The Center occupies a ranch-style house and grounds that were once the home of Hulda Hoover McLean, daughter of President Herbert Hoover’s brother, Theodore. It now consists of an intimate, protected courtyard surrounded by a main meeting room, exhibit rooms that showcase both the natural and cultural history of the area—including photos of the Hoover family—a gift shop, and a large deck overlooking Waddell Valley and the Pacific Ocean. For those interested in birding, botany, intertidal marine life, and riparian habitat, the Waddell Beach and the many Rancho del Oso trails offer superb recreation for the amateur or professional naturalist. Waddell Beach is also known worldwide as one of the best spots for windsurfing and kite surfing. Regular surfers and boogie boarders also find it an ideal spot to pursue their activities.
California State Parks, in partnership with the Waddell Creek Association, preserves and interprets the natural environment, history, and cultural artifacts of the Waddell Valley and vicinity. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the park at any time, but the Nature Center is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
When you visit, please be sure and park in designated areas only and note that dogs are not allowed in any portion of Rancho del Oso.
Email address: rdobigbasin@gmail.com
Additional contact information for the Nature Center is at the bottom of the page.
Some Useful LInks:
www.santacruzstateparks.org
www.mountainparks.org
www.parks.ca.gov
http://sanmateocoastnha.org/pages/links.html
www.ThatsMyPark.org
