Contents

06  Welcome to Los Osos/Baywood Park

08 History of Los Osos/Baywood Park

10 The Treasure of Our Estuary

12 San Luis Obispo County & Central Coast

16 Area Map

18 Community Organizations

22 Governing & Community Services

24 Where to Stay

26 Points of Interest | Things to See & Do

34 Chamber & Community Events

36 Important Phone Numbers

37 Membership Directory

Los Osos/Baywood Park
Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 6282

Los Osos, CA 93412

(805) 528-4884

[email protected]
www.lobpchamber.org

This publication was created and produced by Town Square Publications for theLos Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce

Copyright © 2024 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

(847) 427-4905 | [email protected]

www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and Town Square assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and Town Square is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Director of Operations | Joseph Nugara

Account Executive | Tammie Easson

Project Manager | Sandy King

Welcome to the community of
Los Osos/Baywood Park

The area that was to become the town of Los Osos/ Baywood Park was originally inhabited by the Northern Chumash (Native American people who lived along the California coast). Baywood Park was the first area of the town to be developed. In 1889 speculators arrived in the area, divided the land into 3,000 plots and named the proposed town, El Moro. Their plan for a town, however, was abandoned in 1894 after a proposed railroad project along the coast failed to be completed.

Walter Redfield came to the area in 1919 and bought the 3,000 plots and later, the surrounding land in the area for investment, development and future sale.

Richard Otto purchased a few lots from Walter Redfield in 1921 and later purchased the remaining lots selling them from an office in Los Angeles. Richard Otto changed the name of El Moro to Baywood Park to avoid confusion with Morro Bay.

Only in the 1970s and 1980s, however, did the Los Osos/Baywood Park area blossom in the way that earlier developers had envisioned.

The name Los Osos, which means “the bears” in Spanish, was officially given by the Post Office in July, 1974 to the communities of Los Osos, Baywood Park, and several other residential areas.

Los Osos/Baywood Park is nestled along the Southern tidal estuary of Morro Bay on the smog-free coast of Central California. The town is a short 20-minute drive from San Luis Obispo through lush agricultural and cattle grazing countryside, a short 3-mile drive from Morro Bay (home of the well-known Morro Rock) and just a few hours’ drive from several major metropolitan areas.

With a population of approximately 16,000, the town is situated on land that rises from a few feet to 148 feet above sea level. Los Osos/Baywood Park offers a full complement of service clubs, organizations and activities, all of which support the quality of life that makes our community unique.

There are two elementary schools and one middle school in Los Osos/Baywood Park, and a high school in nearby Morro Bay. You’ll also find a park, tennis courts, skate park, a library and a community center. The town has its own fire station and quality medical care, including hospitals in San Luis Obispo.

We invite you to visit and experience the magic of the American GOOD LIFE that still exists in Los Osos/Baywood Park. Take the time to discover this charming community which boasts clean air, friendly neighbors and community pride.

The community is easily reached by automobile from Highway 101 by taking the Los Osos Valley Road exit and traveling west on Los Osos Valley Road and from Highway 1 by taking the Los Osos/Baywood Park exit and traveling south on South Bay Boulevard.

Los Osos/Baywood Park can also be reached by bus, rail, and air:

Greyhound (San Luis Obispo)

www.greyhound.com • (800) 231-2222

Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

www.slorta.org • (805) 781-4472

Amtrak Passenger Train

www.amtrak.com • (800) 872-7245

San Luis Obispo County Airport

www.sloairport.com • (805) 781-5205

Historical
Los Osos/Baywood Park

Chumash people lived in the Los Osos Valley for thousands of years. The few remaining Chumash woven baskets, steatite carvings and rock paintings found throughout the county all demonstrate the complex and sophisticated culture of the tribe.

Skilled hunters on land with bows and slings, they also built tule balsas, canoe-like boats of dried bullrushes made into bundles with a willow pole inside. These were lashed together and formed a seatless boat for fishing. Almost all Chumash culture and artifacts disappeared however, when the Spanish missions were built and the natives were forced to adopt European ways.

The first Europeans in the area were sailors led by Juan Cabrillo, who sailed along the coast in 1542 and claimed Alta California for Spain. Overland exploration didn’t come until over 200 years later, when Captain Gaspar de Portolá led the “Sacred Expedition” northward in search of Monterey Bay and discovered San Francisco Bay by accident. On September 7, 1769, a party of 63 men arrived here, and the expedition’s priest, Juan Crespi, noted the “spacious valley with many lagoons of fresh water.” The soldiers called the area La Cañada de Los Osos, “The Valley of the Bears” because of its most notable inhabitants.

In 1769 the valley was well populated by the California Grizzly (Ursus arctos califonicus). In 1772 the inhabitants of Mission San Carlos in Monterey and Mission San Antonio near Jolon, were in danger of starving. Parties of soldiers were led back to La Cañada de Los Osos to kill grizzlies for food. The mission’s inhabitants were saved, but it was the beginning of the end for grizzlies.

The soldiers’ name for our valley was applied to the first Mexican land grant, Rancho Cañada de Los Osos, awarded on December 1, 1842. In the political turmoil of those years the land changed hands several times, and it was not until September 24, 1845 that its ownership began to stabilize. In the 1880s the area was known as the Los Osos Valley and was dotted with small farms and dairies. The mild marine climate and rich soils were perfect, then as now, for agricultural uses. Wheat, eggs, dairy products and livestock were shipped from the area through Morro Bay and the landing at the Spooner Ranch in what is now Montaña de Oro State Park.

