Lands End

Lands End — from a place of shipwrecks and Victorian-era amusements, to a derelict urban jungle, to a wonderland of trails, overlooks and a state-of-the-art national park visitors center.

After decades of enjoyment by the public, Sutro Baths, Playland at the Beach and rail lines to Lands End were abandoned. The area fell into neglect with unsightly building debris and overgrown trails. In the 1980’s the National Park Service purchased the property with intent to establish a universal welcome post on the dramatic westernmost edge of the city.

In 1993 a vision for the site was produced. The vision included a visitor center perched on top of the Lands End Bluff overlooking the ruins of Sutro Baths and the Pacific Ocean and a network of accessible trails along this key segment of the California Coastal Trail. The plan sat on a shelf for over ten years before public interest and funding were secured.

The challenge remained to achieve buy-in from a wide range of local constituent groups. Before design as even started, Park and Conservancy staff were meeting with neighbors and local committees to seek input and advice. Face-to-face public engagement enabled a complex project to move forward with success.