Staying on Coronado Island for your upcoming vacation to San Diego? You’ll be sure to have a blast. There’s tons to do here, from relaxing on the beach to exploring the vibrant restaurant scene to checking out the various cultural institutions in America’s Finest City. Coronado is known for its iconic hotel and beautiful beaches, but there are tons of fun facts about the area we bet you didn’t know.
1. Coronado isn’t actually an island, although most people, particularly visitors, believe it to be one. It is actually connected to the mainland by the Silver Strand, which is a long isthmus that runs south of the island and connects it with Imperial Beach.
2. If you look at Coronado Beach from the air, you’ll notice something very interesting. There are very large sand dunes that say ‘CORONADO’ located near the iconic hotel. These were created by one of the city’s employees back in the late ‘80s when the ocean washed ashore so much seaweed, he didn’t know what to do with it. He decided to pile it up, cover it with sand, and spell out the name of the famous vacation town. When visited from the ground level, you would never know what it spelled out - it’s only from the air that you can see its true beauty.
3. Coronado is actually a separate city from San Diego, even though they are just across the bay from each other. It was originally incorporated as a town in 1890 with the intent of becoming a resort vacation town. The area continued to develop with the establishment of ‘Tent City’, which was an area created by John D. Spreckels as a settlement of tents and cottages for vacationers. This existed until 1939, when it was removed for the construction of highway 75, which still exists today.
4. The iconic Hotel del Coronado is rumored to be haunted by many ghosts, the most notorious of which is Kate Morgan. After her lover betrayed her, she reportedly committed suicide in the hotel in 1892, and her spirit continues to haunt the hotel. Her original room was on the third floor, and many guests have reported things like flickering lights, strange noises, unexpected breezes, and even items moving around on their own. Additionally, these things have also occasionally been reported in areas like the gift shop and the hallways. She is considered to be a very gentle and friendly ghost by the hotel staff.
5. The sand on Coronado is some of the softest in southern California, and it is ideal for creating sand castles. In front of the Hotel del Coronado, a man named Bill Pavlacka creates a unique sand structure each day. These designs are very detailed and quite large, and are definitely worth a look for any visitor to Coronado.
6. A variety of famous and notable people have stayed at the Hotel del Coronado throughout its long history. This tradition started with America’s first movie stars in the 1920s, such as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, and more. In 1958, the movie Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, was actually shot at the Hotel del Coronado. The tradition of Coronado attracting Hollywood stars continues today, with notable recent visitors including Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Garner, and many more.
Coronado Island may be one of the most notable tourist destinations in the United States, but it also has a rich history that makes it definitely worth exploring. If you just take a stroll through the small town, you’ll be sure to find plenty of hidden gems.