tide.
Can you go inside the Pirate Tower?
The Pirate Tower is private property and is kept locked. You can walk up to the structure, but you cannot go inside of it.
Where do you park to see the Pirate Tower in Laguna Beach?
Be warned: parking is notoriously difficult around this residential part of Laguna Beach. Visitors generally park along the Pacific Coast Highway and then walk from there.