As the name implies, the Catalina Visitors Country Club is open to the public, but this wasn't always so. The facility was originally built for William Wrigley’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. Now, after a lavish renovation, the club’s eclectic mix of Spanish Colonial design and sports memorabilia exists in elegant ambiance.
Poised on a knoll overlooking romantic Avalon, the landmark Catalina Visitors Country Club is a striking example of Early California Revival architecture, with distressed cream-colored walls, deep green trim, and a Spanish-tile roof.
Brick steps take you up to a broad porch with a spectacular view of Avalon below and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond .As you continue up the stairs through an arched portico, you are greeted by a colorful example of early Catalina's acclaimed tile industry: the Country Club's original drinking fountain.
To the right is a sunny brick patio perfect for weddings with a view. Exchange your vows with the ocean as a backdrop, and then enjoy your reception in the adjacent conference room, a cozy arrangement that works nicely for intimate gatherings.
Through the portico is the Country Club's main courtyard, a lovely spot for both weddings and receptions. Follow the exchange of vows with a champagne toast in the middle of the Courtyard, near an elaborate fountain of island-blue tile
Lush foliage, the lilting melody of songbirds and refreshing island breezes stir the senses. It is easy to see why outdoor receptions are so popular here. Guests lounge in wrought-iron chairs beneath market umbrellas, rousing themselves after dinner to dance under the stars.
Equally memorable affairs are held in the chic, Mission-style Dining Room, where arched windows open to the hills and ocean-side verandahs. Wrought-iron chandeliers from South America hang from the wood-beamed ceiling.
Like the other areas of the Club, the Dining Room is designed with taste and attention to detail, from the original Catalina pottery gracing the walls, to the rich mahogany doors and trim, to the plush upholstered chairs and the grand fireplace.
Today, nearly a century after it opened, the Catalina Visitors Country Club still attracts visitors from around the world. You, too, will fall under the island's spell. So don't forget to toss a lucky penny into the fountain before you leave . . . and make a wish to return to paradise very soon.
For scheduling events & meetings at the Catalina Visitors Country Club contact:
DeeDee Sidars
phone: 310-510-7428
email: dsidars@scico.com
For scheduling large restaurant reservations contact:
Pat Vlcan
phone: 310-510-7400 x 20
email: pvlcan@scico.com
For restaurant reservations contact the Catalina Visitors Country Club at:
310 510-7404.
Excerpts taken from Here Comes the Guide Publication