The land which now belongs to Pfeiffer Big Sur State park was first homesteaded by John and Florence Pfeiffer in 1902. Both children of early Big Sur pioneers, they made their home on the north bank of the Big Sur River.
 John was an untrained naturalist with a devoted interest in the study of local plants, coastal weather patterns and the habits of birds and animals. He was an avid beekeeper, producing sixteen tons of premium sage honey one year. The Pfeiffers supported themselves somewhat precariously by a combination of subsistence farming, beekeeping, ranching and logging.
Florence was an excellent cook and many visitors came to take advantage of the old-time ranch hospitality of the Pfeiffer homestead, where John, a generous host, graciously invited them to stay for days at a time and insisted that no guest should pay for lodging.
It was Florence, however, who had to deal with the many additional duties numerous house guests created. While John would be out with their guests hunting or fishing, attending to his bees or overseeing the cattle, it was Florence who hauled the water, cooked the meals, washed the dishes, made the beds and did the laundry, besides attending to her poultry and vegetable garden. Guests knew a good thing when the found it and word spread. Visitors both increased and lengthened their stay.
After many years, Florence finally took matters firmly into her own hands as she recalled in her memoirs. "A man whom Mr. Pfeiffer really disliked had stopped at the house to stay all night. He had four of his friends with him and a string of five pack animals. They had their supper, bed and breakfast. Next morning his friends left on the stage without even 'thank you.'" When the packer began beating one of his mules with a stick, Florence grew bold and told him what she thought of his cruelty. While the man stared at Florence in confusion, she pressed her point. "From now on," she told him, "I expect to charge you so much for each horse, so much for each bed, and so much for each meal every time you stop here."
Thus it was, in 1908, that Pfeiffer's Ranch Resort came into being on the site of today's Big Sur Lodge. It soon became the family's primary occupation and attracted a devoted clientele who enjoyed the simple accommodations and Florence's great cooking.
John died in 1941 at the age of 79 and Florence lived to be 85.
In 1933, the State of California purchased John and Florence's homestead lands and named the new park in honor of the Pfeiffers. Ever since then, the Big Sur Lodge has continued in the Pfeiffer tradition of hospitality.
|
