TODAY @ ANNENBERG BEACH HOUSE- Santa Monica
Looking for a bold way to kick off 2024? The Annual Polar Bear Plunge at the Annenberg Beach House, is a great way to refresh, reset, and have some fun. If you have never been part of a Polar Bear Swim, it’s time to see what you’re missing.
The morning starts with a 10 a.m. check-in at Guest Services before heading to the shoreline in front of the Beach House. The first plunge takes place around 10:15 a.m. starting with the youngest Polar Bears, followed by the rest of the crowd. The most stalwart Polar Bears can take part in the 300-yard swim around a buoy. At this no judgement zone, whether you stick your toes in the ocean, take a quick dip or round the buoy, it’s a great experience that gets the blood pumping and the skin tingling.
After the invigorating ocean plunge, warm up in the heated Beach House pool. Gather with friends and family, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, and grab a photo with our very own Pat the Polar Bear mascot.
Pool admission will be charged for Polar Bears and others entering the pool deck to visit, soak, swim in the heated pool, or take a hot shower.
In-person registration will be available but may be limited on the day of event. Parking is $3 per hour or $8 per day.
Pool Admission: $10/adult, $5/senior adult age 60+, $4/youth age 1-17.
Regular Pool Rules apply while swimming at this event. Youth under age eight and under four feet must be accompanied by an adult in the pool at all times.
Questions? Please call 310-458-4904, email beach.house@santamonica.gov or visit www.annenbergbeachhouse.com for more information.
415 Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90402
The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a public facility located on 5 acres of oceanfront property. The Beach House story is one of evolution from private to public, starting with the development of the property at 415 Pacific Coast Highway as an opulent private estate in the 1920s.
Historic Past
The 5-acre oceanfront site upon which the Annenberg Community Beach House now sits was originally developed during the Gold Coast era of the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for actress Marion Davies. The Davies estate featured a mansion of 100-plus rooms and an ornate marble swimming pool. As with many Hearst projects, the vision of architect Julia Morgan provided a cohesive grace to the rambling estate. The Beach House was a hot spot on Santa Monica’s Gold Coast, with Hearst and Davies entertaining luminaries from the Hollywood set, such as Charlie Chaplin, Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and other stars of the day.
In 1947, Joseph Drown purchased the property from Davies and converted into Oceanhouse, “America’s Most Beautiful Hotel,” along with the Sand & Sea Club, a limited-membership beach club. After the Oceanhouse venture ended, the main mansion was demolished in 1956. The popular Sand & Sea Club continued to operate.
Becoming the Beach House
The property was sold to the State of California in 1959, continuing to operate as the ever-popular Sand & Sea Club under a concession agreement. In the 1990s, the City of Santa Monica ran the facility, known as ‘415 PCH,’ until the 1994 Northridge Earthquake severely damaged all structures on site.
In recovering from the earthquake, the City embarked on an extensive public input process to re-envision the role of 415 PCH as an important public gathering space. Although a reuse plan was adopted in 1998, the project sat on hold while the City tried to secure funding. Wallis Annenberg of the Annenberg Foundation, held fond memories of visiting the Sand & Sea Club. When she learned of the City’s struggle to identify funding to realize its vision for a year-round public beach facility, she enthusiastically offered to help. The Annenberg Foundation provided a $27.5 million grant that paved the way for the site’s rehabilitation.
Staff from the Foundation and the City worked with Frederick Fisher Partners, Architects; Charles Pankow Builders; Historic Resources Group; Mia Lehrer & Associates; AdamsMorioka; and Roy McMakin to form the new Beach House. The project involved rehabilitation of the historic Marion Davies Guest House and pool, as well as construction of new recreation and event spaces. Three overarching themes guide the interpretation of the site with our year round cultural programming reflecting those themes.
Three Remarkable Individuals: William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and Julia Morgan shaped the site’s historical legacy.
A Beach Like No Other: The Southern California beach occupies a unique place within the physical and cultural landscape of America.
A Public Place Henceforth: The site of the Beach House has seen an evolution from private ownership to public management and ownership leading to today’s universal access.
The Beach House is another step forward in the City of Santa Monica’s commitment to sustainability – it has been awarded a Gold LEED rating from the US Green Building Council.
Today
The site opened to the public as the Annenberg Community Beach House on April 25, 2009. The Beach House combines elements of the historic Marion Davies Estate with new amenities to create a truly unique community destination that’s open to all – no membership required. With spectacular views, splash pad, children’s play area, gallery, historic pool, and Marion Davies Guest House there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Beach House!
Hours
November through March | 7 a.m. –8 p.m.
April through October | 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.Grounds – Includes playground, volleyball courts, sandy area
November through March | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
April through October | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Guest Services – Open Daily
Fall | Post Labor Day – October | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Winter | November through April | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Spring | May through mid-June | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. *Closing may vary per programming.
Summer | Mid-June through Labor Day | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. *Closing may vary per programming.
Gated Area – Includes splash pad, courtyard, view deck
November through March | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
April through October | 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
*From September through mid-June, hours for these amenities are subject to change on short notice; call Guest Services at (310) 458-4904 to confirm dates and closures.
Marion Davies Guest House Tours
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
*From September through mid-June, hours are subject to change on short notice; call Guest Services at (310) 458-4904 to confirm dates and closures.
Art Gallery in Event House – Open Daily
November through March | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
April through October | 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
*From September through mid-June, hours are subject to change on short notice; call Guest Services at (310) 458-4904 to confirm dates and closures.
Holiday Closures
The Beach House gated area is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Additional closures may take place around holidays.
Parking lot and beach access are accessible during Beach House closures.
Back on the Beach Cafe
Separately operated, please call (310) 393-8282 for hours.
For additional information, visit the website @
https://annenbergbeachhouse.com/
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