Here in California, we don’t often stumble across ancient, old-world relics, so this mysterious tower makes for an endearing hidden gem down in Laguna Beach.
The Victoria Beach Pirate Tower is actually 100 years old, but its design makes it look straight out of a swashbuckling fairytale from another era. The concrete tower stretches 60 feet tall against a rocky cliff face, crowned by a charming turret.
For the more imaginative among us, visiting the Pirate Tower feels like stepping into a fantasy film, and for the more practically-minded, it makes for a dramatic photograph with a backdrop of crashing waves and brilliant sunsets.
The story of the Pirate Tower
Despite its mysterious appearance, the Pirate Tower’s origins are well-documented. In 1926, California Senator William E. Brown built the structure as a concealed staircase connecting his clifftop residence to the beach below.
Drawing inspiration from castles he and his wife visited in France after World War I, Brown designed the tower with a fairytale aesthetic. The home itself, called the Norman House, is a distinctive coastal retreat.
In the 1940s, Brown sold the Norman House—along with the tower—to retired Navy officer Harold Kendrick. A devoted pirate enthusiast, Kendrick was known for his storytelling and habit of wearing pirate attire, which led locals to nickname the structure “Pirate Tower.”
Over time, the property passed through several owners and was most recently owned by actress Bette Midler. Today, both the house and the Pirate Tower remain privately owned.
Visiting the Pirate Tower
The Pirate Tower sits on Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach, California. To find it, take the public beach access stairs at 2700 Victoria Drive, near the end of Sunset Terrace, down to the sand. From there, head right, climbing over rocks and rounding the bend until the tower comes into view. Keep in mind that it’s not accessible during high tide.
The structure itself is privately owned and kept locked, so while you can walk up to it, you cannot go inside. Parking in this residential area is limited, and most visitors end up leaving their cars along Pacific Coast Highway before walking to the beach.
