Shhh. Can you hear it? The faint whisper of history on the wind. We stand before the remnants of Palisades del Rey a place once brimming with life now a sanctuary for nature. This wasn’t always a nature preserve.
Palisades del Rey a name that evokes images of grandeur was once a thriving neighborhood. Developed in 1921 by Dickinson & Gillespie Co it quickly became a coveted address. Hollywood’s elite flocked here building custom beach homes. Stars like Cecil B DeMille and Charles Bickford enjoyed the ocean breezes and the exclusivity. Think of it. The stars of the silver screen their homes nestled amongst the dunes.
But this idyllic paradise had a hidden threat. Mines Field a small airport opened nearby in 1928. Initially it was a source of entertainment air shows delighting residents. However the post-World War II boom in air travel changed everything. The roar of propeller planes became the constant hum of jet engines.
“If you lived in Surfridge before the late 1950s” a former resident recalled “you had to raise your voice. After the jets came you had to stop talking entirely.” The noise became unbearable.
The City of Los Angeles stepped in. In the 1960s and 70s eminent domain was used to acquire the land for airport expansion. Homes were condemned and demolished. Some homeowners fought back but ultimately the relentless expansion won. Imagine the heartbreak the loss of a home a community.
Today though a new kind of life thrives here. The area is a protected habitat. The endangered El Segundo blue butterfly flits amongst restored sand dunes. Rare burrowing owls and California gnatcatchers have found refuge. Palisades del Rey may be gone but its spirit lives on in the resilient wildlife that calls it home. Even amidst the constant drone of jets nature finds a way. Visit Vista Del Mar Park the only accessible part of the former neighborhood for a peaceful moment. Remember the ghosts of Palisades del Rey the Hollywood stars and the quiet resilience of nature.