Cayucos Vets Hall Restoration

The Cayucos Vets Hall, formerly the Cass Warehouse, was constructed in 1875 by Capt. James Cass, founder of Cayucos. It is located at the base of the Cayucos Pier in Cayucos State Beach, a popular tourist area. Over the years the facility functioned as an important community and event center, but it was deemed structurally unsound in 2016 and closed to the public.

The County Board of Supervisors awarded the construction contract to restore the historic facility to JG Contracting of Nipomo in October 2022. Full rehabilitation of the facility and surrounding site will restore a central piece of Cayucos history and the heartbeat of the community where residents and visitors have gathered for generations.

**For reservations, please contact: [email protected]

Original Cayucos Vets Hall



Project Scope

The Vets Hall has been determined to have historic significance at the local, state and national level, and therefore the project's design and construction shall meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The scope of the rehabilitation project includes:

  • Removal of non-historic additions and rehabilitation of the original Cass warehouse (Main Hall)
  • Salvaging original historic materials for re-application; adding new-to-match where needed
  • Providing a new foundation 2.5 feet higher than current to address sea level rise
  • Installation of new steel framing between wood trusses to provide structural stability
  • Construction of a new addition with Art Gallery, History Museum and Kitchen in style to match the original historic building
  • Renovating the BBQ patio and picnic area adjacent to the Hall
  • Providing new ADA compliant exterior decking and boardwalk with access to the beach and the pier

Construction Schedule

  • Notice to Proceed Issued: December 5, 2022
  • Contract Schedule Total # of Days: 436 calendar days
  • Completion Date: February 15, 2024
  • Days Added to Contract: 38 days
  • Revised Contract Completion Date: April 1, 2024
  • Contractor's Planned Completion Date: May 2025

Ongoing Construction Work - February 2025

  • Complete interior paint
  • Grout ceramic tile
  • Install handrails
  • Complete installation and test fire sprinkler system
  • Install barn doors at beach facing doors

Upcoming Construction Work

  • Paint BBQ shade structure
  • Install wood flooring
  • Install kitchen countertops
  • Finish plumbing
  • Install interior doors & baseboards

Project Contacts

For more information, please contact Jennifer Caffee via email or call (805) 781-4517

Construction Photos


January 2025: Concrete Planters with Landscaping


January 2025: BBQ Patio Flatwork & BBQ Canopy Metal Frame


January 2025: Beachfront Deck


October 2024: Installation of deck handrails and guardrails


August 2024: Installation of kitchen cabinets


August 2024: Whitewashing of exterior redwood siding


July 2024: Installation of awning at front of building


July 2024: Installation of folding door (facing beach)

 

The Cayucos Veteran's Memorial Hall Rehabilitation project kicked-off construction on December 2, 2022 with a public 'groundbreaking' event.

Funding Partners

Construction of this project has been made possible with grant funds awarded to the project by the California Natural Resources Agency and California State Parks through programs funded by Proposition 68, and by the State Coastal Conservancy. Additionally, the community of Cayucos has raised over $500,000 in contributions for the project through the Restore the Cayucos Vets Hall Committee.

California Natural Resources Agency
Cultural, Community and Natural Resources grant program: $4,437,000 award

The mission of the California Natural Resources Agency is to restore, protect and manage the state's natural, historical, and cultural resources for current and future generations using creative approaches and solutions based on science, collaboration and respect for all the communities and interests involved.

California Department of Parks & Recreation
Locally-Operated State Parks grant program: $705,250 award

The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state's extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.

State Coastal Conservancy grant: $345,000 award

The Coastal Conservancy is a California state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California's coast. It acts with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California's coast, ocean, coastal watersheds, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Its vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future generations of Californians.

Perspective Renderings of the Completed Project