The city of Avalon is located on Santa Catalina Island in Los Angeles County. Much of the city street grid network was laid out from 1887 through 1929 as the community developed. Modern Avalon is substantially different than mainland California cities given the street network is designed for golf carts and small cars. It isn't uncommon to see Japanese Kei Car within Avalon and the city allegedly has a twenty year wait list for ownership. This blog explores the most notable roadways in the city of Avalon.
Part 1; a general history of Avalon and the city street grid
Archeological evidence for Native American inhabitation of Santa Catalina Island exists back to 5000 BC. Prior to European contact the lands along Avalon Bay on Santa Catalina Island were inhabited by the Tongva. By the 1830s era of Mexican governance in Alta California most of the Tongva population had either died off or had been relocated forcibly by missionaries. In 1846 the island was granted to Thomas M. Robbins as Rancho Santa Catalina by Governor Pio Pico.
Following the Mexican-American War the state of California would be established. During the early California Gold Rush Santa Catalina would see a brief mining boom following the finding of precious metal samples in 1854 by a party led by George Yount. By 1863 there were approximately seventy established mines on Santa Catalina Island which were often host to small mining camps. The Union Army would evict the miners in 1864 fearing Santa Catalina Island would become a base for piracy. The Army barracks above Isthmus Cove of Two Harbors is the oldest standing structure on the island.
Following the Civil War, German immigrant Augustus William Timms would establish a sheep herding business on Santa Catalina Island. Timms shipping vessel known as the Rosita was repurposed to carry vacationers to Avalon Bay to swim and fish. By 1883 Timms' Landing was comprised of three permeant wooden structures and approximately thirty tents. In July 1887 the entirety of Santa Catalina Island would be purchased by Los Angeles real estate developer George Rufus Shatto. Between 1887-1891 Shatto would subdivide a town site on Avalon Bay for lots ranging from $150 to $2,000. Shatto would lay out the street grid which is still used by the modern city of Avalon and would commission construction of the original Hotel Metropole on the Crescent Avenue.
Originally the town site at Avalon Bay was referred to as "Shatto" but it was never formalized. George Shatto's sister-in-law would suggest the town be called "Avalon" in reference to the island of Arthurian legend. By July 1891 the community had grown large enough to necessitate a school district.
In 1891 the Banning Brothers would purchase the entirety of Santa Catalina Island which included the small resort community of Avalon. Most of the community buildings within central Avalon were constructed during the era of Banning Brothers ownership. The notable Island Mountain Railway would open in downtown Avalon in 1904. Said line was a funicular design which permitted travel from an amphitheater at Avalon Bay to a ridge located near what is now the Buena Vista Scenic Overlook on Wrigley Road. From the vista the line descended back down to the water level at Lover's Cove.
The Island Mountain Railway can be seen in a 1905 era photo looking west from what is now the Three Palms Scenic Overlook on Wrigley Road. Pebbly Beach Road is shown not have yet been constructed.
.jpg){kind=link}
The 1913 Wilson Map Company map of Santa Catalina Island shows the cross-island Stagecoach Road from Avalon as already having been constructed. Avalon would incorporate as a city on June 26, 1913.
The same map displays the early street grid of Avalon. Pebbly Beach Road is shown to have been constructed as an eastward extension of Crescent Avenue.
The Island Mountain Railway and Avalon Ampitheater can be seen in a 1914 era photo from the C.C. Pierce Photography Collection (courtesy PBS Southern California). The line would shutter in 1918 following a fire in Avalon which caused a tourism depression. The railway would reopen in 1921 but would ultimately close for a final time in 1923.
During February 1919 chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. would purchase a controlling interest in Santa Catalina Island from the Banning Brothers. Wrigley would relocate the Chicago Cubs Spring Training facility to Avalon in 1921 at the corner of Tremont Street and Avalon Canyon Road. The Spring Training facility can be seen in an undated photo (Society for American Baseball Research). Cubs Spring Training would operate in Avalon until 1951 (excluding 1942-1945 World War II era disruptions).
In 1923 the idea of a Chimes Tower above Avalon was suggested by the wife of William Wrigley Jr. A site was chosen in the hills west of Crescent Avenue so the chimes could be heard throughout the community. To make the site of Chimes Tower accessible the so-called "Chimes Tower Road" was constructed branching from Stagecoach Road. The Avalon Chimes Tower would be complete in 1926 and is one of the most prominent features of the city.
During February 1928 construction of Catalina Casino and St. Catherine Way began. The casino building was located at what had been previously known as Sugarloaf Point. The twelve-story high structure opened on May 29, 1929, at the cost of $2,000,000. The building name uses the Spanish meaning for "casino" which roughly translates to "a place of gathering." The structure has never housed a gambling facility but rather contains a ballroom and theater.
Following the death of William Wrigley Jr. in 1932 his son Phillip took over the Santa Catalina Island Company. Construction of the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens along Avalon Canyon Road would take place between July 1933 through June 1934. The body of William Wrigley Jr. was originally interred at the memorial tower in a sarcophagus. His body was moved to Glendale, California in 1947.
