Dockweiler State Beach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dockweiler State Beach is a California beach protected under the state park system.

Part of the park is located directly under the flight path of the immediately adjacent Los Angeles International Airport. Additionally, it is one of the few beaches in Los Angeles County where bonfires are permitted.

Dockweiler Beach sits adjacent to El Segundo and can be accessed easily from Playa Del Rey to the North. In Summer, it attracts large numbers of visitors wishing to combine a day at the beach with the chance to enjoy a barbeque on any one of the concrete pits provided for this purpose.

The unique combination of beach barbecues against a backdrop of heavily laden 747 and A340 aircraft at takeoff thrust, powering their way over the Pacific Ocean, is said to make for an interesting experience not to be had in many other environments along the California coast. If anything, it makes for a fairylight display as seen from the windows of aircraft departing over the ocean.

Coupled with the sight, sound and scent of aircraft, Dockweiler sits close to the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant, whose red and white striped towers shadow over the beach.

Of special interest is the August 28, 2000 incident where engine parts from an outbound Boeing 747 fell onto the beach. CNN story.