May 3, 2017
Stella Hiatt Celebrates 79 Years of Crystal Cove History, and its Future Crystal Cove connects to the one world ocean that covers more than seventy percent of the earth, and for many happy mornings, Stella Hiatt began her day in that ocean. Her first swim at Crystal Cove was as a teenager celebrating spring break in […]
Apr 1, 2017
The approval by the California Coastal Commission to renovate the 17 remaining cottages on North Beach at Crystal Cove State Park, generated a lot of media. Click the images below for some of our favorite stories.
Apr 1, 2017
On October 9, 1926, a local segment of Coast Highway connecting Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach was dedicated by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. The new 9.8-mile stretch of highway brought increased public attention and access to the previously isolated Crystal Cove, and by 1928 at least ten permanent structures were established there. Among […]
Apr 1, 2017
March 8th, 2017 was an incredible milestone for everyone that loves Crystal Cove. The California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a coastal development permit for the restoration of the 17 remaining unrestored cottages on the North Beach at Crystal Cove State Park. As joint applicants on the project, Crystal Cove Alliance (CCA) and California State Parks […]
Mar 1, 2017
Cottage #32 still displays its original nickname from a different era – “Hi-De-Ho.” Inspired by the legendary jazz band leader Cab Calloway, the story goes that Calloway forgot the lyrics to one of his songs and improvised “Hi-De-Ho” on the spot, using his own voice as a musical instrument in a technique he learned from […]
Feb 1, 2017
The blue cottage on the cliff has been nestled over the ocean for nearly eighty years, its lightly weathered wood siding blending with sea, land, and sky. Once called “Provence Cottage,” charming Cottage #33 has been restored and renamed as “Romantic Retreat,” and is now part of the year-round overnight lodging at Crystal Cove. From […]
Jan 1, 2017
“…It was almost as if all the houses were just rooms belonging to one great house.” This description of the historic cottages from a 1982 article in the LA Times captures the community and sense of place that emerged at Crystal Cove over the decades. The original character of each individual cottage has been preserved, […]
Jan 1, 2017
Crystal Cove’s stunning views, historic cottages and abundant wildlife have been attracting artists for many generations. They arrive here with blank canvases and leave with art pieces that uniquely capture this one unchanged place in the sun. Crystal Cove Alliance, through its partnership with Crystal Cove State Park at the Park Interpretive Store and Gallery are […]
Nov 1, 2016
One of the most iconic and beloved images of Crystal Cove is a color postcard from the 1930s that captures an idealized version of the seaside colony, complete with vintage automobiles and palm-frond covered cottages. Nestled right in the middle of the glowing beach scene is a tiny white one-story cottage with red trim: The […]
Nov 1, 2016
“Old places have soul.” – Sarah Anderson At Crystal Cove Alliance, we believe that old places have soul, and that they are worth preserving. Through our subsidiary, Crystal Cove Beach Cottages (CCBC), CCA funds and manages cottage and park maintenance, enhancements and improvements in the Crystal Cove State Park Historic District. Significant funds earned from […]
