The Del Coronado, San Diego, California

I've been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time at the Del Coronado Hotel in San Diego California.. I used to date a man that worked in San Diego and every visit I would have lunch and drinks by the pool or tennis courts. I have not stayed at the Del as of yet but hope to in the future. When I was working for Microsoft we went to a very lavish outdoor party here, I will never forget it. They made the whole outdoor area look like it was taking place in Mexico, how fun!

Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story - dreamed of building a seaside resort that would be "the talk of the Western world." Since then, the resort has become a living legend
Eleven U.S. Presidents have visited The Del, starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1891. One of the resort's most famous visitors was England's Prince of Wales in 1920. He would later become King Edward VIII, only to give up his throne in 1936 to marry Coronado divorcee Wallis Spencer Simpson




This photo was taken at the Del in the 20's, Wallis Spencer was apparently living in Coronado at the time The Duke came through on his 1920 visit and they actually met at the hotel. The cottage Wallis Simpson was living in is now located at the Del.

Here is the Pince of Whales at the Hotel in 1920



This is the banquet room today, its called the Crown Room, the chandaliers were created by Frank Baum of the Wizard of Oz

The Del has played host to some of America's greats, including Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum and Babe Ruth. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was honored at The Del in 1927 after his successful trans-Atlantic flight. At this lavish banquet, a replica of Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" circled the enormous Crown Room ceiling.

Hollywood has been making movies at The Del since 1901. In 1958, The Del was the backdrop for the comedy classic "Some Like It Hot," starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The resort has also seen a steady stream of celebrity visitors - from Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart to Brad Pitt and Madonna.

Here is Marilyn at the Del in 58 while filming Some Like it Hot, oh how fun it would have been to be there with her. Many of the famous photos of all who have stayed and attended events at the Del used to line the walls in the corridors. For some reason on our last visit we noticed they have been removed?

The movie Top Gun with Tom Cruise was filmed at the base in San Diego. If you  walk down the beach about this far and look across the street your right in front of the house he lived in in the movie

This is a vintage photo of the Del Coronado

What Victorian resort would be complete without a resident ghost? Kate Morgan was a pretty woman in her mid 20s, checked into the alone Hotel Del Coronado on Thursday, November 24, 1892. Many of the employees had frequent interactions with her. Most said she looked ill and sad. She said she was waiting for her brother the doctor, to join her, but never showed up.

A few days after she checked in, she was found dead on an outside staircase leading to the beach. Coroner later said it was determined that she shot herself. She had registered as, Lottie Bernard from Detroit. Many people have said they saw her or felt her presence. Paranormals with high tech equipment have tried to find her but she has eluded them.

Reports of ghostly happenings, all thought to be connected to the death of this beautiful young woman, have been circulating at The Del ever since. T got this book at the hotel on one of our visits, quite fun reading for such a morbid subject.

This is not a photo of Kate but around the same time, they say in the book she killed herself. If you dare when you check in ask for room 3327 that was Kates room.

Thrift Store Finds

This is crazy, the other day I was at the Salvation Army and there were 2 chairs outside, 19.95 each, of course I wanted them but I couldn't get them home. Funny but I found a photo tonight and these are the exact same chairs upholstered in the exact same material. Looks like they must have come from some kind of hotel sale. At any rate I would have recovered them and wish I had them but oh well maybe next time.

photo: relish small pleasures