One family. More than a century on the Big Sur coast.

Stories, people, and places of the Plasketts — told in their own words.

Boat Day at the Plaskett landing, restored & colorized from the family’s photographs →

Today’s featured story

story

Bears, Cougars, and Wild Animals of Pacific Valley

Winter in Pacific Valley meant bears in the stock pens and cougars in the hills.

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From Mabel’s pen

Tale of the Evans Family

From a green valley in Wales to the Big Sur coast — the Evans family's voyage on a side-wheeler with their cattle penned above the paddle wheel.

All of Mabel’s writings →

Family spotlight

Robert Lucas Cleveland Plaskett 1864–1943

Robert Lucas Cleveland Plaskett was born December 28, 1864. He was one of the three church-building brothers: with Reason and Marion he rode the mountain trail to Jolon to raise St. Luke's Episcopal Church — parishioners' labor, board by board — and it stands yet. He died October 23, 1943.…

Their story →

From the album

From high on Plaskett Ridge, Plaskett Rock rides the blue water off the point.

See the story behind this photograph → · Browse the album

More to explore

mabel article

Dolan Creek Named After Early Coast Homesteader

Eccentric Phillip Dolan trusted no bank, drove his cattle to Monterey alone, and left a thousand dollars sewn in an old coat.

mabel article

ER Sans Nevada History

Her father in full: Edward R. Sans, farmer, lumberman, explorer — Nevada's 'Coyote Man,' the government's legendary predator hunter.

mabel article

Exotic Gardens Is Popular Tourist Stop Near Cambria

Old-timers rode from Gorda to Cambria in a day, saddling before dawn — now the Exotic Gardens greet tourists at the trail's end.

mabel article

Few Drives as Scenic as Coast’s Cabrillo Highway

Where does Big Sur begin and end? Mabel settles it, then takes you the whole way — San Simeon to Point Lobos, stop by stop. Now with our interactive map and free PDF drive guide.

mabel article

Forget Your Worldly Cares At Nepenthe Restaurant

'Wherever you may go, people ask about Nepenthe' — the cliff-top restaurant where the coast forgets its worldly cares.

mabel article

Henry Melville Attracted to Coast by Los Burros Gold

Giant-strong Henry Melville came to Los Burros for the gold — and left stories they still tell: robbers thrown from his cabin, a loaded wagon lifted bare-handed.

232 stories · 1762 family members & friends · 674 places — and the home page changes every few days. Come back soon.