Our town was originally called El Moro, and came about through land investors in 1889, who planned the area to be the next San Francisco. The streets were laid out on a grid, and lots were sold from the actual San Francisco. The boom was predicated on a railroad that was to arrive here to quickly carry local goods to markets north and south. When the routing was changed to the Cuesta Grade, the land was abandoned until new investors arrived: Walter Redfield in 1919, and Richard Otto, who made his fortune buying, then selling, Redfield’s lots in the early 1920s.

COMMEMORATIVE SIGNS

Jim Sims, former president of the Los Osos/ Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce and architect Tom Courtney are both credited with instigating the establishment of the large redwood signs for the two entrances to town in 1978-1979, to commemorate the history of the Valley. Artist Robert Brooks carved and painted them. One remains where it was originally placed on South Bay Boulevard near Santa Ysabel Avenue. The other sign, on Los Osos Valley Road near the cemetery, was struck by a drunk driver and partially demolished. Brooks carved and painted a replacement. That sign was moved closer to town and placed on the opposite side of the road.

The Treasure of Our Estuary

Estuaries, where the fresh water of rivers and creeks meet the salt water of the sea, are among the earth’s richest and most productive habitats. They serve as the principal spawning ground and nurseries for at least two-thirds of our nation’s commercial fisheries and are critically important to shorebirds and waterfowl.

They provide irreplaceable recreational and aesthetic enjoyment and are home to valuable and diverse species of fish, shellfish, and wildlife. Those living in the Morro Bay watershed also know that estuaries are home to many people, are heavily used and abused, and that we tend to interfere with these natural systems. Estuaries, including Morro Bay, are threatened by sedimentation, toxic and bacterial contamination, agricultural runoff, loss of habitat, and just plain overuse. It was not long ago that we called estuaries swamps and considered them wastelands whose best use was achieved only after being drained and filled. We now know better, and because Morro Bay was spared this fate, we have a great opportunity and responsibility to work to understand and protect this wonderful treasure. Many past and present groups—Morro Bay National Estuary Program, The Bay Foundation, Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest, Central Coast State Parks Association, Morro Coast Audubon Society, and others are working hard toward this end but can always use another hand, back, idea or donation.

Located along the coast of California north of Santa Barbara County and south of Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County contains 3,316 square miles of scenic and widely varying terrain. The 85-mile coastline is noted for mild weather and seasonal fog, while the northern inland region has climate extremes from 20 degrees on a winter morning to 115 degrees on a summer afternoon. The Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range bisects the two regions. Geological formations of note are the volcanic peaks formed 25 million years ago and known as the Nine Sisters.

San Luis Obispo County

& the Central Coast

San Luis Obispo County was created in 1850, the year California became a state. The county, including the Los Osos area, was written about by diarists on the 1769 expedition of Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá.

Earlier still, the native population, the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini, or Northern Chumash, lived here as long as 10,000 years ago, and are the human inhabitants of the area here the longest.

Carrizo Plain National Monument, in the county’s southeastern area, has the largest single native grassland remaining in California and is known for spectacular blooms in the spring. It includes Painted Rock in the Carrizo Plain Rock Art Discontiguous District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Cambria’s Monterey pine forest is one of three native stands left in the state, and one of five in the world. The Morro Bay National Estuary, is the smallest of the 28 national estuaries in the country. Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, adjacent and to the south is home to 350 bird species. There is a wide range of wildlife in the county from giant Elephant seals, to Monarch butterflies.

Crop values for San Luis Obispo County reached another record high in 2023, as overall farmgate value edged past $1.1 billion for the first, with strawberries and wine grapes topping the list. Tourism plays a large part in the county’s economy as well, due to spectacular scenery, noteworthy restaurants, new hotels, numerous recreational opportunities and over 280 wineries with tasting rooms. The county population is small, 282,424 as of the 2020 census. The largest employers are the state university, state prison, state hospital, and Camp Roberts.

California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly), one of the more competitive public colleges or universities in the state with 65 bachelor’s and 39 master’s degrees, is a large cultural influence in the city of San Luis Obispo. Their Performing Arts Center (the PAC) is active with dance, music, and theater. Cuesta College’s Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CPAC) has a nationally distinguished performing arts program of music and theater. The yearly San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, and Festival Mosaic are destination experiences for entertainment and music that take place in venues around the county. The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville in Oceano, is niche famous for its retro theater experience.

County museums include the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, the Estrella Warbird Museum, history centers/ museums in the architecturally significant Carnegie Libraries of San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, the Colony Museum in Atascadero, Camp Roberts Historical Museum, San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, and many others. Hearst Castle, a National and California Historic Landmark, is famous in part for its spectacular Neptune Pool, and over-the top dining hall. Spanish and Mexican influences are seen in the two missions, Mission San Miguel Archangel (founded 1797) and Mission San Luis Obispo De Tolosa (founded 1772), and the historic adobes. Some adobes are preserved and open to the public and others await restoration. Dana Adobe in Nipomo, the Dallidet Adobe and Sauer-Adams Adobe in San Luis Obispo; the two Canet Adobes (one in San Luis Obispo and one near Morro Bay), Rios-Caledonia Adobe in San Miguel and the La Loma Adobe in San Luis Obispo are some available to see. Others are on private land, and a few of those are still in use.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy hiking in Montaña de Oro State Park, scenic drives to Ragged Point, cycling county-wide, balloon and zip line adventures in North County, and South County’s Oceano Dunes. There are good surfing spots at various beaches, but bring your wet suit!

area map

Community Organizations

KIWANIS CLUB OF BAY-OSOS

Since 1982 the Kiwanis Club of Bay-Osos has served our local communities of Los Osos, Baywood Park and Morro Bay by providing signature events and funding centered on supporting our local kids. From the beginning, hundreds of volunteer members have barbecued tons of beef and chicken, burgers and dogs, flipped a boatload of pancakes, boiled and dyed or stuffed with treats thousands of Easter Eggs, and aided our youth along the path from Cub Den to Eagle Scout, fostered young leaders through the Kiwanis Key Leader program, provided Morro Bay High School graduates with scholarship assistance, helped parent’s organizations in fund-raising at Baywood Elementary and Los Osos Middle School and the Athletic Support Group at MBHS. We’ve done all of this while having a great time making good friends and meeting our neighbors. For more information, please visit our website at Kiwanisbayosos.org or look for us on Facebook. Our club meets at Sea Pines Golf Resort every Wednesday for lunch and an informational program at noon. Please come join us for lunch!

