Staff, donors, park partners, and volunteers gathered to celebrate the opening of the building, just in time for the park’s guided tour season. The opening began with a land acknowledgement from members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, followed by speeches from park staff and partners. District Superintendent Chris Spohrer, Coastside State Parks Association President Bill Murray, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Executive Director Bonnie Hawley, and California State Parks Ranger Ziad Bawarshi all spoke, celebrating the hard work and dedication that contributed to the completion of the decades-long project. 

Each year, Año Nuevo welcomes thousands of visitors for guided elephant seal tours, offering a first-hand look at elephant seals as they give birth, fight, nurse, breed, and rest on the beaches. The Staging Area serves as the gateway to the park’s Coast Natural Preserve, offering guests an informal orientation to the tour and enhancing their connection to the park. 

The former staging area was built in 1988 by a volunteer, and a renovation has been in the works for decades. Thanks to generous donations raised by the Coastside State Parks Association, the newly renovated staging area offers an upgraded visitor experience. Nearly double in size, the new building features custom interpretive displays, including three eight-foot high interpretive panels depicting preserve wildlife, designed by Holly Reed and Gay Kraeger of Wildways. The construction details, including custom cedar pillars, stone detailing, and a covered patio, blend with the landscape and provide shelter during stormy coastal weather. 

Guided elephant seal tours began on December 15th, just after the building’s opening. Guests, staff, and volunteers alike have already enjoyed the opportunity to connect more deeply to the park through the new Staging Area. The park looks forward to welcoming visitors for years to come! 

– Gabriella Bates, Santa Cruz District