High on a windswept promontory sits a whimsical stone cottage crafted with rough granite boulders collected from the Carmel Bay’s rocky shore. It is home of the celebrated American poet Robinson Jeffers, the home he built for his wife and twin boys. He called it Tor House for the craggy knoll it perched on and the view it enjoyed, which provided inspiration for almost all of Jeffers’ work.

The house was completed in 1919 and a year later Jeffers independently added a tower as a retreat for his wife and kids. Tor House hosted many big names of its time such as Sinclair Lewis, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin, and George Gershwin. Today, Tor House is open to the public and hosts many literary events.

26304 Ocean View Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, 831-624-1813

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.