Victoria Beach - Pirate’s Tower
Victoria Beach (Pirate’s Tower in Laguna Beach)
Built in 1926 by William E. Brown, a senator & avid painter, as a staircase to the beach. The tower is 60 feet tall and right on the sand.
Sold in the 1940s to a retired naval captain, Harold Kendrick who loved pirates. He would dress up as a pirate and tell local kids wild stories that would include the tower. He would give out cash prizes to the winners of his scavanger hunts & games and even hide money in the cracks of the tower.
The property has since moved owners various times but is still known by locals as Pirate’s Tower!
Things to do here:
- Visit the tide pools (bring water shoes), the pool of water & see Pirate’s Tower, you can’t go up or inside the tower.
- Swimming (be aware of rocks), snorkling, body boarding, popular for skimboarding
- Volleyball on the beach
When to visit:
If you plan to visit check the tide first. If you visit at the lowest tide the pool in front of the tower is dry and all sand. It is best to visit at low tide-med tide. Avoid high tide or you will have to climb rocks to get to the tower (very unsafe).
Lifegaurd tower close to the tower but there was no lifeguard when we visited.
- No restrooms
- There are no dogs allowed on the beach between June 15 and September 10 between 9-6pm.
How to get here:
Suggested Parking – there is some metered parking on Victoria Place (next to Dizz’s As Is) and walk under Coast Hwy.
And a little past the restaurant is free parking along Coast Hwy. walk back towards & past the restaurant and look for stairs near the bus stop, take them down to walk under Coast Hwy. on Victoria Place.
From there you follow along Victoria Dr. – it is a short walk to the stairs
The closest entrance down to the beach to see the Tower is located at Sunset Terrace & Victoria Dr. – exact location: 2713 Victoria Dr. It’s a mix of ramp & stairs down to the beach. Take a right to get to the pool & Tower.
You can also get here in the summer from the Laguna Beach Trolley.
Things to watch out for:
The area is known for rocks, hazards & rip currents – not suggested for kids to swim out in the ocean here.
Be mindful of the water rising in the tide pools especially behind the tower, the waves come harder here. Avoid visiting at high tide.