For five years, the quaint cottages at the north end of Crystal Cove have been a construction zone, tucked behind fencing as an elaborate effort to revitalize the historic structures has been underway.
But by Thanksgiving, the first batch of eight newly renovated cottages will be ready for overnight stays, it has been announced, kicking off a new chapter for the coveted cottages.
Also, the final $10 million of the $55 million project to finish the North Beach cottages at Crystal Cove has been secured, the Crystal Cove Conservancy announced Monday.
“It’s remarkable how many people have been involved in making this happen and how long they’ve worked to make it happen,” said Kate Wheeler, president and CEO of the conservancy.
Crystal Cove’s historic cottages are among the most in-demand overnight stays in the State Parks system – so as more open it will become easier to nab a chance to stay at the beachfront cottages wedged between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
The first batch of eight units expected to open next month are among 22 units set in 17 cottages expected to all be open by 2026. With each opening, construction and fencing will move northward up the beach – the wooden boardwalk in front of each completed cottage will also be opening to the public.
Painstaking detail has gone into ensuring the cottages represent the bygone era when “coveites” enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle living in the cobbled together collection of homes, many built from wood that washed ashore. Details are being preserved reflecting when they were built between the 1930s and 1950s.
In 2006, after decades as a private community, Crystal Cove became a place for vacationers to have a unique get-away on the sand. The 29 south-end cottages were restored within the 2.3-acre Crystal Cove Historic District and joined the State Parks’ inventory of overnight offerings.
The final $10 million in funding came through a Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit with an…
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