Redondo Beach Landmarks Forever Gone

Hotel Redondo

In 1890, the Hotel Redondo opened. The City was becoming “The Place” for tourists. Railroads and steamships brought people by the thousands, not to mention freight loads of oil and lumber. At this time, Redondo was the first port of Los Angeles County. Steamers from the Pacific Steamship Company stopped at Redondo four times a week, at one of its three piers, as part of regular runs between San Francisco and San Diego. The Redondo Railway Company and the Santa Fe Railroad left Los Angeles daily for Redondo at regular intervals. Eventually the City was served by Henry Huntingtons Big Red Electric Cars.

The Hotel Redondo, with its 18-hole golf course, lush landscaping, tennis courts and 225 luxurious rooms, each of which was “touched by sunlight at some time of the day,” induced more visitors than ever before to venture to the coast. If the price of hotel accommodations was too steep, one could rent a tent at nearby Tent City on property just north of the Hotel. Patrons were charged $3.00 per week, or $10.00 per month for a tent. Wooden floors and electric lights were included in the price.

The Hotel Redondo (pictured above ) , which had fallen unto hard times due to the development of the port of San Pedro and prohibition which cost the hotel most of its patrons, was purchased by the City of Redondo Beach in 1922, and then leased to H.G. Lewis for offices for draftsment and surveyors working on the Palos Verdes Project. Once the first commercial building was constructed in Malaga Cove Plaza, the offices of the Palos Verdes Project were relocated, and the Hotel was closed in 1925, dismantled, and sold for scrap lumber for $300.

Redondo Beach Plunge

The Redondo Beach Plunge, billed as the “largest indoor salt-water-heated pool in the world”, was built in 1909 by Henry Edward Huntington. Four-stories and Moorish in style, it housed three pools heated by Pacific Light and Power’s steam plant (originally built to generate electricity for the Red Cars). A tower, two diving boards, and a trapeze were features of the large main pool. It was located on the beach, between the ends of the Horseshoe Pier, where a parking structure stands today.

The Redondo Beach Plunge (Brent C. Dickerson)

Interior of Bath House at Redondo Beach Largest Salt Water Plunge in the World Throwing through more than 1,000,000 gallon of water per day c. 1915

The Lightning Racer

One of the popular tourist attractions was The Redondo Beach Lightning Racer roller coaster which had two parallel tracks. In cars traveling over 6000 feet of track, riders had the sensation of racing those in the adjoining car. First opened to the public in 1913, the Lightning Racer was located on the beach just north of old Wharf One (and today’s Municipal Pier). Severely damaged by an extreme storm in March 1915, the coaster was demolished.

“Lightning Racer” roller coastger

A storm in 1915 so severely damaged the Lightning Racer, (opened July 4, 1913) that it had to be dismantled. (Los Angeles Public Library)

Casino and Dance Pavillion

Other Redondo Beach attractions adjacent to the Plunge included the Casino and Dance Pavillion / Auditorium. Henry Huntington’s constructed several tourist attractions on the Redondo Beach waterfront including a pavilion for concerts and dancing. These buildings were located near Wharf No. 1, running south. The first pavilion would be replaced by a grander pavilion in 1907.

The Pavilion, Casino and Bath House c. 1912

The Casino in 1909

Auditorium, Casino and Bath House
from the Wharf c. 1912