Ben Weston Cove, Santa Catalina Island
Ben Weston Cove, Santa Catalina Island is located 13.8 miles from Avalon on the island’s windward south side. It is about one nautical mile from Little Harbor, past Sentinel Rock, to Ben Weston Beach. Although the anchorage is not safe, there are primitive camping facilities in the canyon. Abandoned World War II concrete bunkers remain on shore.
» Weston, Ben
- 1958. Dean Connery was drowned near Ben Weston Beach.
In the News~
August 21, 1892 [LAT]: “The semi-monthly [excursion ship] trip around the island took place yesterday, which was enjoyed by over 100 people… The points of interest being visited were the seal rookery, Grand Cañon, Ben Weston’s little harbor… Newton S. Leithead and Frank Robinson of Pasadena were the two young men who were rolled in the breakers at Ben Weston’s. They belong to the Knockabout Club…”
July 10, 1902 [LAT]: “Los Angeles man was lost in the fog clouds… Mr. Pratt lays his misadventure to the fog clouds which hung over the island all day Monday, obscuring the landscape and making it impossible to tell the points of the compass… It is thought probable that he mistook Mt. Orizaba for Mt. Blackjack, and followed the ridge down toward Ben Weston Beach, instead of the Isthmus ridge…”
August 14, 1903 [LAT]: “Catalina revisited by woman pioneer... Among the visitors to Catalina at present is one of the pioneers of the island, Mrs. S. A. Howland, the widow of Captain Howland, who, almost half a century ago, gave his name to the place now known as Howland’s Landing… There were six families on the island at that time… Ben Weston also had a small band [of sheep] on the south side of the island, at what is still known as Ben Weston Beach…”
August 19, 1977 [LAT]: “…Second day hikers, by adding 2.6 miles to the Little Harbor-to-Black Jack route, can take the turnoff to Ben Weston Beach for a swim. It’s one of the island’s best surfing spots…”
