Does anyone remember the old Capistrano Beach Club in the 1960's, located at 35001 Beach Road, where the basket ball and other courts are today. This is where the olympic size swimming pool once was. The club was one of William Doheneys mansions back in the early part of the 20th. Century, The building was torn down in about 1970 due to repair needs. My parents belonged to that club and would take my brother and Me there every week during the summer in the early to mid 1960's. They had a wonderful seafood buffet and a band. My parents would dance there and enjoy the evening and my brother and I would explore the beach at night.
The California State Parks has a pamphlet regarding Doheny State Beach which mentions Capistrano Beach Club...
During the 1920s, his son Edward L. (Ned) Doheny, Jr. began development of 1,000 acres in the Capistrano Beach area and built several large residences and three local landmarks: Capistrano Beach Club, a pier and a gazebo. The son died in 1929 in a tragic shooting at the home his father had built for him, the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. The father's health suffered from events of the 1920s, and he died in 1935.
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9 comments:
My parents were members in 1964 and I was eight years old. I remember having dinner in the dining room on an overcast day and watching the surf pounding away. I do believe that Joyce Hoffman woman surf champion was a lifeguard. The life preservers said "Capo Beach Club." My friends brother's band, "The Nuts And Bolts," did a gig there. I remember the pier that was closed, and eventually demolitioned in 1970.
I got a confirmation e-mail from Joyce Hoffman's sister Dibi that Joyce was NOT a lifeguard at the club. But Dibi mentioned that she went to the club and had lots of fun.
I was 10 yrs old ,my ncle Ted Robinson was in the process of demolishion I stayed in the club acouple of times all night .It was creepy it didnt even have any elect. we used the fire place I remember us filling the pool with beach sand .I have old silver ware Ifound while exploring it.
The one thing I remember was that the beach went from sand to pebbles and small rocks, so it was not very comfortable to wade out into the surf. So, I always spent more time in the pool. The pier had no ramp to enter, and was straight up pilings and boards criss-crossed at the top to not allow entry. One time I watched a man climb up, and walk the length of the pier and dive off. When he came back to shore he was telling people who were observing that the pier was unstable and rocking with the tide and he did not feel comfortable on it.
I lived on Beach Road from 1967 to 1968. I believe Joyce and Dibi also lived on Beach Road........
I clearly remember the beach club. We have had a house on the road since 1955 and we used to go there to swim in the pool and eat dinner. I also remember the old Capo Beach pier where my brother and I used to walk down the beach to and fish off the end. I still have one of the placemats from the old club.
I worked at the Capistrano Beach Club in early 60's as a cocktail waitress. I traveled from Costa Mesa every Friday and Saturday down Coast Hwy to get there. At that time I had customers for Hollywood ie Peter Brown, Karl Malden etc. They were all such nice people. I am so glad to find this site. I have check the San Juan history on this area and came up blank. This site made me realize it was not just a dream.
Oh yes....snuck in and swam in the pool as a boy. We had a family house on the road since 1949. I can still remember the storm waves crashing on the wall until the harbor jettys were put in and the old pier was torn down. They should have left the place intact. History.
I posted this and did not realize I had to get approval. My grandfather purchased property and placed a cottage on it in 1949. 35431 Beach Rd. It was purchased and torn dowm to make way for the new megamansions that predominate the road now. We used the club pool. we fished off the old barge that was anchored outside and we fished off the old pier. I remember a plane crashing off the pier around 1959. Used to be plenty of fish then. Do not know about know. Anyway the Smith's say aloha to all our old friends still on the road.
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