Paradise Cove Pier at Bob Morris' Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, Malibu South of Kanan-Dume Road Paradise Cove Exit from PCH 28128 West Pacific Coast Highway Malibu (Paradise Cove), California 90265 R Call (310) 457-2503 paradisecovemalibu.com

Many of California's piers are used in backdrops and settings for movies, shows, and commercials. Paradise Pier in Malibu is one of the shining stars, though you wouldn't know it by visiting.

The old wooden pier with its neatly-painted railings isn't very big, nor is it real accessible--but the views are splendid. 180 degree views from Palos Verdes to Point Dume offer a window on the world.

Paradise Cove is a naturally formed cove created by erosion from the Santa Monica mountains, a 40-mile long urban mountain range that is part of the Transverse Ranges. Part of Malibu for over 100 years, the cove has always been privately owned, first by the Morris family, next by the Kissel clan that turned it into a mobile home park, and now by Bob Morris, who purchased it in 1998. The Paradise Cove Beach Cafe also used to be called The Sandcastle. The parking lot to access the pier is owned by Morris. If you don't eat there, the parking fee is around $25/day.

In recent years we've seen what the Paradise Pier is valued for--its backdrop provides generic looks that could be New England or an other place, its lack of restaurants and additional structures keep it simple and non-local, and its low height compared to other pier structures works in beach location shoots. And the beach at Paradise Cove provides a semi-private setting with less wind and distractions.

When El Nino storms wreaked havoc on piers throughout California in 1983 and 1985, this little pier wasn't immune from nature's strong arm. Two-thirds of the Paradise Cove Pier were damaged and the sportfishing boat, Gentleman, was forced to retire from the cove. There also at one time had been a bait barge that 87 sea lions basked on, according to I. D. and Gayle Weiner. Gee Gee Swanson Hayes said her father was the original developer of Paradise Cove who built the pier and cove.

Paradise Cove Pier at Bob Morris' Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, Malibu once was surrounded by nude, tanned bodies at a nude sunbathing beach. You would not see the nudes on the sets of Gidget, Beach Blanket Bingo, Malibu Run, Baywatch, Lethal Weapon 4, American Pie 2, Spounge Bob Square Pants: The Movie, Monster in Law, Gidget Goes to Hawaii, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, The Rockford Files , The O.C., Charlie's Angels, Indecent Proposal, Happy Days and the many movies and shows filmed at Paradise Cove next to the pier.

And the celebrity diners and visitors to this private beach, pier and restaurant are as endless as the sunsets that grace the special section of coast north of Santa Monica in Malibu. Barbra Streisand, Courtney Cox, David Arquett, Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Kelsey Grammer, Martin Sheen and the Golden Age of Hollywood celebs have all enjoyed a delicious bit to eat and golden sunset at this special location.