CELEBRATE LOS OSOS

Celebrate Los Osos is a non-profit group whose goal is to improve and beautify public spaces, conserve resources, and create a positive community spirit. They recruit volunteers to build, paint, plant, repair and maintain public spaces in need of improvement. Working on these projects as a group creates camaraderie and community spirit! Since its founding in 2008, the group has refurbished the large, carved redwood signs at the two entrances to town, repainted the two “Welcome Bears” near the entrance bridges, restored the historic 1919 event venue “The Red Barn,” added benches in public spaces, installed a telescope viewer at Sweet Springs, created interpretive signage on local history, performed yearly clean-ups of the Cuesta Inlet where watercraft are stored and launched daily, plus many more. They partner with other organizations: the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, the Grizzly Youth Academy, the Baywood Navy, San Luis Obispo County Parks Department, and many more. Visit www.celebratelososos. org for more information.

LOS OSOS VALLEY GARDEN CLUB

The LOV Garden Club encourages gardening and landscaping in our community through talks, tours, hands-on activities, and donations. We are involved in various efforts that help us achieve our goals. These include visiting public and private gardens and nurseries, hosting workshops with gardening experts, participating in community gardening and beautification projects, supporting gardening education for youth, and fundraising plant sales. Our activities extend beyond this as well! For more information about LOV Garden Club or to become a member visit www.lovgardenclub.org or email us at [email protected].

FARMERS’ MARKET

The market, offering local, in-season farm fresh produce, is held in Baywood Park, on Santa Maria Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets every Monday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Visit www.northcountyfarmersmarkets.com for more information.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ESTERO BAY

Established in 1992, the Community Foundation of Estero Bay (CFEB) is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers. It helps children in the communities of Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria take part in sports, recreation, and enrichment activities, no matter their family’s financial situation. 

For over 30 years, CFEB has been a reliable partner in the community, providing funding for programs that support families in need. With the help of private donations and grants, CFEB has made it possible for thousands of children in Estero Bay to access valuable opportunities for learning, growth, and play.

FRIENDS OF EL MORO ELFIN FOREST – FEMEF

Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest spearheaded the five-year long fundraising campaign that finally saved the Elfin Forest from development 31 years ago. Ever since 1994, this all-volunteer organization continues to be responsible for protecting, preserving, and educating about this priceless natural area under an Adopt-A-Park agreement with San Luis Obispo County Parks. Monthly work parties pull weeds and trim vegetation along the trails and boardwalk. Volunteers repair the boardwalk and benches as needed. FEMEF’s writers and editors publish the quarterly newsletter Oakleaves, and produce other educational materials. Local experts lead monthly nature walks and guided walks are offered to schools and other groups upon request. For information about FEMEF’s programs, the plants and wildlife protected in the Elfin Forest, joining our volunteers, or to donate to support FEMEF’s work, please visit www.femef.org or www.elfin-forest.org, write to FEMEF, PO Box 6442, Los Osos, CA 93412-6442, or leave a message at 805-528-0392.

LOS OSOS ROTARY CLUB 

The Rotary Club of Los Osos was chartered in 1987 and is part of Rotary International. As a volunteer service organization, the Club uses the Rotary seven areas of focus to identify and meet needs in our local and world communities. They are peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and the environment. Local projects include a monthly road clean up along LOVR, providing a free holiday meal to our seniors each year, putting on the annual Family Fun Fair at no cost to participants, providing scholarships.
For more information visit https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2838 or email [email protected]

LOS OSOS CARES

Los Osos Cares, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works with others to promote a culture of care. They identify the needs of the underserved in the Estero Bay Community and find resources to meet those needs. Los Osos Cares offers support, solutions to problems, guidance on resources, and referrals through Womenade. They are committed to helping you connect with local and county resources that can assist you. Visit losososcares.com or email [email protected]

MORRO COAST AUDUBON SOCIETY

The Morro Coast Audubon Society works to value, protect, and restore natural areas, focusing on the variety of birds, other animals, and their homes, especially in San Luis Obispo County, California. MCAS is part of a larger network that includes California Audubon and the National Audubon Society, which has been around since 1905. This network collaborates to safeguard birds, protect endangered species, preserve vital habitats, support important ecosystems, and manage wildlife effectively. To learn more about MCAS visit www.morrocoastaudubon.org or email, [email protected].

