For Sale – Have you been searching for a condo west of the 5 freeway with a 1 car garage, community pool, & is 1.2 miles from the beach? This 1 bed/1 bath condo has it all & features a remodeled kitchen, full size stacked washer & dryer hook ups in unit, A/C, & a private covered patio. Unit is on the second story & has a split level living room with vaulted ceilings. Kitchen features quartz counter top, farmhouse sink, stainless steel appliances with an electric glass top stove. Bedroom has a large walk-in closet.
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Del Mar is a small, seaside hideaway approximately 20 minutes north of
downtown San Diego. Defined by calm salt water lagoons on each end, this
charming, laid back town is best known for it’s exceptional weather, world
famous thoroughbred racetrack, the county fair, fabulous beaches, haute
cuisine and unique shopping.
With a population of approximately 4,500 in the 2.1 square mile coastal area,
Del Mar offers an oasis of unhurried, yet civilized, living. Visitors can enjoy
many of the pleasures of the Village without ever needing a car.
The historic downtown village dates back to 1880s. Today it is lined with over
60 shops offering everything from high-end apparel to one-of-a-kind specialty
shops. The village hosts 25 restaurants, many providing outside patios
overlooking the ocean. There are cafés with sidewalk seating and awardwinning
dining perfect for any occasion. Visitors will find a variety of hotel
accommodations.
With 2 miles of coastline and gently rolling waves, Del Mar’s famous beaches
are an ideal destination for beachgoers, surf combers and surfers seeking the
legendary California surf. There’s even a sliver of beach for dogs. Del Mar’s
primary beach also offers wheel chair access, the only such beach in the county
with special wheelchairs designed for the sand. Whales, porpoises, sea lions
and a myriad of birdlife populate the shimmering coastal waters and lagoons.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy several parks. Seagrove Park and adjoining
Powerhouse Park are ideal grassy locations for a picnic or a wedding, walking a
dog, for lovers catching a romantic sunset, or for simply gazing at the many
magical moods of a majestic Pacific. And throughout the summer there are free
concerts in the park. (Please see this Web site calendar). Not to overlook the
little ones, there is a delightful children’s playground adjacent to Powerhouse
Park, affectionately referred to as the Tot Lot.
The Del Mar Library is a landmark worth a visit. In 2002 two local artists, Betsy
Shultz and Pat Welsh, created the mixed-media mosaic on the wall that frames
the historic building which has served as a famous church for both movie stars
and residents, a restaurant and other uses over the decades. The wall
incorporates memorabilia and treasures from Del Mar’s history, as well as
featuring terracotta birds and wildlife from the area.
At any age, at any season, Del Mar is truly a wonderful place to visit or to live.
History
In 1882 a New Yorker named Theodore Loop came to southern California to
build a railroad connecting Los Angeles and San Diego. The original train tracks
were laid down in the middle of Township 14, today known as Del Mar. Mr. Loop
liked the area so much he told people that he had “found the most attractive
place on the entire coast”.
In the same year Loop met a very successful rancher from New Mexico, Mr.
Jacob Shell Taylor. Taylor and Loop were both captivated by the beauty of the
area and recognized a development opportunity. In the summer of 1885, Taylor
purchased 338.11 acres and began building the new resort town.
Del Mar was named by Loop’s wife, Ella, who took it from a popular poem of
the time titled “The Fight of Paseo Del Mar.”
Taylor was a savvy businessman and a visionary. He knew that if he could lure
visitors to Del Mar they would likely be loyal customers or new residents. Jacob
Taylor initially built as many as 40 small houses, a two story Victorian
schoolhouse, an observation tower, a train depot and a water system.
Additionally, in 1886 Taylor opened “Casa Del Mar”, the area’s first resort. To
entertain visitors Taylor built a dance pavilion on the beach and a large
swimming pool that went out into the ocean called a Natatorium. Del Mar
became a popular vacation destination.
For five years the town bustled with development. Sadly in 1889 Jacob Taylor
woke up in the early morning to the smell of smoke in his hotel room. He woke
all of the hotel guests, guaranteeing their safety, but within two hours the
entire hotel burned to the ground.
Taylor insisted he would rebuild the hotel but, unfortunately, he never finished
it. Taylor moved to Texas; leaving behind the town he founded, never to return.
The Big Boom – South Coast Land Company
Over 15 years lapsed before the next development boom. In 1900 the South
Coast Land Company purchased the majority of land north of 9th Street. Like
Taylor, the directors of the South Coast Land Company had big plans for Del
Mar. Their first project was the grand resort hotel called the “Stratford Inn”.
They hired a prominent Los Angeles architect, John C. Austin. The new hotel
was built on the hill overlooking the beach. (Today the L’Auberge hotel occupies
this land.)
