North Shore Beach and Yacht Club

The North Shore Beach and Yacht Club is an Albert Frey-designed building in North Shore, California. It opened in 1959 as part of a $2 million development along the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea which would become California's largest marina. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Ever-increasing salinity from agricultural runoff from both the Coachella Valley and Imperial County combined with fluctuating water levels culminated in a major flood in 1981, destroying the club's jetty and making it impossible for boats to dock at the club; it would be completely closed by 1984. However the club remained in use by the community into the early 1990s.

North Shore Yacht Club
North Shore Beach and Yacht Club in 2018
Location99-155 Sea View Dr.
Mecca, California
Coordinates33°31′10″N 115°56′14″W
Built1959
ArchitectAlbert Frey
Architectural styleModern Movement
MPSArchitecture of Albert Frey MPS
NRHP reference No.15000640[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 28, 2015

Like the majority of the buildings which surround it, the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club was abandoned and vandalized. In July 2009, Riverside County supervisors approved the reception of a grant of $3.35 million as part of an overall package of $30 million to redevelop and restore the property.[2][3]

Salton Sea History Museum
After closing in 1984 the abandoned Yacht Club was in a state of disrepair, as seen when this picture was taken, until its restoration in 2010

On May 1, 2010, the restored yacht club was reopened to the public as the Salton Sea History Museum, serving as a community center as well as a museum.[4] The property that was the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club is owned by Riverside County, which made the decision to relocate the museum to Mecca, California and the property is now reserved for community events.[5]

Scan of historic postcard depicting the North Shore Yacht Club on its bottom half

Several prominent figures from the entertainment industry docked boats there, among them members of The Beach Boys, Guy Lombardo, Jerry Lewis and The Marx Brothers. North Shore Beach and Yacht Club is pictured on the Album cover of Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park.

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List". National Park Service. October 9, 2015. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  2. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907220309 News of redevelopment funds at Mydesert.com
  3. "$1.79 million cleared for Salton Sea marina project". KESQ. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  4. http://saltonseamuseum.org/ Salton Sea History Museum
  5. "Exploring Modern Ruins in Southern California", "New York Times" (March 14, 2014).

Further reading
  • Japenga, Anna (Fall 2009). Herron, Keith; Lech, Steve (eds.). "Going for Shipshape". The Riverside County Chronicles. Riverside County Historical Commission; Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District (1): 6–10. ISBN 978-1546974598. OCLC 869939412.
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