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Beach Tram History
updated: Feb 26, 2013, 10:39 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Last weekend my sister and I hiked down to Hope Ranch beach from More Mesa, and saw an old building near the end. Someone told us it was the landing platform for a tram that took people down to the beach from the homes above. We also saw a track running up the cliff. Does anyone know the history of this structure? I couldn't find anything in a computer search, and I'm hoping to prove once again that EdHatters are better than Google!

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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 378839	2013-02-26 11:02 AM
Cabana or beach house for the estate above. There was a tram like elevator thingie that would take residents up and down. I believe they are getting ready to restore it.
JEFFINSB	2013-02-26 11:21 AM
Here's the link to a previous story on edhat. http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=68115
COMMENT 378856P	2013-02-26 11:47 AM
JEFFINSB, how I dislike legal speak, that link was full of it (sic).
COMMENT 378861P	2013-02-26 12:07 PM
it is a piece of trash that has been allowed to remain on the beach.
COMMENT 378870P	2013-02-26 12:32 PM
It was designated as a County Historic Landmark, in part, because the original design is a very attractive beach cabana designed by noted architect Mary Craig around 1930. It has been covered with plywood temporarily to protect it from vandalism until it is restored, which the current owners plan to do. They also plan to restore the funicular to again provide access from the top of the bluff. The County was wise in taking steps to preserve the cabana as it is one of only two surviving in the county.
COMMENT 378874	2013-02-26 12:43 PM
how cool they can own that on a public beach.
COMMENT 378892	2013-02-26 01:24 PM
not sure why they would bother at this point. looks like that buildings days are numbered by the waterlines showing. couple big swells at high tide and it is debris. I guess if you have money to burn.....
COMMENT 378927	2013-02-26 02:59 PM
874, Just for clarification the property owner does indeed own the beach, there maybe an easement for the public to walk on their land, keyword, maybe, but as proven by the survey study for the Miramar Hotel, the property owner, in some cases, owns far into the tide line, only a professional survey can determine where that line is. Of course, there are restrictions on use of their land that is sand..... The very responsible owners of the Bryce Beach Cabana are looking forward to returning it back to it's original grandeur right down to the color in the near future once all needed approvals have been secured.
COMMENT 378938	2013-02-26 03:41 PM
Owners own to mean high tide. The entire tidal zone is public and owners may not dictate usage there at all. These particular owners are fortunate to have bought a property that has this grand-fathered in. No way the coastal comish would allow it to be built now.
COMMENT 378967	2013-02-26 04:40 PM
As a tradesmen myself I don't really envy the tradesmen that will have to trudge down there to work on that!
ROGER DODGER	2013-02-26 06:03 PM
I wonder if theres squatters in there?
COMMENT 379009	2013-02-26 06:03 PM
What an eyesore. I walk by this a few days a week and would love to see it go, 'historical' or not.
COMMENT 379027	2013-02-26 06:34 PM
It's an eyesore only because of the protective covering. It will be a jewel once it is restored. What a shame that we live in such a disposable society with so few appreciating history, local or otherwise.
COMMENT 379028	2013-02-26 06:34 PM
Long time nude beach.
COMMENT 379052	2013-02-26 08:01 PM
It is an eyesore. The coastal commission should not allow Hope Ranch homeowners to keep a place on this beautiful empty piece of shore. Hopeless Ranch used to put up cabanas each summer which the coastal commission required them to remove. Yea!!
COMMENT 379100P	2013-02-26 11:14 PM
Death Takes a Holiday 1971
COMMENT 379119	2013-02-27 06:41 AM
Google Earth the Hope Ranch beach and look at the top of the cliff where a huge George Washington Smith designed home (Casa Dracaena or Robledal) is being lovingly retored, including the funicular. People that don't appreciate history will continue to chase what ever "new" thing that comes along. Good luck with that!
COMMENT 379124	2013-02-27 07:11 AM
My daughter and her friends all teenagers used to hang out inside that beach shack but they recently covered the hole they were climbing in. I was glad because I didn't think it safe for kids to be in there.
COMMENT 379136	2013-02-27 07:32 AM
Global warming will render this a mute point.
COMMENT 379145P	2013-02-27 07:52 AM
Sure sounds like a lot of class envy being displayed here.
COMMENT 379152	2013-02-27 08:09 AM
OP here...thanks for all the info - I knew you guys would know. Also spent a half an hour looking at all those great aerial photos at the California Coastline website...very interesting. The only downside of logging on to Edhat in the morning! Have a good day, everyone!
COMMENT 379176P	2013-02-27 08:43 AM
Class envy is a term invented by people who imagine themselves classier than others and who want to dismiss complaints. We have no way of knowing what class the commenters here occupy. We actually don't allow private ownership of beaches in CA, as they do back east and in other countries. People of any class (by which I assume you mean degree of wealth only) are welcome to express opinions about public things... when you have a cabana on a public beach, you're gonna get some opinions. Personally I'm happy someone who can afford it is taking the time to restore this historic building. Yes it's in a precarious area, but it's been there for a while and hopefully will be there a while longer.
COMMENT 379199	2013-02-27 09:09 AM
I do appreciate history. Starting at about 500 years before European arrival. All else is conquest and theft.
COMMENT 379201	2013-02-27 09:13 AM
Right...And the "native" Americans usurped the dinasaurs...
SBANDTO	2013-02-27 09:16 AM
I look forward to seeing the restoration. It is nice when someone takes the care to do so for historic buildings and sites.
COMMENT 379242P	2013-02-27 09:59 AM
Well, 199. Arrival on new lands is the history of the world. Sometimes, original people are conquered, sometimes they integrate and are better for it, depending on the knowledge and benevolence of the newcomers. Life goes on. Try to enjoy it and let go of the past.
COMMENT 379246P	2013-02-27 10:04 AM
@136 - you're joking right? I hope you haven't really bought into all that global warming hooey. It's amazing how pseudo-science is used to manipulate people.
COMMENT 379250	2013-02-27 10:10 AM
If only it were pseudo-science. But it isn't. It's a reality and we have to deal with it at some point. Shame that people like you aren't interested in real science and consensus.
COMMENT 379434	2013-02-27 01:52 PM
@246 - Who's the joker? Well the jokes on you.

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