SOUTH BAY COMMUNITY CENTER

The community center, rising through the trees in serene Los Osos Community Park, is located at Palisades Avenue and Los Osos Valley Road. It is unique in that the citizens of Los Osos/Baywood Park made the center a reality in 1986 without tax dollars. The original funds were made possible through a state grant, local service clubs, private donations and fundraising. Many hours of hard work by local citizens were painstakingly poured into the effort to create the center. The building provides a meeting place for the whole community. Public meetings, events, weddings, classes and recreation programs for those of all ages keep the center booming with activity. It is a non-profit, public benefit corporation, still maintained through donations and rental fees and governed by a volunteer board of directors of local residents. The building capacity is 472 people and seats 250-300 people comfortably for dining. Call the South Bay Community Center at (805) 528-4169 or send an email to [email protected]

Governing & COMMUNITY SERVICES

LOS OSOS COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (LOCAC)

The Los Osos Community Advisory Council or LOCAC is the voice of the Los Osos and Baywood community for issues that are affecting Los Osos and Los Osos Valley. It is an 11-member volunteer group that represents the four districts in Los Osos. LOCAC makes recommendation on issues important to Los Osos to SLO County departments, the Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission. The committees that report up to LOCAC include: trees and landscape, active transportation, outreach, land use, and ad hoc water. The LOCAC meetings are held on Zoom the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. All meetings and committee meetings are open to the public. All information on LOCAC and its committees including agenda, minutes and documentation can be found on the website locac.info.

LOS OSOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT (LOCSD)

The Los Osos Community Service District was formed in 1998 and provides services that include fire and emergency response, storm water drainage management, water supply for half of the town, solid waste management and some neighborhood street lighting districts. Board meetings are held the first Thursday of each month. Access to Board meetings can be in-person or virtually, and any member of the public can speak to the Board regarding any matter of District authority. Residents and interested parties can receive LOCSD Board meeting agendas, summaries and community announcements via email by registering at http://www.losososcsd.org/contact-us.

There are four committees that advise the Board on various aspects of its operations. Each committee is comprised of up to five community members and chaired by a Board member. The Committees include: Emergency Services, Parks and Recreation, Finance, and Utilities. All committee meetings are open to the public and are held in-person and virtually. We encourage community participation in all our decision-making processes and seek input and feedback on community issues.

The district administration office is located at 2122 9th St., Suite 110. Office hours are from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. For assistance, please call 805-528-9370 or use the Contact Us form on their website at http://www.losososcsd.org. There is a 24-hour drop slot to the left of the front entrance for bill payment of document drop-offs. Check the website regularly for any District updates and/or changes to our office hours, http://www. losososcsd.org.

Where to Stay

BACK BAY INN is located in Baywood Park and is situated right on the bay surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. There are 22 tastefully-appointed rooms and suites, most with bay views. Take a stroll along the water, wander through beautifully landscaped gardens, or just slow down, relax and enjoy the cool bay breeze on comfortable lounge furniture. All room rates include breakfast at the Nautical Bean each morning and complimentary wine reception in the Gathering Room. www.backbayinn.com

BAYWOOD INN BED & BREAKFAST is a relaxing boutique hotel nestled in the tranquil neighborhood of Baywood Park overlooking the scenic “back” bay. The Inn is close to Montaña de Oro State Park, the Morro Bay Bird Sanctuary, Hearst Castle and the great wineries of San Luis Obispo, Templeton and Paso Robles. Baywood Inn offers unique living spaces, each with a fireplace, and each with its own personality. You can enjoy the scenic bay view from all the spacious 1-bedroom suites. www.baywoodinn.com

SEA PINES GOLF RESORT

is the Central Coast’s only resort that offers a combination of full-service lodging, golf and dining facilities. You can relax in comfortable and elegantly decorated rooms, play golf right outside your door and enjoy a meal in the onsite bar and grill. The Lodge at Sea Pines has 41 rooms offering a variety of spectacular views from Morro Bay to the manicured fairways. After a full day of golfing you can relax in a soothing 12 person jacuzzi spa with cascading waterfall. www.seapinesgolfresort.com

Points of Interest

BEAR STATUES

Not far from each of the Redwood Signs sits large cement grizzly bears. They guard the roads into Los Osos at South Bay Boulevard and Los Osos Valley Road and represent the numerous bears that once roamed freely and plentifully throughout the valley. These 1,000-pound statues are called the “Greeting Bears,” and were designed and painted by Santa Fe artist Paula Zima in 1992. The idea for the bear statues came from Sylvia Smith, a local citizen who saw similar statues on the Klamath River bridge in northern California. Thinking that this could be a wonderful project for a community named for bears, Smith aired her idea in a local paper, and hundreds of local citizens and businesses donated over $10,000 to help it become a reality. Smith went on to chair the “Bear Statue Committee” and saw the project to its completion. She was also Citizen of the Year, a member of the first Community Services District Board and President of the Chamber of Commerce.

COW BEAR – UDDERLY LOS OSOS

Los Osos/Baywood Park has the world’s only “cow-bear,” a delightfully whimsical piece of public art locally created and currently residing near the pier in Baywood Park. This piece was part of CowParade, the largest public, world-wide art event which has, until our entry, represented cows. San Luis Obispo County, the first county ever to participate in this city-based charity fundraiser, had 25 entries that went to auction. With 150 local donations, Udderly Osos was able to stay home in Los Osos. Cities with traditional cows include New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Prague, Buenos Aires and Istanbul, https://cowparadeslo.com/cow/city-of- los-ososbaywood/ among many others.

LOS OSOS COMMUNITY PARK

The park is located at Los Osos Valley Road and Palisades Avenue, west of the Los Osos commercial district. Complete with a 17,000 sq. ft. skate park, tennis courts, a well-planned playground, and restrooms, this small, imaginatively designed and landscaped park is a pleasant place for walking or picnicking and is a good spot to let children burn off excess energy. Adjacent to the park is the South Bay Community Center and Los Osos Library is located across the street.

THE SCENIC 7 MILE DRIVE

To fully enjoy the magnificent Seven Mile Drive, plan to spend the better part of a day.

