In October, 1894, the Banning Brothers - William, Hancock and Joseph - incorporated the Santa Catalina Island Company, placed title to the Catalina Island land holdings they had acquired two years earlier into their newly-formed company, and then started building for the future. The Bannings planned to develop the island as a resort, and much of the initial development of Avalon took place during their ownership.
When William Wrigley Jr. acquired a majority interest in the Santa Catalina Island Company from the Bannings in 1919, the destiny of the Island began to change forever. This now-historic event cast the die for permanently preserving substantially all of Santa Catalina Island in its natural state. During the next 56 years, various conservation practices were initiated by the Wrigley-led Santa Catalina Island Company, including much-needed animal controls, protection of watersheds and reseeding of overgrazed areas.
A positive sense of future direction and prudent land stewardship have been the hallmark of the Santa Catalina Island Company since then, and remain so to this day. Thus, as we approach our second century, the Santa Catalina Island Company is headed into its 110th Year of Quality Service, and we are entering a new era of exciting challenges and opportunities.
Success in achieving these opportunities is a function of external economic/business factors, hard work and a commitment to well-founded business policies and practices. For the Santa Catalina Island Company our business philosophies are inexorably linked to the high business standards established over time by the two families which have controlled and guided our direction and destiny.
The Santa Catalina Island Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Catalina Island Resort Services and Two Harbors Enterprises, invite you to visit any or all of our properties. The Santa Catalina Island Company operates the Pavilion Lodge, Hotel Atwater and Discovery Tours. Catalina Island Resort Services operates the Catalina Visitors Country Club, Catalina Island Golf Course, Descanso Beach Club and the Casino Ballroom. Two Harbors Enterprises operates all operations located at the resort town of Two Harbors.
Role and Mission of the Santa Catalina Island Company
The overall objectives of our efforts are to make Catalina Island in general, and SCICo. properties in particular, a Premier Southern California Vacation Experience!