Doheny State Beach

Doheny State Beach is a 62-acre park at the southern end of Dana Point where San Juan Creek meets the ocean. The land was donated to the State of California in 1931 by Petroleum Securities Company, the Doheny family business, as a memorial to Edward “Ned” Doheny Jr., who was killed in an unsolved murder connected to the Teapot Dome scandal two years earlier. In October 2022, the California Coastal Commission approved a desalination plant on the site capable of producing 5 to 15 million gallons of fresh water per day¹.

At a glance: The beach exists because of a 1929 murder and an oil family’s grief. It is one of the most accessible surf spots in south Orange County, with a gentle break suitable for beginners and a campground that books out months in advance.

Origin

Edward Doheny built his fortune in Southern California and Mexican oil production. His son Ned formed the Capistrano Beach Company in 1928 to develop the area, building Spanish-style homes with red-tile rooflines and stenciled ceiling beams by artist Alex Meston. On February 16, 1929, Ned Doheny and his friend and secretary Hugh Plunkett were killed in a murder that remains officially unsolved. The deaths came as Edward Doheny was preparing for his criminal bribery trial in the Teapot Dome scandal.

In 1931, the family’s company donated 41.4 acres to the state as a memorial to Ned. The Doheny family also funded St. Edward’s Chapel in Capistrano Beach, which later grew into a parish and moved to its current bluff-top location in Dana Point overlooking the beach.

The Beach Today

Doheny is one of the most popular beginner surf spots in Orange County. The break is gentle compared to other spots along the coast, making it a common teaching location. The beach has a campground, picnic areas, and a visitor center. Summer weekends at Doheny are crowded; the campground requires reservations months ahead during peak season.

The surf community has deep roots here. Surfers have used the break since the mid-twentieth century. The Wikipedia source notes surfers are pictured at Doheny during summer as part of the broader Dana Point surfing culture that produced Hobie Alter’s first surf shop (1954) and Bruce Brown’s The Endless Summer.

Desalination

In October 2022, the California Coastal Commission approved the Doheny Desalination Plant, which will draw seawater through slant wells beneath the ocean floor rather than open-ocean intake¹. The plant’s capacity of 5 to 15 million gallons per day would supply a significant portion of the South Coast Water District’s needs. The approval came months after the commission rejected a larger Poseidon plant proposed for Huntington Beach.

Visiting

Doheny State Beach is at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive. Day-use parking costs $15 (2024 rates). The campground has 121 sites; reserve through ReserveCalifornia well in advance for summer dates. The beach is flat and accessible. Lifeguards staff the beach year-round.

Further Reading

• Dana Point Harbor
• Whale Watching and Marine Life

References