CHLA Lodging News Nov/Dec 2018

12 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS www.calodging.com another 22 years, a stabilizing tenure all but unheard of in American resort history. As Prohibition dragged on from 1920–1933, the hotel was ideally situated, just minutes from prohibition-free Mexico, to survive as a jumping-off point for recreational pursuits south of the border. Meanwhile, during the Depression (1929–1945), Hollywood money helped keep The Del afloat. Even during World War II, fortune smiled on The Del. For one thing, the resort was bolstered by San Diego’s ever-growing military economy. Additionally, in an arrangement with the Navy, the resort housed pilots-in- training for Coronado’s nearby Naval Air Station North Island. This infused the hotel with a hum of daily activity and a steady stream of visiting family members, along with a social scene hard to imagine within the context of war. Couples danced, romanced, married and honeymooned at The Del and returned after the war to celebrate. Between the Depression and World War II, few of the nation’s grand hotels had been kept up and most had lost their civilian following. The post-war mentality was equally harsh, as consumers embraced whatever was new— from TV dinners, fast-food restaurants, and drive-in movies, to shiny new automobiles, bypassing America’s vintage “railroad resorts” in favor of motels. With the celebration of America’s 1976 bicentennial, travelers began to seek out history-themed vacations, generating renewed interest in The Del’s one-of-a-kind past. Earlier this year, Hotel del Coronado celebrated its 130th birthday as one of America’s last- surviving grande dame resorts. Ongoing restoration efforts have continued to ensure The Del keeps pace with demands of contemporary travelers while retaining the charm of its original architecture and fabled past. Today, Hotel del Coronado is a National Historic Landmark, proud of its unique position in American history and honored to serve new generations of travelers.    continued 19th Century Coronado beach-goers Marilyn Monroe during the filming of Some Like It Hot in 1958 at The Del Hotel del Coronado lobby 1934