Sun-baked stones whisper stories of a bygone era. Welcome to Royal Palms County Beach. This isn’t just sand and sea. Royal Palms County Beach holds a century of secrets. It began as a thriving Japanese abalone fishery. Imagine dozens of fishermen harvesting abalone. Their processing plant stood where we now stand. The abalone fishery eventually declined due to over-harvesting. A natural sulfur spring was then discovered. Enter Ramon Sepulveda. He partnered with Japanese entrepreneurs. Together they built a two-story hotel and recreation center. This wasn’t just any resort. Royal Palms boasted a terrazzo dance floor. It had fireplaces and benches made of local stone. A lush garden surrounded a beautiful concrete fountain. The fountain still stands today. Though it was moved to the upper level decades ago. The resort flourished for a time. But Prohibition meant no bar. There were bathhouses and swimming pools. Even private saltwater pools. Nature intervened. A massive storm damaged the resort in 1928. The 1933 Long Beach earthquake further devastated it. It blocked the hot spring. The resort struggled through the Depression. Finally closing in the late 1930s. Then came World War II. The Japanese community was unjustly interned. They lost everything. Royal Palms became part of Fort MacArthur. After the war the state of California took over. They made it a State Beach in 1960. In 1995 the land was transferred to Los Angeles County. Royal Palms County Beach remains a stunning location. Explore the tide pools. Discover the resilient spirit of a place that has weathered storms and survived hardship. This is more than just a beach. It’s a living testament to history and resilience. A place where the past meets the present. Right here at Royal Palms County Beach.
Tujunga Spreading Grounds
Hidden in plain sight, the Tujunga Spreading Grounds is more than just a patch of land. It’s a hidden reservoir,