Crystal Cove: Seaside inspiration Part I

This is the time of year when every one begins to plan for a summer vacation.  About two miles south of us on Pacific Coast Highway, is an amazing collection of historic beach cottages, that can now be rented for a few days through the California State Parks Department. 

   

How about this for a vacation idea!

This wonderful and inspiring spot is known as Crystal Cove.   

This amazing three mile stretch of beach is sprinkled with timeless beach shacks and the ambience  of coastal California as it must have looked in the 1930s.  The history dates back to the 1920s when rancher James Irvine, Jr., allowed a small group of families to "camp out" on this unused parcel of coastline.

The history of the cove plays out like a Hollywood movie script, with characters and politics that could rival any great screenplay.  The politics of late have been about the sale of the cove and the surrounding 3000 acres to the California Department of Parks and Recreation in 1979.  Although I was born and raised in California and have lived in this area for over 28 years, the first time I was able to visit Crystal Cove was in 2006.  

The earliest "coveites" were there in the 20's to manage the property, which was used extensively as a movie set.  Most of the palm trees you see today are  those planted as props for  silent pictures.  The crews would work all day and then leave at dusk to have drinks and retire to bed in neighboring Newport or Laguna.  

The 20's and 30's was also a time for many now famous Laguna artisans,  working in the french Plein Aire style of painting, to paint along this unusual and majestic coastline

Crystal Cove  is still an extremely popular site for Artists of all mediums and the cottages are almost always a central theme.

What a spot to paint!!!

Early coveites were tent campers who later converted their spots into more permanent sites.  Eventually some of those sites became the cottages of today.

The "tents" were so elaborate at times, that it was hard to tell exactly where the  word "tent" fit into the equation,  but it was part of the culture of the cove and somehow everyone managed to get along.

Finely discontinued in 1962, it was the end of an era for many 

The lucky families who called Crystal Cove home in the 40's and 50's eventually passed the properties on the their children or sold them for a "finders fee".  All of these little homes were land leases brokered through what is now known as the Irvine Company.   The leases were for ten years and families had no ownership of the actual land or the buildings themselves.  It was, however, a small price to pay for this amazing little coastal paradise.  

Cocktail hour began with the raising of the flag, promptly at 4PM and was greeting with much revelry.  The coveites motto: "every night is Saturday night"

Dinner was usually, the catch of the day.   Abalone, albacore, corvina and halibut was still plentiful along the coast and surf fishing was and still is very popular  

Luaus were a favorite theme in the 50's and the 4th of July beach parties were legendary blow outs!

Notice the guy on the left...oh the things men do for attention... 

Below is the original "office"

Most cottages are a cobbled together mixture of boards and shingles as well as "beach junk" and drift wood.  Put all of those elements together and these little gems exude charm.  It's the kind of washed out, warn down simpleness that is so appealing.  The air is fresh and salty and the sand is as clean as any along coastal California.

This is the famous house from the movie "Beaches" made in 1988.  It sits at the very end of the cove and is perhaps the most painted and recognizable cottage.

The cove is a special spot.  It is nostalgic and simple and makes me think things have gotten way too complicated sometimes.  

This little bit of history of Crystal Cove will perhaps  get you thinking about vacation plans at the beach.  In my next post I will share the Cove as it is today;
 a spot for every family to enjoy.

  What is and will become an important legacy for our future

All photos are from the book:

Crystal Cove Cottages
Islands in time on the California Coast 
by KarenE. Steen


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thanks for stopping by
kelley