Fake rocks on Sutro Heights

greenspun.com : LUSENET : San Francisco History : One Thread

Who built the "fake rocks" that line the cliffs of Sutro Heights across Point Lobos Avenue above the Cliff House?

-- Rich Harned (rharned@jps.net), May 05, 2000

Answers

It was a city public works project, as I remember, to prevent landslides into the road below.

-- Bill Roddy (bill@americahurrah.com), May 06, 2000.

My dad told us as kids that it was part of the WW II defenses, and that the fake rocks hid the bunkers in the hill. It looks like there are little portals cemented up and entry hatches on the top of the hill.

-- Woody LaBounty (woody@wnpsf.net), May 08, 2000.

The "fake rocks" evolved over many years as the result of erosion control and landscaping efforts by both the WPA and City Park & Rec department. The camouflaged "bunker" referred to by an earlier respondent are actually higher up on the hillside immediately adjacent to the crenalated rock parapet wall. That little structure served as a lookout station for the Coast Artillery batteries during WW II. Although it features some rocks glued to its concrete and steel exterior as a camouflage measure, it is not related to the artificial rockwork and gunnite-covered hillside across from the Cliff House.

-- John Martini (martini@slip.net), May 08, 2000.

Pretty sure that the beginnings of those fake rocks go back to Adolph Sutro, who owned the cliffs as part of his holdings (and residence) at the site. He had staturary installed at various ledges in the cliff at one point as well.

I used to screw around with tourists as a tour guide sometimes, telling them about the geological implications of those stratae.

-- Chris Dichtel (cyberiad@earthlink.net), July 18, 2000.


I always thought the fake rocks were just a backdrop for the diving bell ride at the old PlayLand....

-- Diana (blackrat@pacbell.net), April 18, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