The modern street grid layout of Avalon appears on a 1947 era tourism map of Santa Catalina Island.
In 1975 Phillip Wrigley deeded the Wrigley family shares Santa Catalina Island to the Catalina Island Conservancy. Said conservancy had been founded in 1972 and controls the undeveloped wilderness areas of Santa Catalina Island.
Part 2; scenes along Crescent Avenue
Crescent Avenue functions the main street of Avalon along the waters of Avalon Bay. The corridor spans from Pebbly Beach Road west to Maiden Lane.
Crescent Avenue from Clarissa Avenue west to Metropole Avenue as presently configured is only open to pedestrian traffic. The city of Avalon signs a bannered Truck Route which detours into the city via Clarissa Avenue.
Crescent Avenue westbound between Clarrissa Avenue and Catalina Avenue at night.
Scenes on Crescent Avenue west from Catalina Avenue to Metropole Avenue.
Westbound Crescent Avenue ends a short distance west of a roundabout which accesses St. Catherine Way, Whittley Avenue and Marilla Avenue.
St. Catherine Way begins at Crescent Avenue in downtown Avalon and extends west to the private resort road of Playa Azul.
Westbound St. Catherine Way initially follows Avalon Bay from Crescent Avenue to the Avalon Casino.
St. Catherine Way continues west of Catalina Casino along Descanso Bay and terminates at the privately owned Playa Azul. Rental carts and vehicles are directed to turn around past the Zip Line Eco Tour facility.
Part 4; a drive on Avalon Canyon Road to the Wrigley Memorial
General public access of Avalon Canyon Road extends from Tremont Street to the gate to Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens. The roadway extends south of the Wrigley Memorial to Divide Road.
The paved part of Avalon Canyon Road extends from Tremont Street south to the gate of Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens.
South of the gate Avalon Canyon Road is a dirt surface. Most visitors hike to the Wrigley Memorial. Those wishing to drive beyond must purchase a pass from the Catalina Island Conservancy.
The Wrigley Memorial tower carries an Egyptian theme and overlooks Avalon Bay.
Pebbly Beach Road begins at Crescent Avenue and ends at Wrigley Road near the namesake Pebbly Beach.
Wrigley Road begins at Dump Road and extends west to Clemente Avenue downtown Avalon.
Eastbound Pebbly Beach Road begins at Crescent Avenue and passes by Lover's Point.
Pebbly Beach Road enters an industrial area where the only automotive gasoline is available in Avalon. Pebbly Beach Road terminates at Wrigley Road. Signage directs rental cart traffic to turn onto westbound Wrigley Road.
Westbound Wrigley Road quickly ascends to the Three Palms Scenic Overlook.
Wrigley Road continues west to the Buena Vista Scenic Overlook of downtown Avalon.
The ruins of the Island Mountain Railway summit station can be found at the Buena Vista Scenic Overlook.
Wrigley Road descends through a winding grade and terminates at Clemente Avenue.
Part 6; a drive on Stagecoach Road and Chimes Tower Road
Stagecoach Road begins at Vieudelou Avenue and extends west to Airport Road. The name designation was once carried all the way west over Santa Catalina Island to the Two Harbors area. The actual roadway still is used but now carries multiple names.
Chimes Tower Road begins at Stagecoach Road and winds above St. Catherine Way to Vieudelou Avenue.
Stagecoach Road begins at the end of Vieudelou Avenue. Traffic heading uphill is directed to follow Stagecoach Road one-way to Chimes Tower Road.
Stagecoach Road ascends to the Smith Rose Overlook of Avalon.
Stagecoach Road ascends to a ridge where it intersects Chimes Tower Road. Traffic without a Catalina Conservancy Pass can't continue through the gate (via QR code) on Stagecoach Road and must return to Avalon on the one-way Chimes Tower Road.
Chimes Tower Road winds above St. Catherine Way to the namesake tower.
Chimes Tower Road returns to Stagecoach Road and Vieudelou Avenue.
Part 7; scenes and other facts about Avalon Roads
For the most part the center of Avalon can easily be walked. Most locals own golf carts and use them as their primary means of transportation. Rental carts are available, but the rates tend to be very high per hour and there are high amounts of competition for reservations from people departing cruise ships. The city tries to discourage (citation desired) private citizens from renting their carts, but they are often available if you ask around.
Cars aren't banned on Santa Catalina Island, but the city of Avalon limits their usage. The city requires two existing full-size vehicle permits leave the island before any new permits are issued. Trucks and SUVs aren't uncommon to see but most cars in Avalon are small. I found the Scion iQ to be common amongst modern cars given they are two-seat Toyota based city vehicles. Japanese Kei cars and vintage Mini Coopers are easily found in the city. Essentially any gasoline powered vehicle under 130 inches (55 inches in width) in length is considered by the city as an Autoette (including golf carts). Each residence by default is permitted a single Autoette.
Vons and Starbucks appear to be the only big chain businesses in Avalon. The Vons parking lot is configured largely for golf carts and small cars.
Comments