UNITED STATES, Nov 15 — Situated on California’s beautiful Bay of Monterey, Capitola, Santa Cruz has served as a resort for more than 135 years. Built near a wharf at the mouth of the Soquel River, Capitola was founded in 1874 by Samuel Hall. The Hall family set up tents on a path and rented the land they leased from Hihn, to vacationers.
Today, the natural environment and the mild weather continue to make Capitola a lovely resort destination and year-round home
S
ituated on california’s beautiful Bay of Monterey, capitola, santa cruz has served as a resort for more than 135 years. Built near a wharf at the mouth of the Soquel River, Capitola was founded in 1874 by Samuel Hall. The Hall family set up tents on a path and rented the land they leased from Hihn, to vacationers.
Although it is questionable where the name Capitola came from, many people believe that it came from Hall’s daughter, Lulu. It’s possible that she named the resort after a heroine in a series of popular novels she enjoyed reading. Capitola officially began operating as a camping ground and hotel when the Hall family welcomed their first guests in 1874.
Frederick Hihn invested in Capitola and took control of the resort in 1882 when he realized how successful it was becoming. In 1883, Hihn built 60 seaside cottages and enlarged the hotel to keep up with Capitola’s growing popularity. Hihn also built streets in a circular pattern, bathhouses, steam rooms, and larger seaside concessions reflecting his own memories of what resorts in Germany offered. It was not long before Capitola could accommodate 600 tourists during the summer.
1895, the hotel was further expanded to become a 160 room hotel and the summer cabins were redesigned to look like small Victorian homes. By this time the seasonal population of Capitola was in the thousands.
After Hihn died in 1913, his daughter, Katherine Henderson, inherited most of Capitola. Katherine managed the Capitola resort until after WW1 when she sold the entire Capitola portion of her estate to Henry Rispin in 1919. The resort had operated for 45 years at the time of sale. Unlike Hihn, Rispin had very little to do with the resort and although Rispin hoped to modernize Capitola and make a fortune, he eventually went bankrupt in 1929.
For the first 50 years, Capitola had only been open in the summertime. After World War 1, more than a few people considered Capitola their year round home. It soon became evident that Capitola’s out-dated sewage system and limited facilities such as fire stations. In 1933, a fire destroyed many homes and businesses in Capitola. Realizing that the disastrous fire could be used as an excuse to not only upgrade the sewer system, but also build better buildings, two realtors helped lead the way in reconstructing Capitola. They built a modern dance hall, beer garden, and post office.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Capitola residents finally voted in favor of incorporating in 1949. They hoped the intolerable sewage problem would be fixed and beach closures would end. Capitola officially incorporated on Jan 11, 1949. From this point on, Capitola has steadily grown and improved.
Today, the natural environment and the mild weather continue to make Capitola a lovely resort destination and year-round home. With beaches, art and wine festivals, the Capitola Begonia Festival which is over fifty years old, dining, lodging, entertainment, fishing, golf, and parks, Capitola has grown into a lively seaside village with a distinctively colorful, Mediterranean flair.
Communicate directly with Lauren Spencer, the author of this article. Ask questions, send suggestions, comments, engage in conversation, or perhaps you would like to submit a project.
Click Here to ask a question, send a comment, or proposal.
The land of the kangaroos, wombats, koalas and Tasmanian Devils has countless breathtaking scenic destinations to discover and enjoy.
Plan now your excursion to Australia and be able to explore the country’s diverse iconic destinations.<
Backpacking in Peru is one of the most memorable experiences. The country’s stunning landscapes, rich culture and friendly people won’t leave you indifferent. Peru offers a lot of options for active vacation for everyone who loves adventu
One of my earliest child memories is getting on the back of my Dad’s motorbike, while he drove along the narrow roads of the of Antwerp where grew up in. Another memory is about an American television series, Street Hawk, which was
The Cotswolds have so many garden highlights which can be found in and around every picturesque village. This is reflected in the fact that the region plays host to some of the most stunning gardens in the UK.
Furthermore, the Cotswold Hills a
Placed in the western coast of India, Goa is a captivating holiday destination in India. It is smallest but gorgeous state of India. It is small but has many worthy destinations for celebrating holiday in truly pleasurable ways. It is widely much-adm
Run away from all the chains that bind you to a world full of monotony and gloom; and get ready to step into a vibrant world alive with fun and enjoyment. It is Europe we are talking about! Book cheap plane tickets to any destination in Europe and kn
If you are planning a trip to Jamaica and wondering what to see apart from the beaches and bask in the Caribbean sun, you can add Green Grotto Caves to your itinerary. These caves are perfect for a family or group outing. And if you are travelling wi
Turkey which lies in Mid East Asia is considered one of the most amazing tourist destinations of the world. Being one of the cheapest holiday destinations of the world it has built a reputation amongst travel enthusiasts for greeting foreign travelle
I will not be the first to say that airline tickets have lot more than they should be but there is a ton of ways to get cheap airline tickets to anywhere in the world. The key is where to look and for which airline to look into. We have a few tips fo
You’ve found your perfect house and you are ready to make an offer. You sit down with your agent and decide on a price that seems fair given the condition of both the house and the local real estate market. You spend up to an hour deciding on y
Searching for a place to live in Santa Cruz can be difficult, especially if you are looking for a place that is going to suitable for not just yourself, but your family as well. Santa Cruz offers a variety of neighborhoods and communities. When looki
Santa Cruz and area golf courses offer peaceful retreats, golf instruction, challenging courses, fine dining, and top-notch meeting facilities. If you are looking to buy a home near a golf course in the Santa Cruz area, read on for helpful golf cours
Over time, our homes accumulate more items than we could ever need. It can be hard to throw away certain items and before we know it, the home becomes cluttered with things that we no longer have uses for. Luckily, there is always someone who wants w
When moving to a new community, many things must be taken into consideration. If you are unfamiliar with the area, performing a bit of background research is important in ensuring that you find a suitable neighborhood. Even if you are only reloc
Syndication
tweet
PDF version
Printable version
Publisher HTML version
Discussions (0)
Email Article
Review or Comment on this Location