Breakers Hotel (Long Beach, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Breakers Hotel |
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Breakers Hotel, September 2009
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| Location | 200–220 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Walker & Eisen |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque or Spanish Renaissance |
| Governing body | private |
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The Breakers Hotel is a famous 14-story building in downtown Long Beach, California. It opened in 1926 as a fancy oceanfront hotel. Over the years, it has changed owners and names many times. It was even called the Hilton and the Wilton. The building has faced money troubles and closures. For a long time, it was a home for older people. Today, it is a special Long Beach Historic Landmark.
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Building a Grand Hotel (1925–1927)
A local banker named Fred B. Dunn started building the Breakers Hotel in 1925. It was a huge project, costing about $2.25 million.
The hotel had a large base that covered a whole city block. A tall tower rose 13 stories above it. There were also shops and other areas below the main street level.
The hotel opened in September 1926. It was designed in a "Spanish" style. The total cost of this amazing building was about $3 million. The opening party was a big event. Long Beach's Mayor Condit and Fred Dunn spoke about a new era of success. There were also fun shows by vaudeville artists.
When it opened, the Breakers Hotel was the tallest building in Long Beach. Its 15-story tower stood out from the beach. It was known as one of Southern California's best luxury hotels. The hotel had 330 guest rooms. It also had a large dining room called the "Hall of Galleons." There was a roof garden, coffee shop, and even a Turkish bath.
One cool feature was a special elevator for "surf bathers." Guests could put on their swimsuits in their rooms. Then, they took the elevator straight to the beach entrance.
A very unusual feature was that every guest room had radio broadcasts! An article from 1926 said:
Each room in the new hostelry has four radio jets, each connecting with the radio-receiving room in the tower. By plugging in on any of these four jets, programs from broadcasting stations are heard ... If there is a particular program on the air which a guest particularly desires to hear, it is only necessary to phone the receiving room and the operator will tune it in.
This meant guests could listen to radio shows right in their rooms. They could even ask an operator to find a specific show!
The Breakers Hotel welcomed both short-term visitors and people who wanted to live there. Everyone hoped it would bring many visitors to Long Beach.
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Tough Times (1929–1935)
Less than a year after opening, the hotel was sold to a group of investors. The price was $1.75 million in 1927. The new owners planned to make some changes.
But then, the Great Depression hit in 1929. This was a time when many people lost their jobs and money. Also, a big earthquake struck Long Beach in 1933. Over 100 people died. The Breakers Hotel only had minor damage. But the city's tourism was badly hurt. The hotel even became the main place for Red Cross relief efforts after the earthquake. By 1934, the hotel was losing money and owed taxes.
The Hilton Years and Sky Room (1938–1947)
In 1938, a famous hotel owner named Conrad Hilton bought the Breakers Hotel. He paid $150,000 and also paid off old taxes. Hilton made the Breakers the eighth hotel in his chain. He spent at least $200,000 to fix it up. He turned the top floor into the amazing Sky Room.
The Sky Room became one of the most popular places in Southern California. Movie stars like Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant, and John Wayne visited the Sky Room. One person remembered it as "the place to go" for dates and fun.
During World War II, two small forts with gun mounts were put on the rooftop. These were to help defend the harbor. The Sky Room became the official Airwatch headquarters for Long Beach harbor. One of these forts was still on the roof in 1991.
Changes and Closures (1947–1988)
In 1947, Hilton sold the hotel. It was renamed the Wilton Hotel. It kept this name for 14 years. During the 1950s, the hotel changed owners several times. Promises to fix up the old hotel were not always kept.
In 1961, Fred Miller bought the hotel. He renamed it the Breakers International. He spent $1.25 million to make it new again. Miller hoped to bring back the hotel's old glory. But he lost a lot of money. In November 1963, Miller closed the hotel.
People said the hotel relied too much on big conventions. There was no easy way to get to Long Beach by train or plane. This hurt all the hotels. One person even said, "God and Conrad Hilton couldn't have saved this hotel." The hotel's head bellman, who worked there since 1928, blamed the rise of motels.
In January 1964, the hotel was sold at an auction. It sold for $1.75 million, even though it was worth much more. The buyer planned to turn it into a retirement hotel. The hotel stayed closed for almost three years. People called it "the West Coast's largest pigeon roost."
It finally reopened in 1966 as a mix of a retirement home and a regular hotel. By 1967, most residents were older people. They could pay for meals and hotel services. In 1975, the retirement hotel was updated again. It got new carpets, drapes, and furniture.
In 1986, the hotel was changed back into a tourist hotel. It had a huge $15 million renovation. The new Breakers opened with 242 rooms. The Sky Room was also redone in a cool Art Deco style. The Los Angeles Times said its history was like a "roller-coaster ride." But the hotel still struggled to make money. It closed again in January 1988.
A Historic Landmark (1989)
In 1989, the Breakers Hotel was named a Long Beach Historical Landmark. This meant that any big changes to its look needed special approval.
Senior Living and Future Plans (1990–Present)
After closing in 1988, the hotel was bought by Ocean Boulevard Associates. They spent $23 million to make it stronger against earthquakes. They also restored its 1920s-style Romanesque look. In November 1990, it reopened as an "Assisted Living" home for older people. It closed again in March 2015.
In 1997, the famous Sky Room was restored and reopened. The new owner, Bernard Rosenson, brought back its Art Deco style. He designed it to show off its amazing 360-degree views. The new Sky Room offered old-fashioned food and live swing and jazz music.
In November 2017, a group called Pacific6 bought the building. They plan to spend over $60 million to fully restore the Breakers. They want to open it as a luxury hotel with 185 rooms. It is expected to reopen in 2021.
