History Timeline

1979

Grange Hall

The Big Sur Health Center (BSHC) was founded in September 1979, through a local, grass-roots effort, to meet the needs of the rural community of Big Sur through its mission to provide quality comprehensive medical care to all in Big Sur regardless of ability to pay.

1985

The Big Sur Health Center became a 501(c)(3) corporation with a volunteer Board of Directors.

1985

The Health Center relocated from the Big Sur Grange Hall to its current location on the grounds of the All Saints Episcopal Church of Carmel, 1/8 mile south of the Big Sur River Inn.

2004

Through a community-wide fundraising and development effort by BSHC and volunteer members of the Big Sur community, along with financial support from The California Endowment, Community Foundation for Monterey County, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Harden Foundation, and Monterey Peninsula Foundation, we opened a new 2,100 sq. ft. medical facility in November 2004 to replace an aging building that we had long-past outgrown.

Today

The presence of Big Sur Health Center is crucial to the welfare of the Big Sur community. As the only medical facility between the Monterey Peninsula (30 miles to the north) and Cambria (70 miles to the south), BSHC plays a vital role in the local community, serving the health care needs of the population by providing local, culturally and linguistically appropriate, affordable, quality medical care.

The hazardous coastline of Big Sur, combined with extreme weather conditions, road closures and frequent large-scale fires, underscores the critical need for the local presence of BSHC. Our centrally located facility is easily accessible to residents and tourists with urgent care needs. During road closures and other community disasters, BSHC provides 24-hour-on-call service, home welfare visits, medical service (at times, via helicopter transport) and coordination with local emergency teams.

Big Sur Health Center... Your Healthcare Partner for Life!