Sweet Dreams at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel

Let everyone else flee the coast for pricey weekend getaways while you stick around for some fun in the fog at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, which was originally established in 1875 as a fog signal station. This longtime historic landmark has been in the business of providing affordable accommodations to travelers since 1980.

Now, fully outfitted with Tempur-Pedic mattresses, it’s also comfortable to sleep there, too.

So why not stay at this idyllic Pacific Ocean retreat and rediscover the coastline you call home. With easy access to a wide range of outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, horseback riding, whale watching, or just relaxing on the beach, a staycation at the historic Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel can transfer your weekend spent at home from good to unforgettable.

“There’s no shame in trading out your television and comforts of home for a rustic getaway at the Lighthouse,” said Chris Bauman, general manager of the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel. “We do have free wireless so guests won’t feel completely unconnected.”

Plus, with 140 new mattresses, generously donated by Tempur-Pedic through Good360, an organization bringing corporate donations to the nonprofit world, the overnight accommodations at the Hostel couldn’t be more plush.

 “It was a massive upgrade from what we were using, which were basic foam mattresses that are not uncommon in most hostels. The grant from Good360 covered three hostels in the Bay Area,” said Bauman. “It was a necessary change, and it was nice to change to something so deluxe for a hostel.”

Rooms can accommodate two to six people. There’s a common area and kitchen as well. But perhaps what is this most appealing about staying at the lighthouse is that it’s historic and perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific.

“The setting is spectacular and something to experience,” said Bauman.

The Point Montara Lighthouse is much older than previously thought. In 2008 it was discovered that the lighthouse was actually built in 1881 and erected on Wellfleet Harbor in Cape Cod, Mass., where it stood until the light station was decommissioned in 1922. From Cape Cod, the lighthouse made a 3,000-mile journey to Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay, where it waited in a depot until finally being installed at Point Montara in 1928. It is currently the only known lighthouse to have stood watch on two oceans. 

During World War II, the Point Montara light station housed military units including the K-9 Corps. Men and dogs would patrol the beaches below. A mobile artillery unit was also housed here. After the war, the station was served by three Coast Guard keepers until it was automated in 1970.

Automation led to the abandonment of the buildings, which fell into disrepair. Through partnerships between the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA, the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks, and the California Coastal Conservancy, the facility was renovated to become a hostel, and opened its doors to travelers in 1980.

Since then, the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel has welcomed thousands of guests from around the world every year. And now with new mattresses — perhaps more comfortable than many sleep on at home — the Hostel might just be hosting more Coastsiders as well.

To make a reservation, call 728-7177 or e-mail info@montaralighthouse.org. For weekends and holidays expect availability one to two months out.