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Waves Roll In at Manresa State Beach
Iconic California beach has long history dating back to Ohlone and Jesuit roots.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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Manresa State Beach, located on Monterey Bay near La Selva Beach, California, is a 138-acre state-protected beach with a rich history dating back to the Ohlone people and the Jesuit order. The area was purchased in the 1920s and converted into a seaside community, and the state beach was established in 1948. Today, visitors can enjoy the rolling waves and scenic views at the two state-owned facilities associated with the beach.
Why it matters
Manresa State Beach is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a glimpse into California's natural beauty and cultural heritage. The beach's long history, from its Ohlone roots to its Jesuit retreat and eventual designation as a state park, reflects the diverse influences that have shaped the region over time.
The details
Manresa State Beach features two state-owned facilities: Manresa Main State Beach and Manresa Uplands State Beach and Campground. The 138-acre site was established as a state beach in 1948, after the area was purchased in the 1920s and converted into a seaside community called Rob Roy (later renamed La Selva Beach). Prior to that, in 1894, the College of Santa Clara built a Catholic retreat at the site called Villa Manresa, named after Manresa, Spain, where Saint Ignatius of Loyola recovered from wounds received at the Battle of Pampeluna.
- Manresa State Beach was established as a state-protected beach in 1948.
- In the 1920s, the area was purchased and converted into a seaside community called Rob Roy (later renamed La Selva Beach).
- In 1894, the College of Santa Clara built a Catholic retreat at the site called Villa Manresa.
The players
Ohlone
The native people who lived in the area and traded mussel and abalone shells, as well as dried abalone and salt for piñon nuts and obsidian. They also hunted small game, used sea mammals as an abundant food source, and fished for salmon and trout in the nearby streams.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
The founder of the Jesuit order, who is thought to have conceived of the ideas that formed the backbone of his Society of Jesus while recovering from wounds received at the Battle of Pampeluna at the Villa Manresa retreat in Manresa, Spain.
College of Santa Clara
The institution that built the Catholic retreat at the Manresa site in 1894, naming it Villa Manresa after the town in Spain where Saint Ignatius of Loyola recovered.
David W. Batchelor
The individual who purchased the area in the 1920s and converted it into a seaside community called Rob Roy, which was later renamed La Selva Beach.
The takeaway
Manresa State Beach is a unique and historically significant destination that offers visitors a chance to connect with California's natural beauty and cultural heritage. From its Ohlone roots to its Jesuit retreat and eventual designation as a state park, the beach's long and varied history reflects the diverse influences that have shaped the region over time.
