Rispin Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rispin Mansion
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 Location in California
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| Location | 2200 Wharf Rd., Capitola, California |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000286 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1991 |
The Rispin Mansion is a really old and important house in Capitola, California. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's protected because of its history.
A man named Henry Allen Rispin from San Francisco built it in 1921. It has four stories, 22 rooms, and is over 7,100 square feet! It was built on land once known as "Camp Capitola." People have sometimes called the mansion "cursed" because of its interesting past.
Over the years, the Rispin Mansion has been used for many different things. It started as a place to show off real estate. Then, it became a home, a nunnery (a place where nuns live), and even a practice area for a police SWAT team. Some people even visit it to look for ghosts!
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History of Rispin Mansion
Henry Allen Rispin is known as one of the people who helped start the city of Capitola. He owned or controlled most of the land there. He saw Capitola as a great place for vacations and tourists.
Why the Mansion Was Built
Mr. Rispin didn't build the mansion to live in himself. Instead, he used it as a fancy showroom for real estate. He wanted to invite people to see the new community and encourage them to invest their money there.
Changes in Ownership
Sadly, Henry Rispin lost his money during the Great Depression, a time when many people faced financial hardship. Ten years after building the mansion, he had to sell it. His business partner, Robert Hays Smith, bought it.
Later, the mansion was sold to a group called the Oblates of St. Joseph. They used it as a convent until 1959. After that, the mansion was empty for many years. It was damaged by vandalism and graffiti. It also became the center of many local ghost stories.
City Buys the Property
The city of Capitola bought the mansion in 1985 for $1.35 million. During this time, it was used by a local police SWAT team for training.
In 1991, the mansion was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because of its important connection to Henry Rispin and his role in Capitola's history. The building's unique architecture also made it special.
Plans for a Hotel
In the mid-1990s, some people wanted to turn the mansion into a hotel. However, local groups worried about the property being next to a creek. This creek is home to monarch butterflies, which are a protected species. There were also concerns about more traffic.
In 2004, everyone agreed on a plan. The agreement said that the mansion's space could not be changed too much. It also said that the conservation group would be asked for their opinion if any changes were made during construction.
Fire and Future Plans
In May 2009, the Capitola City Council approved a plan to fix up the mansion. They hoped to turn it into a 25-room boutique hotel. This project was expected to cost $14 million.
But before work could start, a big fire broke out. The fire destroyed about 75% of the mansion. This included the tile ceiling, wooden floors, and support beams. The developers first wanted to continue, but then changed their minds.
A little over a year after the fire, the city wondered if they should tear down the building. In 2012, the city decided to spend almost $649,000 to repair it instead. The mayor said it was cheaper to fix it than to demolish it. The city hoped to turn the grounds into a city park.
However, these plans changed again when state money for redevelopment ran out. The city still owed the original $1.35 million. Even though one council member thought the property seemed "cursed," the city decided to keep it.
Supernatural Interest
The Rispin Mansion is a very interesting place for people who like ghost stories. It's a "subject of fascination" for both locals and "paranormal sleuths" (people who investigate ghosts).
A group of "ghost hunters" even got permission from the city to visit the mansion in the middle of the night. They filmed their visit with a recording crew, hoping to find evidence of ghosts.
