SAVING THE BOATHOUSES OF ENCINITAS

SOURCE: Los Angeles County Real Estate Investors Association (https://lareic.com) newsletter of Monday, May 29TH lloydsegal@msn.com.

One of Encinitas’ most prized historic landmarks are the boathouses, the S.S. Encinitas and the S.S. Moonlight. Built by architect Miles Kellogg, the boathouses were constructed from salvaged lumber sourced from the old Moonlight Beach bathhouse and a hotel that failed to survive the Prohibition’s dry years.

The boathouses exemplify what has come to be known as early California “courtyard architecture” as well as the kind of vernacular design associated with Historic Highway 101. Each house is 15 feet tall by 20 feet long and have a breathtaking stature when face-to-face with them. They are quite possibly one of the most photographed attractions in Encinitas.

In order to protect this downtown gem, a partnership was forged with the Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association and the Encinitas Historical Society to purchase the boathouses in 2008 with a $1.55 million loan. The entire purchase included the boathouses, along with a four-unit apartment complex on the property. The additional four-unit complex is part of the City of Encinitas’ low-income housing program.

With the help of donations, rent and community partners, the EPA has since poured thousands of dollars into restoring the boathouses. The Association was also able to put the boathouses on the map by including it on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2019. This step has allowed the Association to ensure the protection of the boathouses for generations to come.

The famous boathouses of Encinitas

(photo was uncredited in original article)