Santa Cruz Woodies A Chapter of the National Woodie Club
In conjunction with NWC’s National Drive your Woodie Day, Santa Cruz Woodies held their Spring Cruise on Saturday May 17, 2025. A total of twelve Woodies participated. While the weather gods failed to bless us with the usual beautiful, sunny California weather – the day, while cooler and overcast, offered great driving conditions for our old wooden cars. Our initial meet up point was held at Starbucks Coffee in Los Gatos. As your author drove into the parking lot of Starbucks the first thing he saw was a flatbed tow truck. In the back of my mind, I was thinking – oh no, our first casualty of the day and we haven’t even gotten started. Luckily the tow truck was there for another Starbucks patron and all of our six arriving Woodies were in good running order.
Our next stop was meeting up with members “south of the summit” which for those who didn’t grow up in the South Bay means Santa Cruz and its environs. Coffee seems to be a common theme these days and so we met up at Peet’s Coffee in Capitola where another five Woodies joined the caravan.
Departing Capitola, we drove south down world-famous CA Highway 1 to Sand City where we met local Carmel resident and current SCWC VP Loren Steck who was our wagon master for the day’s activities. With all twelve Woodies in tow, Loren guided us through Monterey and along Ocean View Drive to our first official stop at Perkins Park in Pacific Grove. This beautiful spot on the coastline offers commanding views of the Pacific Ocean along with a large display of Magic Carpet Ice Plants in all their beautiful purple glory.
After a photo op we continued our drive to Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds located on the seashore in Pacific Grove. This National Historic Landmark was designed and built, starting in 1913, by famed architect Julia Morgan who also designed Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
In the late 19th century, the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) offered shelter and vocational training to women seeking low-wage jobs. This initiative led to the creation of Regional Leadership Conferences and field committees to further women’s rights.
Out of these efforts—and with the support of influential Californian women like Phoebe Apperson Hearst (mother of pioneer publisher, William Randolph Hearst)—Asilomar was envisioned as a dedicated meeting space. It opened in 1913 as a YWCA Leadership Camp, initially hosting 300 young women. By 1921, it could accommodate 500 guests year-round for conferences and training.
Financial struggles during the Great Depression nearly shut Asilomar in 1935. Over the years, it served various purposes, including housing military families during WWII.
In 1956, the State of California purchased the 91-acre site, and by 1971, expanded it to 107 acres to protect its dune ecosystem. Today, Asilomar is celebrated as the “Refuge by the Sea,” known for its restored environment and renowned architect Julia Morgan’s Arts & Crafts architecture—13 original buildings constructed between 1913 and 1928.
Now part of California State Parks system, Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds welcomes visitors from around the world to its serene oceanfront setting. In August of 2025 under the guidance of Prez John Fleming the SCWC in partnership with Asilomar will host the first ever “Woodies in the Woods” auto display during the annual Monterey Car Week.
After a brief tour of Asilomar’s Main Lodge and grounds we got back in our cars and drove along world famous 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, from Pacific Grove to Carmel. Our final destination for the day was the Carmel Valley home of club member Justin Aldi. Once there, we toured his car collection which includes a 1952 International L-120 Woodie.
The L-120 features a 3/4-ton, 127-inch chassis and four rows of seats, just perfect for its Hercules-Campbell Multi-door Wooden Body. We enjoyed a fine Mexican meal prepared for us by local caterer Tacos Locos and ate surrounded by the cars and excellent company in the beautiful ambience of our host’s backyard farm.
After lunch and self-guided tours of the car collection we said our goodbyes and motored back home. Another Spring Cruise for the record books.