From Los Osos Valley Road and South Bay Boulevard, head west toward Montana de Oro State Park. You will pass through the downtown of Los Osos. Just before you get to Palisades Ave, on the right, you will see the famous old Schoolhouse, nestled in the trees of Los Osos Community Park. When Los Osos Valley Road turns into Pecho Valley Road, you’ll begin one of the most beautiful drives you’ll ever experience; miles of unpopulated rocky shores and sandy beaches, and acres of hills and eucalyptus groves. Stop at one of the many turnoffs, and simply marvel at the wonder of the crystal-clear ocean vista! The winding road rises with the rolling, brush-covered foothills, and affords dramatic views of Morro Bay and its surroundings.

From unpaved turnouts, the vista encompasses the bay and its estuary, the communities of Los Osos and Morro Bay, and the long finger-like sandspit that points northward to Morro Rock. As you continue your leisurely drive, you will reach Spooner’s Cove, as isolated and romantic as the name implies. Park and walk down to the beach for a closer look. You’ll soon know why numerous movie scenes (including the cave in Pete’s Dragon) were filmed in the area. Close by is the Spooner Ranch Visitor Center and the entrance to Bluff Trail, a flat, easy walk along the coast with more spectacular views. Walk the cliffs and beaches, sunbathe, or hike through the fields of wildflowers, picnic and watch for whales.

As the day comes to a close and you head back, stop in downtown Los Osos or downtown Baywood Park to dine in one of the many great restaurants.

DOWNTOWN BAYWOOD PARK & PIER

The village atmosphere of downtown Baywood Park encourages one to stroll along 2nd and 3rd streets where small shops are framed by abundant grass, trees and flowers. The variety of businesses serving the community include art and specialty shops, restaurants and two bed and breakfast inns. The pier is located at the intersection of 2nd Street and El Moro Avenue, overlooking the shores of the lagoon-like estuary. It is a pleasant, quiet place where you can enjoy a view of the estuary and its bird life, a scene that changes dramatically with the tides.

THE MERRIMAKER

First named Boot & Spur, the Merrimaker is pictured on Wikipedia as their illustration for the term “dive bar.” This was the town’s first bar and it opened in 1947. Cowboys would ride up on horseback to pick up beer. Hunters would bring their kill inside while they drank to keep it safe from mountain lions, coyotes and foxes. One cowboy rode his horse through the front door, located on the corner of Second Street and Santa Maria Avenue. The building itself was one of three built to look alike with porthole windows although only two remain. The building was recently remodeled, but retains its funky charm.

MURALS

Throughout the town, there are many large murals to see. One well-known mural is the La Cañada de Los Osos, found at the corner of Los Osos Valley Road and 10th Street. This mural was unveiled during the Festival of the Bears in 1989. George Kastner, who was in charge of the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce Business Improvement Committee, launched a project called “Bringing Back the Bears.” Community members could donate $5 to help paint it. The mural‘s design was created by Janice Sharman-Hand and is on the side of a building that used to be the Strawberry Patch Ice Cream Parlor. It aimed to bring the community together, showing the importance of teamwork.

Inspired by the bear mural, George Kastner formed a group called the Los Osos Community Organization (LOCO). This group organized a second mural in 1990, located at Bay-Osos Ace Hardware (now Oasis Rental) on Ninth Street and Los Olivos Avenue. About 120 locals contributed $5 each to paint this mural. Janice Sharman-Hand designed a representation of the Chumash village at Spooner’s Cove in Montaña State Park, with the help of Ann Calhoun, Jeanne Fennerman, and Martha Wright. This artwork truly belonged to the community.

The third mural appeared in 1993 on a convenience store at Los Osos Valley Road and 9th Street. Named “Portola’s Sacred Expedition,” it shows the journey through the Los Osos Valley in 1779, also designed by Janice Sharman-Hand. There are more murals around town, including “Loreto Sunrise” by John Ramos on Sunset Drive, and an unnamed mural on Second Street near Santa Ysabel Avenue. There’s also “Audience of the Bears” at Baywood Elementary School, which is less visible. Additionally, there is a mural that honors the purchase of land in June 1994, which helped create the 90-acre area known as the Elfin Forest. This mural, showing the park, was painted by Barbara Rosenthal on the Los Osos Rexall Drug and Gift Store building.

RED BARN

Located at the corner of the Los Osos Community Park, the Red Barn stands on land that was once part of the old Mexican land grant La Cañada de Los Osos. It is not known when or who built the barn. When the rancho was broken up, the various parts went to a series of owners. Two Swiss geologists, Drs. Hershey and Heim, hired workers to farm the land; they may have built the barn. T. P. Bush, and Charles and Emma Ferrell bought 220 acres in 1912. Charles Ferrell farmed oats and rye, so he could have built the barn. But no one knows for sure when the barn was built, by whom, or if it sits in its original location.

SWEET SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE

The Morro Coast Audubon Society (MCAS) chapter owns and manages this 32-acre Sweet Springs Nature Preserve on the north side of Ramona Avenue between Broderson and 4th Street (open dawn to dusk). It is a quiet nature sanctuary for birds, plants, and wildlife to thrive in peace. Trails meander among Monterey cypress, and eucalyptus, through restored Coastal Dune Scrub, past two freshwater ponds, and along a salt marsh near the edge of the estuary. A wide variety of birds are attracted to the different habitats in the Preserve, and many shorebirds and ducks spend the winter in the adjoining estuary. Two viewing platforms allow visitors to observe waterbirds in the estuary without disturbing the birds. Over the winter, western monarch butterflies are known to cluster here. Restoration of the native plant communities is a continuing goal of the Morro Coast Audubon Society. Since it is a nature sanctuary, no pets are allowed in the Preserve and you may not feed the wildlife.

