Coronado Beach and the Men Who Made People Happy with Their Sand Art

This is an example of one of Pavlacka's creations that honored the late comedic actress, Catherine O'Hara. (Bill Pavlacka) | Photo by The San Diego Union-Tribune | Click on image to enlarge

When you walk Coronado Beach, it's always fun to stop by and view the daily message on the sand art.

It's been a tradition for the past twenty plus years to enjoy these messages on a morning beach walk. Sometimes the art is a remembrance, sometimes just a saying or thought.

It started with the first Coronado Sandman, Alberto Avila. Mr. Avila started on Chula Vista Beach in 2002, then moved to Mission Beach and finally Coronado Beach.

He would sometimes get a ticket from Coronado police when he would create a birthday message or anniversary message in front of a home to surprise the occupants upon rising in the morning. The majority of Coronado residents took the side of the Sandman.

Alberto Avila, The Sandman, with a ticket from 2013. Read story here | Photo by the Coronado Times | Click on image to enlarge

Unfortunately, Mr. Avila stopped his beach art around 2014 when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He moved to El Paso, Texas to spend his last days with his daughter, Elena, and passed in January of 2019.

"He would say God told him to do this and he just loved it. He loved talking to people; he loved how his art made people feel."—Elena Avila Zermeño, Sandman's daughter

In past twelve or so years, the Sandcastle Man AKA Bill Pavlacka, took on the role of community sandcastle creator.

Bill Pavlacka, known by many as the Sandcastle Man, stands next to three small mounds of sand that once were castles he created on the beach with the Hotel Del Coronado in the background. After many years of creating the sculptures, he was told by the hotel to pack his tools and leave the property. | Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune | Click on image to enlarge

After nearly a decade of creativity, the Hotel del Coronado has asked Mr. Pavlacka to "refrain from operating your business at the hotel in the future.”

The Sandcastle Man, whose intricately designed sand sculptures — from “Star Wars” to Emerald City to snowmen — have long graced the Hotel del Coronado beachfront, has been banned by the resort from returning to his prime location."—The San Diego Union-Tribune

Sandcastle Man liked to incorporate sayings into his creations, like this quote attributed to Mark Twain | Photo by Bill Pavlacka | Click on image to enlarge

I don't know why the Hotel del made that decision to oust Mr. Pavlacka, the story is a little thin. By doing so, I think they have brought a lot of bad press to their organization.

But the residents and guests of Coronado love and appreciate the Sandcastle Man. Coronado is one of the longest beaches around. Just move a few feet down the beach Sandcastle Man.

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