Club Casa Del Mar
Also known as: Del Mar Club; Synanon Foundation
Why it's listed
Club Casa Del Mar is a five-story beach club at 1910 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, opened in 1926 and designed by Los Angeles architect Charles F. Plummer in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Its U-shaped plan opens toward the beach, with a cast stone base, red brick upper stories, a tile hipped roof and a two-story pavilion on the west side. Built for the Harter brothers at a cost of $2,000,000, it offered a private beach, an indoor saltwater pool, ballroom, dining rooms and 150 guest suites. It is considered one of the last surviving beach club buildings on the Santa Monica coast, where neighboring clubs have been demolished. Later uses included an Army redistribution center, the Synanon Foundation and the Pritikin Longevity Center, which changed much of the interior. A 1999 rehabilitation restored windows, cast stone, eave details, the penthouse and the chimney, and the building now operates as a hotel. It was recognized for its social, recreational and architectural importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its role in the social and recreational history of Santa Monica as a major beach club, and under Criterion C for its architecture. It is described as one of the last surviving beach club buildings on the Santa Monica coast. Its period of significance runs from its 1926 opening until its use by the U.S. Navy in 1941.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001169, listed September 29, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1910 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | September 29, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001169 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Charles F. Plummer, architect and engineer; Dell S. Reynolds, consulting engineer; Arthur Bard and Company, contractor; Barker Brothers, interiors and furnishings |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1999 and in use as a hotel (Hotel Casa Del Mar); exterior elements were restored and the interior was adapted for hotel use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.00635, -118.49116 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5047943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.