Malibu Lagoon State Beach

The Malibu Lagoon is where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. Malibu's Surfrider Beach has a long standing as a premier surfing beach.

On the east side of Malibu Creek Bridge, the famous Malibu Pier allows for excellent saltwater fishing. On the west side of Malibu Creek Bridge, visitors will find picnic tables and a nature area, excellent for bird watching and the study of a unique eco-system, a Southern California saltwater marsh.

The Adamson House at Malibu Lagoon State Beach overlooks the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach. This blufftop showplace of Malibu historical artifacts is a California Historical Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Stiles O. Clements in 1929, this Spanish Colonial Revival home contains the best surviving examples of decorative ceramic tile produced by Malibu Potteries. The home was built for Merritt Huntley Adamson and Rhoda Rindge Adamson, daughter of Frederick Hastings Rindge and May Knight Rindge—last owners of the Rancho Malibu Spanish grant.

The adjacent Malibu Lagoon Museum allows visitors to walk through the history of the area from the days of the California Indian "Chumash" tribe, to the gentlemen ranchers, and finally to the birth of the surfing era. Museum docents give delightful tours filled with local legends and anecdotes.

Guided tours of the wetlands and other natural elements such as grunion, the monarch butterfly, tidepools, and the gray whale are scheduled seasonally. The Malibu Lagoon beach features wetlands, flower gardens and a sandy beach.

Additional Information

Good For

Families

Wheelchairs

Activities

Boating

Hiking

Scuba Diving

Swimming

Windsurfing

Picnicking

Fishing

Wildlife Watching

Guided Tours

Birdwatching

Sightseeing

Rules & Regulations

Dogs Permitted With Restrictions

Accessibility Description

http://access.parks.ca.gov/parkinfo.asp?park=223&type=0

Hours

The grounds are open 7 days a week from 8:00am to sunset.

The historic Adamson House is open for tours Thursday-Saturday from 11am-3pm with the last tour beginning at 2pm. Tours are first come, first serve.

Admission prices:

Adults: $7

6–17 years: $2

5-years and under: free

(cash only for all tour fees)

Directions and Parking

Location-Directions

From Santa Monica, follow the Pacific Coast Highway 13 miles west. From the 101 Freeway, exit at Las Virgenes Road, proceed 10-miles west through Malibu Canyon, turn left at Pacific Coast Highway, travel 1.5-miles east. Entrance for parking and the nature area is at Cross Creek Road. Walk east across the bridge and follow the dirt lane at to the Adamson House. Latitude/Longitude: 34.0333 / -118.6783

The State Beach parking lot is located on the west side of the Malibu Creek Bridge. A county parking lot is located directly in front of the Adamson House.

Parking fees (for the State Beach parking lot):

All day – $12.00 per car, per day
3 hrs – $9.00 per car
2 hrs – $6.00 per car
1 hr – $3.00 per car

Disabled Access:

Vehicles are not allowed on the grounds unless the license plate displays the disabled emblem. Disabled access to the museum and the first floor of the house is available. A video of the upper floor is available upon request.

The Malibu Lagoon Museum

The Malibu Lagoon Museum adjoins Adamson House and contains an intriguing collection of artifacts, rare photographs, and documents depicting the colorful history of Malibu. The museum takes the visitor from the early Chumash Indian era through the Spanish California culture. Here is an excellent opportunity to relive the genteel and romantic ranching days of the famed Rindge and Adamson families and learn about dramatic episodes in Malibu's rich history: the Malibu Railroad; the 50-room Castle on the Hill; the 17-year legal battle over a Malibu highway; the Malibu movie colony; the Malibu Dam, and much more.

Adamson House Tour

This docent-led tour is a guided visit through Adamson House, which contains its original furnishings and features a spectacular display of the renowned Malibu Potteries tile. Trained volunteer docents relate the engaging history of the house and the Adamson family and reveal details of its architecture and decorative elements.

Adamson House Garden Tour

Adamson House Garden Tour is a docent-led walking tour of the landmark gardens, beautifully preserved in their 1930s appearance. It is offered at 10 am every Friday. The $7 fee includes an Adamson House tour; no reservation is required. Garden tours for groups of ten or more are offered at 10 am on Tuesdays and reservations are required.

School Tours

“EDUCATION THROUGH EXPLORATION”, the children’s education program at Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum focuses on youth in elementary school grades. The program introduces students to the park’s extraordinary biological diversity. Topics include Chumash Indian culture; ecology; plant, fish and animal life; and environmental pollution. Binoculars and magnifying glasses enhance the visit, which combines the fun of taking a trip to the beach with an opportunity to learn fascinating facts about the natural and cultural history of the Malibu Lagoon.

Tours of Adamson House introduce students to how a family lived in the 1930s and invite comparisons to present-day life and society. The lavish use of tile and other distinctive decorative elements is also discussed.

Children’s tours are provided by state park docents, sponsorships are provided by Malibu Adamson House Foundation. Call 310 456-8432 or ah.childrenstours@parks.ca.gov for more information

Volunteers

BECOMING A STATE PARK VOLUNTEER AT ADAMSON HOUSE is a rich and rewarding experience. It allows enthusiasts to share the history of Malibu, the Rindge and Adamson families, and the distinctive qualities of the house with visitors from all over the world.

With a minimum commitment of eight hours per month, you can share your passion with the visiting public either as a trained docent tour guide or as a volunteer in the Visitor Center, while enjoying the friendship of fellow volunteers. Please email: ah.volunteers@parks.ca.gov.