The famed Esalen Institute is being evacuated as Big Sur’s Timber Fire expands to 1,700 acres

The Esalen Institute is being evacuated as the rapidly growing Timber Fire threatens the region.

Dave Morin, chairman of the famed retreat center perched along California’s Big Sur coastline, said Monday that the retreat was evacuating and would remain closed for the time being.

“Pray for Big Sur and the Timber Fire. It appears to be doubling every 6 hours. We are evacuating @esalen and are closed until the fire is contained,” Morin wrote on X.

The Timber Fire, which started on Sunday, had expanded to over 1,700 acres and was just 5% contained as of Monday evening, according to California fire officials. The blaze is burning through steep…