8/10 Good
Leslie A.
Jan 2, 2026
Leslie A.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Entire home
Point Arena Lighthouse - Head Keeper's House
Photo gallery for Point Arena Lighthouse - Head Keeper's House
Reviews
8.0 out of 10
Very good
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 41120 sq ft
Popular amenities
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area
About this property
Point Arena Lighthouse - Head Keeper's House
The 154 year old Light Station is a 23 acre gem on the rugged and remote Mendocino Coast in Northern California. Home to the 115' tall Lighthouse Tower, 1896 Fog Signal Building Museum and Light Station Store and our 7 vacation cottages and studios. Surrounded on 3 sides by the Pacific Ocean and on the 4th by the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument, the Light Station offers the most unique lodging option on the Mendocino Coast. Watch for migrating gray and humpback whales, enjoy the resident harbor seals bobbing in the water, watch the various seabirds fly by and marvel at the ever changing skies, waves and views. Stay with us and you will get unlimited access to the Indoor and Outdoor Museums and Tower Tours up the tallest Lighthouse on the Pacific Coast. Make us your base of operations for exploring the many fascinating and unique sites nearby.
The Head Keeper’s House has been remodeled to convert it into a two bedroom and one bath mid-century modern showplace. It includes a wood burning fireplace (firewood provided) in the living room, fully stocked kitchen with gas stove, dining room, satellite television, CD/DVD player, free Wi-Fi, back patio and majestic views of the Pacific from every room. This beautifully appointed home offers queen beds with memory foam mattresses in each room. The new bathroom has large format porcelain wave tile walls and herringbone mosaic floor in the shower. All new furniture, decor, artwork and window coverings make this a place to rival our current showcase Assistant Keeper’s House 4. The home comfortably accommodates up to four adults and the kitchen is stocked accordingly with pots & pans, utensils, mixing bowls, cutting boards, measuring cups, coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc. We provide salt and pepper, bring your own spices, cooking oils, foil, plastic wrap and/or storage containers. You are welcome to use the picnic table on your private patio outside of the kitchen and dining room. The Pacific Ocean is out your front and back doors, the coastal mountain range and Manchester State Beach are just to the east and you are only a few steps away from the Point Arena Light Station Store. Up to 2 pets are allowed in this unit.
The Head Keeper’s House has been remodeled to convert it into a two bedroom and one bath mid-century modern showplace. It includes a wood burning fireplace (firewood provided) in the living room, fully stocked kitchen with gas stove, dining room, satellite television, CD/DVD player, free Wi-Fi, back patio and majestic views of the Pacific from every room. This beautifully appointed home offers queen beds with memory foam mattresses in each room. The new bathroom has large format porcelain wave tile walls and herringbone mosaic floor in the shower. All new furniture, decor, artwork and window coverings make this a place to rival our current showcase Assistant Keeper’s House 4. The home comfortably accommodates up to four adults and the kitchen is stocked accordingly with pots & pans, utensils, mixing bowls, cutting boards, measuring cups, coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc. We provide salt and pepper, bring your own spices, cooking oils, foil, plastic wrap and/or storage containers. You are welcome to use the picnic table on your private patio outside of the kitchen and dining room. The Pacific Ocean is out your front and back doors, the coastal mountain range and Manchester State Beach are just to the east and you are only a few steps away from the Point Arena Light Station Store. Up to 2 pets are allowed in this unit.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Pet friendly
Outdoor Space
Parking available
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House Rules
Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0-17
Events
No events allowed
Pets
Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the neighborhood
Point Arena
Point Arena is home to this cottage. Point Arena Lighthouse & Museum and Arena Theater are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Bowling Ball Beach and Mendocino Coast Massage. Arena Rock Marine Nature Preserve and Gualala Arts Center are also worth visiting.
Point Arena, CA
What's nearby
- California Coastal National Monument - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
- Point Arena Lighthouse & Museum - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
- Arena Rock Marine Nature Preserve - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
- Irish Beach - 19 min drive - 18.2 km
- Manchester Beach - 21 min drive - 13.7 km
Restaurants
- The Record - 11 min drive
- Gama - 11 min drive
- Franny's Cup & Saucer - 11 min drive
- Pier Place - 14 min drive
- Arena Market & Cafe - 11 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
8.0
Very Good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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About the host
Hosted by Point Arena Lighthouse Lodging
The Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI) is a 501(c)(30 non-profit that owns the 23 acre Light Station and all its buildings and structures. We receive no funding from any government or charitable institutions, we are completely dependent on our lodging revenue, museum and Tower tours, Light Station Store sales and PALKI memberships to keep the light shining in our 154th year.
Why they chose this property
The 23 acre Light Station was deeded to the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. (PALKI) by the U. S. Coast Guard and Department of Transportation due to its diligent maintenance and management of the property.
What makes this property unique
The Point Arena Light Station #496 was established in 1869 and the original Lighthouse was first lit on May 1, 1870. The vacation cottages and studios on the property were built in 1960 by the U. S. Coast Guard to house the Lightkeepers and their families. 5 of the 7 units have been completely remodeled and updated. Every guest is entitled to unlimited tours of the Indoor Museum, Outdoor Museum and 115' tall Lighthouse Tower. The Station features four unique stone installations including the entry fence (the only one of its kind in the world), the Labyrinth, fanciful "Shiprock" stone sculpture and the Druids Circle/Homage to Stonehenge. Watch the gray whales migrate north and south from December through May, humpbacks throughout the year, and other marine mammals. We are an active harbor seal rookery with many pups born annually around March of each year and are a favorite migratory flyby of pelicans, seabirds and geese. With minimal nearby lights our nighttime sky is ablaze with stars and the Milky Way, and we also offer Full Moon Night Tours most months where you get to climb to the top of the 115' tall Lighthouse Tower under a rising full moon. The wild and remote Mendocino coast of California is beautiful, unique, rugged, soul stirring and very private. We are surrounded on 3 sides by the Pacific Ocean and on the 4th by the 1,665 acre Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument which is easily accessible from the property. Finally, you may get to meet the Lighthouse Guest Relations Managers, Arena Mina the Lighthouse Cat and Tasi the Lighthouse Dog!
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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