Entry No. 9 — the Monterey file — filed under: wood sculpture
The Phoenix Shop (Nepenthe)
When a coastal live oak on the property died in the 1970s, sculptor Edmund Kara didn't clear the stump — he carved the standing trunk in place into a rough-hewn, bronze-legged phoenix that still perches 800 feet above the Pacific, framed by the gift shop built around it.
The story
Most people pull into Nepenthe, grab a drink on the patio, and stare out over the 800-foot sheer drop to the ocean without realizing they're standing next to an environmental art piece carved directly out of a dead tree. In the 1970s, when a coastal live oak standing on the cliffside property died, no one brought out a chainsaw to haul away the timber. Instead, sculptor Edmund Kara took chisels to the remaining standing trunk right where it rooted.
What emerged was a rough-hewn, bronze-legged phoenix rising out of the dead oak. Rather than moving the finished carving indoors or leaving it exposed to the salt air, the owners eventually constructed The Phoenix Shop around the sculpture itself. The wooden bird remains locked in place, staring out through glass at the exact same Pacific horizon that has pulled in artists, poets, and vagabonds since Nepenthe first opened in 1949.
What it's like
You'll park off Highway 1 and head past the main restaurant deck up toward the shop structure. Inside, among the books and textiles, Kara's carved trunk sits anchored to the floor like a silent timber centerpiece. The spot can get crowded with tourists on sunny afternoons, so your best bet is to split a plate at Café Kevah on the terrace below, then climb up to the shop during the lull between lunch and dinner service when the light hits the coastline through the windows.
The move: Split a plate at Café Kevah on the terrace below, then climb up to the Phoenix Shop to find Kara's weathered wooden bird staring out over the same cliff-edge drop that's pulled in poets and drifters since Nepenthe opened in 1949.
- 📍 Big Sur
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 48510 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Henry Miller Memorial Library — Located less than half a mile away, this bohemian cabin and clearing keep Big Sur's mid-century literary lineage alive right in the redwoods.
- Deetjen's Big Sur Inn — Drive 0.6 miles south to see Helmuth Deetjen's hand-carved 1920s redwood cottages for a grounded, rustic contrast to Nepenthe's high-cliff view.
- Point Sur Lighthouse (Point Sur State Historic Park) — Pair Kara's cliffside carving with a trip ten miles north to the 361-foot volcanic rock topped by California's turn-of-the-century light station.
Good to know
Where is the wooden phoenix located?
It stands inside The Phoenix Shop on the Nepenthe property at 48510 Highway One in Big Sur, about 800 feet above the ocean.
Who carved the sculpture and out of what?
Sculptor Edmund Kara carved it in the 1970s out of a dead coastal live oak tree trunk that was standing on the property, adding bronze legs to the finished piece.
Do you need a reservation or restaurant ticket to see the sculpture?
No. The Phoenix Shop is open to visitors walking the property, though parking along the narrow highway turnoffs fills up quickly on weekends.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site
last checked: 2026-07-20