Carmel Highlands, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carmel Highlands, California
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Carmel Highlands viewed from the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
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 Carmel Highlands, California
Location in California
Carmel Highlands, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey County |
| Elevation | 318 ft (97 m) |
| Time zone | PST |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT |
| ZIP code |
93923
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| Area code(s) | 831 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1759219 |
Carmel Highlands is a small area in Monterey County, California, United States. It's not an official city, but a community without its own local government. It is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, which many people just call "Carmel."
Carmel Highlands sits at an elevation of 318 feet (97 m). It is located just south of the famous Point Lobos State Reserve. This community is known as the northern entrance to the beautiful Big Sur coastline, which you can explore along California State Route 1. Developers Frank Hubbard Powers and James Franklin Devendorf, along with the Carmel Development Company, first planned Carmel Highlands in 1916.
Contents
History of Carmel Highlands
How Carmel Highlands Began
In 1906, the Carmel Development Company bought about 2 miles (3.2 km) of land from local ranchers. This land was located south of Point Lobos. In 1915, Frank Devendorf started to develop Carmel Highlands. He wanted it to be a special place for artists and creative people to live.
Devendorf and his foreman, Frank DeAmaral, built the area around the Highlands Inn. This inn became a popular resort hotel. Devendorf planted many pine trees and carefully planned the roads and places for homes. His friend, the marine artist William Frederic Ritschel, helped him design the hotel. They made sure the hotel had amazing views of the coast to the north.
Growth and Art
The construction of the Big Sur Coast Highway in the 1930s made Carmel Highlands easier to reach. This allowed more tourists to discover the beautiful area. Point Lobos, which is next to the Highlands, became a State Park in 1933.
Carmel Highlands became a very important place for artists in the early 1900s. Many painters and sculptors found inspiration in the rugged scenery. They built their homes and studios here. Some of these artists included Ferdinand Burgdorff, Arthur Hill Gilbert, Ada Howe Kent, John O'Shea, and William Frederic Ritschel.
Famous Homes and Residents
In 1918, the father of writer Daniel Lewis James, D. L. James Sr., bought land in Carmel Highlands. He hired the company Greene and Greene to build a unique stone house. This house was built on a cliff overlooking the ocean. It took five years to complete this granite house. Later, the house was named "Seaward." It was a summer home for the James family for 20 years. In 2022, the famous actor Brad Pitt bought "Seaward."
Another special home in Carmel Highlands is the Farrar House. It is also known as the Far-A-Way or Copper Spine house. Architect Mark Mills designed this house with Philip and Betty Farrar. Mark Mills learned from the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Far-A-Way house was so unique that it was featured in Architectural Digest magazine in 2009.
Many famous people have lived or visited Carmel Highlands. Photographers like Ansel Adams and Edward Weston had homes here. Edward Weston's studio home, Wildcat Hill, is still preserved today. His grandson, Kim Weston, lives there. Writers like Lincoln Steffens, Ella Winter, Robinson Jeffers, and Sinclair Lewis also spent time in the Highlands.
The homes in Carmel Highlands are some of the most expensive in the United States. Many celebrities own homes or vacation houses in this beautiful area. The ZIP Code for Carmel Highlands is 93923, and the phone area code is 831.
Notable People from Carmel Highlands
- Brad Pitt: A well-known American actor.
- John Denver: An American singer-songwriter. He lived in Carmel Highlands from 1996 to 1997. He passed away in a plane crash in Monterey Bay on October 12, 1997.
- Joan Fontaine: An Academy Award-winning actress.
See also
In Spanish: Carmel Highlands para niños
