Caspar is a small unincorporated village on the north coast of California. Caspar's cluster of houses huddles together for protection from the storms and big ocean. Caspar is practically invisible to folks whizzing past along Highway One – a steeple (now the Jewish Community Center shul), a schoolhouse (now the Community Center), and the remnants of a thriving turn-of-the-century mill town. Caspar (pop. 500+/-) lies midway between Fort Bragg Noyo Bida 5 miles north, our local ‘big town,’ and Mendocino, five miles  south, the tourist destination. Caspar is blessed with two perfect beaches, our Community Center, the famous Caspar Inn, the shul, businesses, friendly Casparados, and a strong sense of place. 

Unique among several villages along the Mendocino Coast, Caspar's unusual form of self-governance – by consensus, and holding closely to ideals of kindness, inclusiveness, resiliency, and care for all Caspar's life-forms – makes our Community Center a uniquely friendly, welcoming, and adaptable venue. We invite you to come and share the Caspar Spirit.

Caspar Beach

A local favorite, Caspar Beach is one of the most family-friendly beaches in the area, and one of California's few 'accessible' beaches. Parking is right on the beach and there is a general store located across the road with outdoor restrooms.

The ocean in Caspar Anchorage (Caspar Beach) usually has mild surf and is frequented by beginner surfers, kayakers, and paddleboarders.

Ocean Safety

Each year along our North Coast, people are swept off the rocks or beaches and drown. Please check weather alerts for high surf and never leave children unattended on the shore or on the rocks.

Even on calm days, occasional rogue waves unexpectedly surge farther up the beaches than usual. Don`t be fooled by an ocean that looks calm. Such “sneaker” waves can rush ashore without warning, sweeping people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches. These waves can also move large objects such as logs, crushing anyone caught underneath. Never turn your back on the Pacific Ocean!

The headlands and bluffs are scenic and wonderful areas to explore, but people come to grief there too. Steep drop-offs and crumbling edges are all dangers to avoid. When walking near the edge, pay attention, and mind the children! 

Please keep pets on leashes and keep children close by while exploring these areas.

Outdoor Ceremonies

The Caspar Headlands belong to us all (as State Parks) and are often the site for memorable weddings and events (Parks permission required). The endless horizon and broad coastal meadows make the bluffs a romantic and adventurous area for exploring or special moments.

For more information about events on State Park property: Caspar Headlands State Beach offers vistas of the rugged coastline and the majestic Pacific Ocean. There are a number of spectacular and picturesque sites for weddings and other special events along the panoramic Mendocino coastline, For help finding the ideal location for your special occasion, contact the State Park's Mendocino Sector office (Phone: 707-937-5804).

While it's usually bright here in Caspar, in summer, hot inland weather sucks the cold Pacific's marine layer over us like a blanket. Mark Twain didn't say The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco, but he might have. Our weather is much like the City's. 'Pea soup' fog rolls in unexpectedly, sometimes mild, sometimes cold and windy, soaking everythingin a short time. Sometimes it feels like the ocean has surrounded you, and you're on an island where the air smells of seaweed, fish, and salt. The sun and blue sky are often visible a few hundred yard to the east. Typically, the fog comes and goes (and comes and goes . . .) Fog is hard to predict and unavoidable. We who live with it year 'round think it's magical and intimate . . . and it sure beats inland 105° heat.

Wedding season: We are usually fully booked for weekends from June through October, and local lodging is often limited. Book early.

Fire season: Our coastal forests and most year-'round marine climate make us reasonably safe from wildfires, but we have experienced intense smoke from inland fires, and we are surrounded by a large, barely maintained State Forest. Fire season nowadays is March-November.

• June-uary: often the first weeks of the calendar year are crystalline, sunny, calm. We have the place to ourselves (but you could be here too.)
• Late Summer, Early Fall: less fog, warm but not hot, fewer visitors, so we begin to stretch out and enjoy this luscious place.
• Spring: 'jungle season', everything growing so fast you can almost see it. Vibrant greens, clear blue skies, ultramarine ocean. Whales spout as they swim by.
• Stormy days: big winds and waves, horizontal rain, fish swimming by the windows (not really, but could be). Warm inside curled up with a good book.

• Friendly, unstressed people.
• Natures prevails: Deer in the back yard, massive ocean extends forever westward, visible from the Center. Clean air, mostly from the northwest, off the Gulf of Alaska. Dark skies and amazing starscape. Have you seen the Milky Way recently?
• Moderate traffic and sparse population (compared to cities). Not on the way from anywhere to anywhere, but an 'island' separated from most of California by the Coast Range . . . so people are here to be HERE, not just passing through. Twisty roads to get here, so allow time for 35 mph driving.
• Excellent restaurants and food choices. Two great Farmers' Markets and several farm stands offer locally grown food. Fresh seafood. A locavore's delight
• Awesome recreation and touristic opportunities: trails, bike trails, long paved (accessible) walks along coast and river. Lots of State Parks nearby (two right on Caspar's borders.) Massive State Forest just east.
• No stoplights! (Fort Bragg has 7, Mendocino 1) Most traffic whizzes by on Coast Highway One, so Caspar's streets belong to People. (Please remember that, city folk, when driving.) Leave your stress behind (but please, don't tell anyone. Let's keep Caspar just between us: our secret.

new RIGHT frame