Oct 16, 2019
In 1968, artist Alice Powell and her husband Tom acquired Cottage #32, also known by the whimsical “Hi-de-Ho” sign displayed on its exterior. Alice was a ceramicist who kept a kiln and workshop in the backyard of the cottage and hand painted her original fired work. Tom passed away in 1987, and Alice later […]
Sep 12, 2019
This year, The Conservancy honors Founder, Laura Davick and her tireless commitment to saving Crystal Cove. A third generation “Coveite” she has dedicated the last twenty years of her life to advocating for environmental protection, historic preservation, and education at Crystal Cove State Park. Davick grew up at Crystal Cove amid the 46 cottages, […]
Sep 12, 2019
An adventure in time travel begins every third Sunday at noon at Crystal Cove. Laura Davick, Founder Emeritus of Crystal Cove Conservancy, started offering an informal tour of the past, present, and future of the 12-acre Historic District way back in 2001. The cottage residents had just moved out, and the walking tour was […]
Aug 14, 2019
Crystal Cove was a natural paradise discovered by artists, tent campers, and the silent film industry more than a century ago. From as early as 1917, movie studios planted palm trees to make the Cove even more cinematically tropical. It’s believed that every palm at Crystal Cove was planted by a Hollywood studio, including the […]
Jul 17, 2019
As the summer heats up at Crystal Cove and the clouds finally begin to part, we have some great news to share with you about our efforts to restore the North Beach Historic Cottages! Approved by Governor Gavin Newsom, Crystal Cove State Park will receive $2.9 Million in funding through the new state budget! These […]
Jul 17, 2019
Summertime has always been the busiest season at Crystal Cove, and from early days, there was a summer store right on the beach to serve the summertime Cove community. The first summer store was a palm-thatched snack stand. By 1935 it had been replaced by the red and white Soda Shack. After the Soda Shack […]
May 15, 2019
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, families flocked to Crystal Cove to set up camp for the summer In the early days at the cove, after the highway was completed in the mid-1920s, people began to discover the beauty of Orange County’s coast. No longer the well-kept secret of Hollywood insiders and Irvine Ranch employees, the cove was now open […]
Apr 12, 2019
“Who’s going to see the ocean first?” That was the question Bill and Vivian Taft asked their grandchildren on the drive to Crystal Cove back in the 1960s. The first glimpse of the ocean from her grandfather’s old yellow Cadillac convertible is just one of Jennifer Steele’s childhood memories of her grandparents’ beloved beach cottage […]
Mar 15, 2019
Cottage #14 began as a simple palm-frond hut hastily built during The Great Depression. Over the years, the once tiny hut evolved into a spacious light-filled cottage available for overnight lodging. Known now as “South Beach Suite” for its South Beach location and views, and as “McCloskey Cottage” for the family who lived there […]
Nov 14, 2018
Every year, the historic seaside bungalow now known as The Beachcomber Cafe gathers more than 150,000 people for casual ocean-front dining. This follows a long and happy tradition of sharing memories and meals at Crystal Cove. The Beachcomber is closed on Thanksgiving Day, but at one time Cottage #15 hosted as many as 75 people […]
