Restored Crystal Cove Cottages Will Reopen To Guests

Eight North Beach cottages at Crystal Cove will reopen for guests by Thanksgiving after years of careful restoration.

The Crystal Cove Conservancy announced Monday it’s secured the last bit of funding needed to complete the $55-million project, meaning guests will soon be able to book the unique seaside cottages for overnight stays with their nearly century-old quirks restored, not covered up.

The eight new rentals tucked away on the north side of Crystal Cove State Park have been painstakingly refurbished to preserve their historic roots and the sensitive habitat around them, according to the conservancy. They’re intended to be a step back into the early 20th century beach community.

In the 1910s, Crystal Cove became popular among beachgoers and Hollywood movie makers who used it as a filming location. It grew into a bustling community for summer visitors, and eventually residents, in the following decades before it became a California State Park in 1979.

The final $10 million of funding for the restoration project came through Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits with an investment from Bank of America. The incentive program encourages the private sector, like Bank of America, to invest in restoration projects on historic buildings. The rest of the funding was collected through foundation grants, individual pledges, low-interest loans, as well as state and local government support.

“Crystal Cove is a true gem along the California coast, and I’m thrilled to have helped preserve these unique pieces of history, so that visitors from all over can experience the magic of Crystal Cove State Park with a getaway at the beach cottages,” Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris said in a statement. “It’s places like this that offer lifelong memories and experiences for people of all backgrounds, and it is imperative that they be saved for generations to come.”

The Shell Crafter's Cottage, otherwise known as Cottage #3, is painted teal and cream.

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Photo Courtesy of The Crystal Cove Conservancy

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The restored rentals include the Shell Crafter’s Cottage, which lives up to its name with a shell theme throughout and fishing poles over the dining area. Some of the shell decorative pieces were made by a woman who used to live in the cottage.

There’s also the Little Grass Shack, a bright-red rental just steps away from the ocean. The Adamson family, who raised their son in the 2-bedroom cottage, donated their old bedroom door with his height measurements still marked along the interior.

Or the Hawaiian Bungalow, a South-Pacific themed stay with thatch accented hardwood floors and a front patio looking out into the water. When the eight new cottages officially open by the holidays, you can book a reservation here.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for not just the conservancy, but Crystal Cove State Park, the State of California, our Founder Laura Davick, who spearheaded the fundraising campaign, and the entire Cove Community,” Kate Wheeler, president and CEO of Crystal Cove Conservancy, said in a statement. “None of this would be possible without the individual supporters, the families and foundations, our neighbors and our friends.”

The Crystal Cove Conservancy still has some work to do — they’ve identified several more seaside cottages in North Beach they’re working to preserve. The North Beach Restoration Project is expected to be completed in 2026, which would double its capacity to 48,000 overnight stays a year.