COMMISSION

Most of the wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses that
can be found on the dunes are fragile and easily
destroyed. Plants that are native to the area include
the arroyo willow, California sagebrush, sand verbena,
and bush lupine. European beach grass is an
introduced species, brought in around the turn of the
century to stabilize the dunes. Rare plants that may be
seen here include surf thistle and giant coreopsis.
Pismo clam populations fluctuate dramatically due to a variety of natural influences. A
fragile and valuable resource, Pismo clams may be taken with specific regulations.
Park History
The Chumash Indians lived in the Oceano Dunes area for thousands of years. Evidence of
their presence can be seen in several locations in the dunes in the form of “middens,” which
are piles of shells left after the Chumash collected them for food. State and federal law
protects these middens.
The first documentation of motorized vehicles being
operated on the beach was a 1906 newspaper article
announcing that Ford Motor Company was meeting in
Pismo Beach for a rally between California’s northern
and southern car dealerships. Early photos depict
families enjoying the beach and dunes in horse drawn
carriages and on bicycles.
Pavilion Hill, a large vegetated dune, is named for the huge Victorian style dance pavilion,
which was built at the turn of the 20th century. There was also a pier extending into the
ocean in front of the Pavilion. The Pavilion was torn down in 1921 as it was in disrepair
after years of existence on a naturally moving sand dune. During the depression years of
the 1930s extending into the 1940s, a colony of artists, writers, and others known as the
Dunites lived east of the dunes.
The original park property was acquired and operated as an SVRA in 1974. It was then
called the Pismo Dunes SVRA and State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District managed
it as an extension of Pismo State Beach. Over the years, additional adjacent properties
were acquired. In 1982, the California Park and Recreation Commission established a new
district and the Division took over active management of the park. Thereafter, the park was
named Oceano Dunes SVRA.
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