This shot of Carl’s “Sea Air” Lodge on the Pacific Coast Highway roughly a mile north of Santa Monica is very 1950s – the eye-catching tower soaring above a one-story motel, those circa early 1950s cars parked out front, that signage “Motor Apartments.” But, in fact, this place was one of the oldest motels in California with a terrific location across the street from the landmark Pacific Palisades Lighthouse. It was around so long it went through several incarnations: Carl’s at the Beach, Carl’s Sea-Air Motel, Carl’s Sea-Air Lodge, and my personal favorite: the Sunspot Motel.
Susan said: “I remember this spot well. Just to the right here was the cafe/bar. The cafe would have been built a bit after this photo. There used to be a filling station that was part of Carl’s just to the right which was there in the late 30s and 40s. We used to have a summer place up the Hwy in the 30s. This was one of the first motels along this part of the coast Hwy. The first restaurants I recall that were part of this first structure, weren’t very good. My fav old time Hwy restaurant was up the Hwy called The Las Flores Inn. They had pens with seals in them you could feed.”
Visited the Sunspot, once, when the restaurant had been turned into a dance place. Remember management was quite odd – When entered asked if I wanted to check my suit jacket & with the next sentence informed they didn’t allow men entry without a jacket. Seriously bizarre –
LA Times article dated 12.22.94 reported “At about 11 a.m. on Dec. 10, about 700 tons of earth and boulders on a 300 foot bluff overlooking the highway in Pacific Palisades came crashing down on the fabled Sunspot Motel.”
Almost all the original landside Pacific Coast Highway buildings met the same destruction/demolation fate when they were hard up against the sheer bluffs.
Your photos show a much more beautiful place than I remember. Also recall location used in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film “Commando” released in 1985.
I couldn’t find exactly where it had been or when it went out of business, so thanks for all this info, Matt.
Always a pleasure – FYI: Following pics & info from Water and Power Associates at: https://uc.ink/tOrte?pub=link
“The Sunspot complex was closed in the 1980s and sat empty for nearly 10 years. The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department, which owned the property, hoped eventually to renovate and lease the building as a motel and restaurant.
However in 1994 a landslide crushed the westerly portion of the building—the part that would have been the restaurant. Since then the City has demolished what was left of the buildings.”
https://waterandpower.org/9%20Historic%20Photos%209/Lighthouse_Aerial_ca1958.jpg
https://waterandpower.org/9%20Historic%20Photos%209/Carl's_Motel_1935.jpg
Found it! Location of Carl’s Sunspot, which stood at the junction of Pacific Coast Highway and Chautauqua Boulevard, in Pacific Palisades.
Thank you, Matt. Your googling skills are obviously superior to mine! I’m so glad to find have the location nailed down.
I remember my boyfriend and I hearing it had a nightclub..we lived in Santa Monica..we eere young in our 20’s we went ..it was awesome ..crowded ..good music ..sitting by the pool or causing around..beautiful people ..just great fun.. too bad those places don’t exist anymore..
Sounds wonderful!
I just noticed that Carl’s At The Beach also served as the location of “Mildred’s At The Beach” in the film, “Mildred Pierce.”
I just noticed that Carl’s At The Beach also served as the location of “Mildred’s At The Beach” in the film, “Mildred Pierce.”
Is it really? I must look out for that the next time I watch “Mildred Pierce.” Thanks for the heads up.
I worked there for 8 years and lived there it was the best time of my life Perry McMichael I worked the parking lot and helped the owner run the ?
Perry McMichael