MCAS, as a gift to the community, welcomes all who enjoy the natural environment. We are proud to represent a diverse and caring community.

ELFIN FOREST

Located north of Santa Ysabel Avenue and west of South Bay Boulevard, the Elfin Forest is a “small wilderness” overlooking the Morro Bay Estuary. This 90-acre natural area belongs to San Luis Obispo County Parks and California State Parks. Short sand-trail entrances at the north ends of 11th - 15th Streets and 17th Street and wheelchair access at 16th Street all connect to an 0.8-mile boardwalk loop that provides convenient access for young and old and helps protect sensitive habitat. 11th Street offers the most parking. Two bay overlooks and numerous benches provide spots to relax and enjoy fresh air, wide views, wildflowers, sunbathing lizards, and active birdlife on the bay and among nearby native plants. The Elfin Forest Natural Area includes several native plant communities but is named for its unique groves of stunted coast live oaks (Pygmy oaks). A boardwalk spur enters “Rose’s Grove,” a peaceful and sheltering place. Salty ocean breeze, nutrient poor sandy soil, and limited water combine to inhibit growth of these old gnarled trees. Volunteers known as “Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest” take care of this fragile preserve. Visitors can help protect it (and avoid poison oak) by staying on the boardwalk and designated trails, keeping pets leashed, and picking up after their pets. Monthly nature walks explore subjects of science and art. The Elfin Forest also serves as an outdoor classroom for local schools. Groups can request guided walks through the Forest, led by Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest docents.
Visit www.femef.org or www.elfin-forest.org.

MONTANA DE ORO STATE PARK

Located 2.5 miles southwest of Los Osos, this 10,000-acre, mostly undeveloped park, offers visitors a wealth of natural beauty and excellent opportunities for hiking, camping, and horseback riding.

The park office and Spooner Ranch Visitor Center is housed in the Spooner home, built in 1892. This white frame structure stands in a grove of graceful cypress trees and overlooks a secluded cove bearing the ranch family’s name. The calm water and isolated location of the cove proved to be an ideal port for smugglers during the Mission period and for prohibition-era bootleggers. Information about the days and hours the Visitor Center and other park areas are open can be checked at (805) 528-6857.

Although the property has been used for cattle grazing since the late 1800s, it is virtually unspoiled, supporting lush natural vegetation and providing a primitive habitat for a variety of wildlife species. The park’s name, meaning “Mountain of Gold,” comes from the abundant fields of poppies, fiddlenecks, wild mustard, and other golden wildflowers that blanket the landscape each spring. Deer, fox, weasel, and mountain lion are among the animals that roam the chaparral-covered foothills and plains that once were the dominion of the now-extinct California grizzly bear.

The park’s 2 1/2-mile rocky shoreline and ocean waters sustain an abundance of marine life. The area is a haven for over 100 species of native and migrating birds, including the brown pelican, black oystercatcher and the elusive pigeon guillemot, which nests in accessible holes along the steep sandstone coastal bluffs.

Over 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails provide access to the park’s back-country, wooded stream canyons, tide pools and hidden coves and beaches. Trails following the edge of the coastal bluffs provide spectacular views of the tilted and twisted strata of the rocky shoreline and, in the distance, Morro Rock and the Morro Bay sandspit. Sea otters are often seen feeding here beyond the pounding surf, and during winter months, migrating California gray whales can be spotted near shore.

One of the most popular trails runs through Hazard Canyon. Like many of the park’s trails, it begins along Pecho Valley Road, the paved road leading from Los Osos, and on through the park. The 1/2-mile trail starts in a dense stand of eucalyptus trees, and meanders through the canyon next to a small, intermittently flowing stream to a rock-strewn beach. Tide pools are plentiful here, and a short distance to the north begins the long sandspit that protects Morro Bay.

Each October, swarms of migrating monarch butterflies, seeking the milder temperatures of the southern coastal regions, are attracted to the aromatic eucalyptus trees in the canyon. The butterflies feed during the day on the nectar of the flowering trees, and at night cluster on their branches for protection from the elements. In February, the monarchs begin their long flight northward. www. parks.ca.gov

LOS OSOS OAKS STATE RESERVE

This spectacular park is located on the south side of Los Osos Valley Road, 1/2 mile east of South Bay Boulevard. Watch for a sign and a parking lot which can easily be missed. An easy hike takes visitors under the low canopy of “Pygmy Oaks,” dwarfed coast live oaks that are 600 to 800 years old. The leaf-covered trail winds among the trees’ gnarled gray trunks. There are several trails, some with vistas that include the valley below. View the mushrooms, wild cucumbers, hollyleaf cherry, willows and other flora that exist in this shaded land where Chumash people once lived. Visitors should be wary of a prolific member of the reserve’s plant community—poison oak. Avoid its shiny “leaves of three” lining the trail in many places.

AUDUBON OVERLOOK

Hundreds of species of birds live or overwinter in the Morro Bay Estuary area. This overlook, located on Santa Lucia Avenue at the north end of 4th Street, is an especially good place to see ducks, egrets, pelicans, and wading birds at low tide.

The Los Osos/Baywood Park
Chamber of Commerce

The Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce includes over 80 local businesses, service groups, schools, government agencies, and individuals. The Chamber promotes economic growth in Los Osos and Baywood Park by helping current businesses grow and encouraging new entrepreneurs.

A Board of Directors manages the Chamber, setting policies and creating committees for various events and programs to support the organization. Directors are elected every year for three-year terms, with one-third of them changing each year. Any member of the Chamber can become a director, and anyone—whether a resident, business, or group—can join the Chamber. New members and volunteers are always welcome.

The Chamber funds its operations each year through membership fees and fundraising events. We are excited that all our events are back to normal and we can’t wait to grow them even more in the future!

