Story & Photos by John Vonderlin
email John ([email protected])
Hi June,
Yesterday Meg and I went to the brand new Interpretive Center’s Grand Opening at Ano Nuevo State Park. This over 3- million dollar addition to the state park was constructed in the old buildings of “The Steele Dairy,” on Point Ano Nuevo.
The old cow barn holds the Marine Education Center.
The horse barn
holds a theatre and classroom and the two- story creamery has been converted into the headquarters for the hundreds of volunteers and the park office.
There is a Gift Shop where you can buy books (including one of yours, “The Coburn Mystery,”
souvenirs, posters, etc.
There are interpretive displays inside and picnic tables outside with a to-kill-for view of Ano Nuevo Island from this historic point.
Best of all (in my mind) there is a warm, sheltered spot to gather in this often windy and cold spot, while you wait for your docent-guided tour to see the Elephant Seal’s rookery further out the point.
When you’re poking around in the barns note the giant weathered timbers used to construct them. A sign mentions they were salvaged from a storm-wrecked local wharf.
I assume that is none other then the Waddell Wharf I’ve written about before. I recommend you check out this valuable addition to our understanding of the historic south coast of San Mateo County. Enjoy. John