Woodies In The Woods made its debut in 2025 as a free (to spectators) and unique addition to the extensive number of events that occur during Monterey Car Week. Over 60 woodies of all makes and models, owned and lovingly cared for by members of the Santa Cruz (California) Woodie Club, were brought to the show by their devoted owners. Whether by coincidence or design, the event’s featured vehicles and the historic location of the show, the Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, share a distinctive similarity in that wood is a significant portion of their respective structures. In the case of the Asilomar’s buildings, many of them are constructed from redwood which predominates throughout the rustic Arts and Crafts architectural style of the national landmark’s facilities since their original construction in 1913.

The arrangement of the show’s participating woodies on a circular road that rings the property, with their classic frames of maple or ash and panels of mahogany or birch, were in sync with the hotel’s overall ambience. Naturally, a large number of woodies were marked and/or accessorized in ways that clearly illustrated their status as iconic symbols of 1950s-1960s American surf culture. In almost all cases their owners were seekers of the perfect wave in that long-ago time and would happily share vignettes of their youthful beach life at any opportunity. However, the plainer woodies, led by a 1926 Ford Model T Station Hack and progressing to several late 1940s makes and models, epitomized a rural elegance associated with sprawling country estates prior to and just after World War II.

In addition to the spectacular cars there was live music and reasonably priced excellent food and refreshing drinks that included a Woodies in the Woods Lager supplied by a local brewer. Patrons enjoyed these niceties against the scenic backdrop of the Asilomar Hotel’s forest landscape. With so many attractions in a charming coastal locale, this family-friendly gathering is perfect for car enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. 

– Andre Swygert, 2026