BajaNomad

Coronado Islands

bajaking76 - 5-24-2011 at 11:19 AM

Does any one own any pictures that depict the Hotel which use to be on the Coronado Islands (Baja)?

"In the 1920s and 1930s, during Prohibition in the United States, the cove on the Northeast side of South Coronado Island was used as a meeting place for alcohol smugglers. Since it was the time before radar, and as foggy nights are common, the large number of boats frequently resulted in collisions. There was so much traffic that a famous casino flourished there until well into the Depression. Only the stone foundation remains though the name Smugglers Cove, and more rarely Casino Cove, adorn modern maps"

Roberto - 5-24-2011 at 06:09 PM

There is nothing left to see, except a few ruins down where the dock used to be.

David K - 5-24-2011 at 06:24 PM

I am trying to find photos of the casino... Here is a bit about the casino from Sign On San Diego in 2009:

Perhaps the most successful enterprise was the casino. The two-story structure on South Island was the brainchild of Mariano Escobedo, builder of Tijuana's jai alai fronton, and Fred Hamilton, a San Diego lumber merchant. Their plans to draw alcohol-parched punters, though, were quickly scuttled. By the time they opened the casino in the summer of 1933, Prohibition had been repealed. The next year, Mexico banned casino gambling; the Coronado Islands Yacht Club closed that December.

Cisco - 5-24-2011 at 06:32 PM

It was also a really neat place. Was there many times and knew most of the folks on the island in the 1950's.

Every week or so we would run in the lighthouse keeper or a couple of the lobster fisherman to San Diego on one of the sportboats. They would generally stay at our house in Tunaville and we would drive them around to get all the shopping done for the island folks then drop them off on the next mornings trip.

Lot's of memories flooding back, thanks for the prod.

Cisco

bajaking76 - 5-24-2011 at 07:09 PM

I think my sister has a picture of the hotel. Getting it this weekend if she can find it. ;)

try sdhs and google images

mtgoat666 - 5-24-2011 at 07:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaking76
Does any one own any pictures that depict the Hotel which use to be on the Coronado Islands (Baja)?


sdhs always has a pic of what ya want:

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt1779p88f/?docId=kt1779...

BajaGringo - 5-24-2011 at 07:34 PM

Some of the old hotel foundations are still in place out there...

Cisco - 5-24-2011 at 07:54 PM

The dark-hulled boat in the photo looks like a San Diego bay water taxi.

Was told by some of the old sportfishing guy's that there was prostitution at one time at the "Hotel" and that sometimes boats would make the run from the casino ship anchored off the Hotel Del to the island.

Cisco

bajaking76 - 5-24-2011 at 07:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaking76
Does any one own any pictures that depict the Hotel which use to be on the Coronado Islands (Baja)?


sdhs always has a pic of what ya want:

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt1779p88f/?docId=kt1779...


Thanks goat.

bajaking76 - 5-24-2011 at 07:59 PM

I was last on the island in 2004, the only homes on the island were taken over by the Mexican Navy. My brother new the lighhouse keeper, spent the morning eating fresh lobster, tortillas and frijoles with a fantastic view of the coast.

David K - 5-24-2011 at 08:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaking76
Does any one own any pictures that depict the Hotel which use to be on the Coronado Islands (Baja)?


sdhs always has a pic of what ya want:

http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt1779p88f/?docId=kt1779...


Thanks for finding it! That's the one I have seen before...

BajaWarrior - 5-26-2011 at 04:20 AM

My good friend J.P. (longtime lurker) sent me this photo which he said he took in 1976 and had some vague information about a movie that was shot there in the 30's by the name of Monte Carlo.

wilderone - 5-26-2011 at 07:26 AM

"...during Prohibition in the United States, the cove on the Northeast side of South Coronado Island was used as a meeting place for alcohol smugglers"

And I've heard several times over the years that prostitutes and alcohol were smuggled (offloaded/boarded) at a location along Sunset Cliffs Blvd., in Ocean Beach, north of Garbage Beach, where there used to be a bridge spanning two points of the cliffs (now eroded away). Anyone else know about that?