Written by Mackenzie Tatanani, Dailymail.Com
Updated November 12, 2023 12:18, November 12, 2023 13:09
- Crystal Cove’s 46 brightly colored cottages attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.
- They were built during Prohibition to allow tent campers to build more permanent housing.
- The charming cottage is available to visitors while a restoration project is underway to preserve its unique history
A charming Prohibition-era cottage in California has been renovated and frozen in time, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Crystal Cove State Park spans 5.2 miles of open beach and more than 2,000 acres of hinterland and is one of Orange County’s last remaining stretches of natural coastline.
The park also features 46 candy-colored cottages, perfect for visitors looking to relax in an idyllic setting and share in a fascinating part of the Golden State’s history.
Reservations start at $49 per night and trend upwards to $300, with eight newly renovated units scheduled to be available for rental this month.
Located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, this cottage has proven to be very popular with 98% year-round occupancy.
Crystal Cove Conservancy, a nonprofit organization working to preserve the home, describes it as a “historic coastal treasure.”
“So far, 28 cottages and one Japanese language school have been fully restored, providing visitors with a unique getaway, a place for families to connect, and funding to protect 4,000 acres of Crystal Cove County. “Parks,” the group wrote on its website.
Last year alone, 2.9 million people visited this region, which dates back more than a century.
In the 1910s, Crystal Cove (then part of the Irvine Ranch) attracted early Hollywood filmmakers to shoot films set in Polynesia on site. Its pristine beaches were the perfect setting for stories about shipwrecks and tropical islands.
The film crew built a small thatched hut and brought back palm trees from Los Angeles. After filming ended, several cabins were left behind and became early vacation rentals.
After Prohibition went into effect, 42 miles of coastline became a target for rumrunners. Ships were anchored outside the border, waiting for their cargo to be delivered to the port, where they were met by men loading unassuming trucks.
Around this time, it became a returning community of summer tourists, with families camping on the beach. Wanting a permanent vacation home, they later built cottages on beaches and cliffs.
In 1940, the Irvine Company sent a letter to the family urging them to move their cottage if they wished. Otherwise, the residence will become the property of the company and part of the leasing system.
Crystal Cove was converted into a state park in 1979.
“We spent $32 million, and by our estimates, this is probably one of our most expensive purchases,” said Jim Newland, program manager for Strategic Planning and Recreation Services at California State Parks. says.
National Register of Historic Places status was also secured for the entire historic district.
“Today, Crystal Cove Beach Cottages are the last remaining intact examples of the local architectural style prevalent in California beach communities in the early 20th century, allowing visitors to travel back in time to a bygone era. “This allows them to slip,” the conservation organization wrote.
In 1997, the state signed a 60-year contract with a private developer to turn the cottages into a luxury resort.
The Crystal Cove Conservancy was formed to protect the historic district from bulldozers. Together with other conservation groups, they bought out the contract to prevent this from happening.
All tenants were evicted by the state in 2001.
Instead of resorts, cottages have been restored for vacationers. The initiative began in his 2003, and the first guests in the historic district arrived in his 2006, when the park’s Beachcomber restaurant opened.
“This is a really great property that has since been completely developed around our park, including high-end shopping and a large resort called Pelican,” Newland said.
Restoration is still ongoing. The California Heritage Legacy Project is proceeding with the restoration of the last of his 17 cottages at Crystal Cove, a careful process with a budget of approximately $55 million.
Today, 33 of the 45 cottages have been fully restored, hosting 24,000 visitors each year and generating revenue to support the conservancy’s outdoor STEM education programs, which involve more than 10,000 students.
One of the last cottages to be renovated will host a residential program for underprivileged high school students from across Southern California.
But for visitors, this is simply a fun and unconventional vacation spot.
The cheapest option is a room in Cottage 29B for $49 per night.
Built in 1938, this dormitory-style home features two ocean-facing decks, an eat-in kitchen, a small common living area, and two fully shared and two semi-shared bathrooms.
For visitors who want a more expensive retreat, there’s the North Beach Tower, which sleeps up to six people and costs $320 a night.
Open the windows in the living and dining rooms to let in the sea breeze. The windows at the front of the cottage are recycled from decommissioned trams. Enjoy a sunset toast at the U-shaped entertainment bar.
Three of the available cottages are physically accessible to people with disabilities, so there seems to be something for everyone.
Reservations can be made online at ReserveCalifornia.com or by calling (800) 444-7275.