You can find details about our Chamber events, local area information, business news, and our Membership Directory on our website. We regularly update information about upcoming events, new members, and more on both our website and social media. Our monthly newsletter is sent to both Chamber and community members, so we encourage you to join our newsletter list. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please reach out to us, and we will respond quickly with the information you need.

Benefits of Membership

Connections - Joining the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce is the best way to engage with the local business community. Our social media presence and membership are on the rise, and we are excited to resume hosting events like Business Mixers, Ribbon Cuttings, and fundraising activities. These events are designed to connect local businesses with the community, providing great opportunities for networking.

Information – Our monthly online newsletter keeps our members informed about the latest news from the Chamber as well as membership updates and events. On E-blast Wednesdays, we share digital flyers to help promote our members’ upcoming activities.

Leadership – Joining Chamber committees allows you to meet other local business owners and work together to shape the business landscape. We welcome you to be part of our team and support the success of our vibrant business community. We also need your assistance with events!

Members of the Chamber

• Engage in your community by collaborating with others through the Chamber to protect and grow your business.

• Work together on shared issues that would be too costly to tackle alone.

• Join forces with fellow business owners to strengthen the spirit of the community and channel it towards positive actions that improve life and work in Los Osos/Baywood Park.

• Expand your reach to other towns for new business opportunities. Gain the ability to vote on new board members who will lead and support the business community.

Members get a Membership Window Decal and a Virtual Plaque to show off at their business and on their website. Additionally, there are Sponsorship and Promotional Opportunities available for all budgets at Chamber events.

Festival of Flavor

The Festival of Flavor, inspired by a previous event called the Taste of South Bay, started in the community in 2016. This once ticketed event held at the South Bay Community Center, has changed to a passport booklet format. Participants can purchase a passport to explore local restaurants. At every restaurant they visit, they can take advantage of a special offer and receive a “stamp” in their passport.

Oktoberfest

The Los Osos/Baywood Park Oktoberfest is the longest-running Oktoberfest on the Central Coast. It started in 1978, organized by the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Baywood Park Committee, Kiwanis, and the Lions Club. Now, the Chamber and Kiwanis handle the event. Over the years, it has only rained twice, and up until 2020, Oktoberfest had never been canceled. It made a strong comeback in October 2022 and continues to grow each year.

This popular event takes place on the last Sunday of October along 2nd Street in Downtown Baywood Park, running from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Attendance has significantly increased over the past 10 years, with many visitors coming from across the county and beyond. Local bands perform live music, and since 2005, a Car Show has been part of the festival. The Beer Garden has expanded to include local craft brewers and food vendors. There are plenty of fun activities for kids of all ages, and a variety of vendors offer food, jewelry, arts, crafts, and more. For more details about Oktoberfest and information on becoming a sponsor or vendor, visit our website and Facebook page.

Community Christmas Tree

Since 2016, the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce has organized the Community Christmas Tree Lighting at the corner of LOVR and Palisades Drive. In 2024, this event has expanded to take place in Baywood Park on the first Saturday of December. Making it a holiday event that is more fun and welcoming for families.

Light Up Los Osos

This event started in 2020 when the Christmas Parade was canceled due to the pandemic. An online map showed all the beautifully decorated homes, and sponsorships quickly sold out. Because people enjoyed it so much, this event is now a new tradition.

Christmas Parade

The Los Osos Christmas parade is a beloved community event that has been happening for over 30 years. It started with the Bay-Osos Lions Club and is now organized by the Chamber of Commerce. This festive parade takes place at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of December. It runs along Los Osos Valley Road, starting from Fairchild Avenue and ending at Palisades Avenue. For updates about the parade and information on the Bay Osos Kiwanis pancake breakfast before the parade, visit our website and follow us on social media.

Important Phone Numbers

Emergency 911

Fire Department (805) 528-1053

Highway Patrol (805) 594-8700

Sheriff (805) 528-6083

Poison Control (800) 222-1222

Baywood Park Community Church  (805) 528-6464
(Independent Bible, 1436 11th St.)

El Morro Church of the Nazarene (805) 528-0391
(1480 Santa Ysabel)

First Baptist Church (805) 528-3066
(Southern Baptist, 1900 Los Osos Valley Rd.)

Los Osos Christian Fellowship (805) 528-2140
(Non-denominational, 1335 7th Street)

Los Osos Church of Christ (805) 528-1658
(2058 Los Osos Valley Rd.)

St Benedict’s Episcopal Church (805) 528-0654
(2220 Snowy Egret Lane)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (805) 528-5319
(Roman Catholoc, 2050 Palisades Ave.)

Trinity United Methodist (805) 528-1649
(490 Los Osos Valley Rd.)

Baywood Elementary (805) 534-2856
1330 9th St.

Monarch Grove Elementary (805) 534-2844
348 Los Osos Valley Rd.

Los Osos Middle School (805) 534-2835
1555 El Moro Ave.

Morro Bay High School (805) 771-1845
235 Atascadero Rd.

