A Closer Look at Crystal Cove
Just beyond the ridge marking the southwest boundary of The Resort at Pelican Hill® lies a crescent-shaped coastline known as Crystal Cove. Early 20th century filmmakers, charmed by the primitive setting, shot some of the period’s most memorable movie scenes there, including portions of the 1950 silent film classic Treasure Island, along with Sea Wolf, Stormswept and Sadie Thompson. Listen carefully and you may hear echoes of Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore, Gary Cooper and others who helped shape cinematic history.
“They could create a South Seas movie set without leaving Southern California,” said Laura Davick, founder and acting president of Crystal Cove Alliance (CCA), which is spearheading the area’s restoration. “Even though the coastline was barely known in the early 1900s, by midcentury it had been discovered by pioneering filmmakers and become one of the region’s premier shoot locations.”