On March 9, 1909 the beautiful Stratford Inn opened for business. It was a
world-class hotel built on 10 acres. It quickly became the desired destination
for Hollywood’s silent film stars.
The hotel had a salt-water swimming pool called The Plunge. Next to The
Plunge the Powerhouse was erected to provide power and warm water to the
hotel and to the Village.
Shortly after the hotel was finished, a pier (which was washed away in a storm
years later) and a new train depot were built. The train depot was directly in
front of the hotel, making it an easy commute. The same depot sits on the
location today.
During the 20’s and 30’s Del Mar experienced tremendous growth. Although
there were still just a few hundred permanent residents, the summer crowds
reached almost 2,000.
To accommodate the growing population, the Kockritz Building was constructed
across the street from the hotel on the southwestern corner of 15th Street and
Camino Del Mar. The building was designed to match the English Tudor
architecture of the hotel. The building remains to this day and is referred to as
Stratford Square. It has become a Del Mar icon and treasure.
The Track and The Fair
During the early 30’s the San Diego Fair was looking for a permanent home.
Col. Ed Fletcher of the South Coast Land Company suggested the 184-acre site
in the San Dieguito Valley just north of the Village. The Works Progress
Administration provided the initial funding and the Del Mar Fair opened to great
fanfare in 1936, a yearly tradition that continues.
A year after the Fair opened the mile-long oval thoroughbred racetrack was
completed. One of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s prominent founders,
crooner Bing Crosby, became the President of the Turf Club and movie star
friend Pat O’Brien became the Vice President. Opening day of the track, July 3,
1937 began a new era in Del Mar. The track was hailed as Bing’s Baby or
Movieland’s Own Track. Crosby himself coined the famous lyrics, which live on
today, “Where the surf meets the turf, down in old Del Mar …”.
For decades the summer racing season has brought crowds to Del Mar along
with many Hollywood celebrities such as Pat O’Brien, Jimmy and Marge
Durante, Lucy and Desi Arnez, Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickenson. All made
Del Mar their second home and it continues to remain a favorite of many today.
During World War II the races came to a halt so that the facilities could be
used as a bomber tail assembly plant. However, racing returned in August 1945
after Japan surrendered.
Del Mar Today
In 1959 Del Mar incorporated as a city. It is now the smallest municipality in
the booming San Diego region; a gem nestled along the coast. The most
significant impact on the community over the last 40 years has been nearby
University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Many faculty members and
students reside in the community, influencing the political, social and cultural
climate. In the 1970 the emphasis of the local government shifted towards slow
growth, open spaces and preservation. Because of the efforts of an active
group called the Friends of Del Mar, there will never be high-rise apartment
buildings or billboards in the City. Seagrove Park and Powerhouse Park are both
the results of the community citizenry working together to preserve open
space.
Del Mar has grown family-by-family over the last 150 years. Today, almost
4,500 lucky residents call Del Mar their home. People still come to visit or live
in Del Mar for the same reasons, as did the founding fathers: it is one of the
most beautiful places in the country. Whether coming to enjoy the beach, shop
in the village, spend a day at the races or just relax, Del Mar is “always in
season”. Enjoy your visit, and come back again.
Beaches and Parks
The beach in Del Mar is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable in San Diego.
The two plus miles of sandy beach offers a great place to relax, walk, or run.
Two coastal parks, Powerhouse and Seagrove Parks, are located just above the
Fifteenth Street surf break; providing a great spot to picnic with friends and
family.
North Beach, affectionately called “Dog Beach” by dog owners, is located north
of 29th Street and stretches nearly one half mile to our border with Solana
Beach. Please visit the “Dog Beach” page for more information.
North County offers some of the best local running, paddling, fishing, and
diving in the area. Local runs and walks include the beach, coastal bluffs,
Torrey Pines State Park, and the trails through the backside of Del Mar in Crest
Canyon. All areas provide a unique vantage point to enjoy wildlife and the
natural surroundings. On flat surf days, many surfers have found alternate
avenues of enjoying the ocean via paddling and free-diving in our local waters.
With an abundant local fish population and thriving Giant Sea Kelp forest, both
activities are prime Southern California spots for these activities.
Two other unique opportunities to explore are Scripps Bluff Preserve and the
newly restored San Dieguito River Lagoon. Both spots are located at the
northern end of Del Mar and offer extraordinary views of the San Diego
coastline, native plants, shorebirds, and other wildlife. Additionally, great
training opportunities in the area include running the stairs up to the reserve
and the trail out to the Lagoon.
Remember to inquire with local Lifeguards for detailed information on safety,
rules, and conditions. Enjoy the beach!