Atascadero (805) 466-2044

Cambria (805) 927-3624

Cayucos (805) 995-1200

Los Osos/Baywood Park (805) 528-4884

Morro Bay (805) 772-4467

Nipomo (805) 929-1583

Paso Robles (805) 238-0506

Pismo Beach (805) 773-4382

San Luis Obsipo (805) 781-2777

San Simeon (805) 927-3500

South County (805) 489-1488

Templeton (805) 434-1789

Golden State Water Company (805) 528-2287

Los Osos CSD Water Department (805) 528-9370

Mission Country Disposal (805) 528-7430

Pacific Gas & Electric (800) 743-5000

Southern California Gas (800) 427-2200

Spectrum (888) 709-1811

Chamber of Commerce Office (805) 528-4884

San Luis Obispo County Government Center (805) 781-5000

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (800) 777-0133

Los Osos Cares, Inc. (805) 592-2701

Los Osos Community Services District (LOCSD) (805) 528-9370

Seniors Group (People Helping People) (805) 528-2626

Social Security Office (800) 772-1213

Los Osos Community Park & Barn (805) 781-5930 x4

Post Office (800) 275-8777

Los Osos Library (805) 528-1862

Regional Transit Authority (RTA) (805) 781-4472

Estero Bay News (805) 528-6011

The Tribune (805) 781-7800

California State Parks (800) 777-0369
http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Oceano Dunes District (805) 773-7170
http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov

Department of Fish & Game (916) 445-0411
http://www.wildlife.ca.gov

Animal Services (805) 781-4400

Pacific Wildlife Care & Rescue (805) 543-9453
http://www.pacificwildlifecare.org

CA Environmental Protection Agency (916) 323-2514
http://www.calepa.ca.gov

Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival (805) 234-1170
http://www.morrobaybirdfestival.org

Morro Coast Audubon Society (805) 772-1991
http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org

California Dept. of Education (916) 319-0800
http://www.cde.ca.gov

San Luis Obispo County Office of Education (805) 543-7732
http://www.slocoe.org

Cuesta College (805) 546-3100
http://www.cuesta.edu

Cal Poly State University (805) 756-1111
http://www.calpoly.edu/

Membership Directory

A

Aikido Central Coast /Kokoro Dojo

(805) 550-3710

Al’s Pumping Services

(805) 528-0432

Alyssa Petersen

ASAP Reprographics

(805) 772- 3540

B

Bay Osos Brokers

(805) 528-1133

Bay Osos Mini Storage

(805) 528-1133

Bay Osos Property Management

(805) 528-1133

Bay Osos Residential Care

(805) 528-4555

Baywood Inn Bed & Breakfast

(805) 528-8888

Bear Valley Realty

(805) 801-4444

BearBird Ranch

(805) 798-3461

Blueplate

(805) 800-8050

Brezden Pest Control

(805) 528-6666

Brightside Pizza

(805) 439-3516

C

C-21 Hometown Realty, Shirley Hulin

(805) 235-4877

Carstairs Energy Consulting

(805) 904-9048

Central Coast Polo Club

(805) 801-9410

Central Coast State Parks Association

(805) 710-5356

chele mckee design

(415) 272-0477

Coastal Real Estate

(805) 528-7171

Community Foundation of Estero Bay

(805) 458-4494

Crizer Construction, Inc.

(805) 528-4812

D

Debra A.G. Wacker, CPA

(805) 546-1099

E

Edward Jones Investments

(805) 534-1070

El Morro Church of the Nazarene

(805) 528-0391

Energy-Wise Realty

(805) 528-7130

F

Ferguson Electrical Systems

(805) 748-4897

First Baptist Church of Los Osos

(805) 528-3066

Friends of El Moro Elfin Forest

(805) 528-0392

Friends of Los Osos Library

(805) 528-1862

G

Gary Dove

George, Cyr & Christakos, Inc.

(805) 528-3394

Golden State Water Co.

(805) 528-2287

Grocery Outlet

(805) 534-9778

H

Hathaway Accounting

(805) 602-8359

Hocking Denton & Palmquist, CPA’s

(805) 528-3600

I

Ion Financial & Insurance Services

(805) 528-4358

J

Jim Stanfill

(805) 528-1557

K

Keller Williams Realty Central Coast

(805) 773-7777

Ken Kenyon

Kiwanis Club
of Bay-Osos

(805) 528-1891

L

La Palapa

(805) 534-1040

Los Osos Cares

(805) 592-2701

Los Osos Community Advisory Council

Los Osos Community Services District

(805) 528-9370

Los Osos Rexall

(805) 528-1017

Los Osos Valley Garden Club

(805) 441-6070

M

Mar Vista Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

(805) 528-1695

Mary Kay Cosmetics 

(805) 459-6497

Mechanics Bank

(805) 528-1211

METROATE

(805) 534-9196

Mike Post

Mike’s Home Improvement Services

(805) 801-7604

Mirazur Restaurant

(805) 203-7077

Mission Country Disposal

(805) 543-0875

Morro Coast Audubon Society

(805) 722-1991

Movement for Life Physical Therapy

(805) 772-4325

R

Rotary Club of Los Osos

(805) 528-1557

S

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce

(805) 781-2777

San Luis Obispo County Assessor

(805) 781-5643

Sea Pines Golf Resort

(805) 528-5252

SESLOC Credit Union

(805) 543-1816

SLO Roasted Coffee - Central Coast Coffee Roasting Company

(805) 528-7317

Solarponics

(805) 466-5595

South Bay Community Center

(805) 528-4169

St. Benedict’s Episcopal

(805) 528-0654

State Farm - Konjoyan, Mike

(805) 528-8700

T

Team Moreira Jiu Jitsu - Los Osos

(805) 215-6083

The Frame Shop

(805) 534-1743

The PetHouse

(805) 528-5611

The Villages of SLO

(805) 543-2300

Town Square Publishing

(847) 427-4905

Trinity United Methodist Church of Los Osos

(805) 528-1649

V

Valley Liquor

(805) 528-1136

Van Beurden Insurance Services

(805) 528-1484

Village Children’s Center

(805) 528-1671

Visit Los Osos

(805) 471-4305

W

Warren’s Nursery Inc.

(805) 528-1087

Windermere Real Estate

(805) 215-6999