Crystal Cove Cottages Rehabilitation Project Tour

Site Tour (9:45 am Check-In, 10:00am– 1:00 pm w/ Box Lunch)

Project Description and Details:

The Crystal Cove Historic District includes a total of 46 wood frame cottages and other buildings located in a natural cove at the mouth of Los Trancos Creek on the Pacific Ocean within Crystal Cove State Park.  The majority of the buildings were constructed between 1925 and 1936.  A portion of the cottages were restored in two separate phases between 2003 and 2011.  The current Phase III project rehabilitates the 17 remaining mothballed cottages along the ocean front and major infrastructure including retaining walls, utilities and boardwalk.

The tour will review Historic District history, preservation planning decisions, infrastructure construction, and cottage rehabilitation.  The site is currently under continuing construction, but the cottages will be viewed in various stages of before, during, and after rehabilitation.

Parking Information:   Parking is available across Pacific Coast Highway at Los Trancos Parking Lot.  Parking is $5/hr. or $20/day. 

Important Reminders:  The Parking Lot is a long walk to the meeting point.  Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to get from the parking to find the meeting point.  Also, please arrive early to check-in.  Consider wearing sunscreen or hats as much of the tour will be outside.

Safety Notes:  The Crystal Cove Cottage Rehabilitation Project is an active construction site and accessible paths are not complete.  Please wear closed toe shoes and be prepared to walk on slopes and navigate stairs.  The cottages are small so there will be some points where it will be crowded.

Tour Details:

• 40 people registered at max. 

• Registration Fee= $25 WCAPT Members, $35 Non-Members, $5 Student w/ cap for student registrants

• Includes Box Lunch

• Parking is across the street at Los Trancos Parking Lot

Registration - 9:45 am:

• Meet @ Education Commons (See Map)

• Registration/Check-in

• Meet @ gathering area.

• Divide Into 2 Groups (20 each).

Station 1 - 10:00 am:

• @Education Commons (Entire Group) 

• Dick Gee - Introduction of Speaker

• Speaker Jim Newland (CSP) - History of Crystal Cove Historic District, Overall Preservation Planning Plan, Phase I, II, III overview.

Station 2 - @ Boardwalk, Group 1 Cottages:

• Completed Cottage Tour: Mark Green (Spectra), Jim Newland (CSP), Randy Gamache (CCMC)

• Overview of Infrastructure Project and Historic Tax Credit:  Dick Gee (Spectra), Dan Gee (Crystal Cove Management Company), Mark Huck (CA Office Of Historic Preservation)

Station 3 - @ Group 2 Cottages:

• Tour of In-Progress Cottages with In-depth Construction:  Mark Green (Spectra), Randy Gamache (CCMC)

• Documentation/Cataloging:  Dick Gee (Spectra)

• Specific Preservation Planning Decisions: Jim Newland (CSP)

Lunch - 12:00 pm:

• Box Lunch @ Outdoors, TBD

Presenters include:

Jim Newland, Historian and Planner,

California State Parks

Mr. Newland has worked as a historian/planner supervising for over a quarter-century for California State Parks and is President of the La Mesa Historical Society. He is the author of four books on local history, including La Mesa (Images of America) and Around Mt. Helix.  He has been involved as a historian supervising all phases of the Crystal Cove Cottages rehabilitation since 2003.

Mark Green (Senior Superintendent)+ Dick Gee (Historic Architect), Spectra Company

Dan Gee (Past President)  + Randy Gamache (Construction Manager), Crystal Cove Management Company

In Person Tour: Saturday, August 19th

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

In-Person Tour:

$25 (Members)

$35 (Non-Members)

$5 (Students)

Register Here

Thanks to our generous event sponsor: