Hotel del Coronado Nears Completion of Ambitious Renovation
- Susan Heavilin
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
You thought your renovation project has been taking forever? The "update" of the Del in Coronado—returning it to its Victorian era roots—has taken six years. Try to wrap your head around that. That's equivalent to raising a child through first grade!
And if you thought your project was breaking the bank, I'm going to make you feel better about it. The "restoration and revitalization" of the Del has cost a cool $550 Million.
The final phase—a restoration of the hotel's historic Victorian building—is expected to be completed this month.
To the people who know it, the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego is not a page of history — it’s a chapter. Opened in 1888 by Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, it was then the largest hotel in the world. The owners set out to create a resort that would “be the talk of the Western world” — a 750-room Victorian right on the edge of the Pacific.—The New York Times
Many movies have been shot at the hotel but the most well-known one was "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The movie, filmed in 1959, was directed and produced by Billy Wilder. My late brother-in-law used to tell a story about staying at the Del while the movie was being done. He was only 12 but when he locked eyes with Marilyn, he would forever be under her spell.
The Hotel del Coronado has hosted a multitude of famous people over the years, including movie stars and other notable figures.
Movie Stars:
Charlie Chaplin: Enjoyed staying at the hotel and playing polo.
Douglas Fairbanks: A frequent visitor.
Marilyn Monroe: Starred in "Some Like It Hot" which was filmed at the hotel.
Greta Garbo, Mae West, Rita Hayworth, Helen Hayes: Just a few of the many Hollywood stars who frequented the hotel.
James Stewart: Known for his frequent visits.
Katherine Hepburn: Another notable Hollywood guest.
Bette Davis: A frequently visiting star.
Clark Gable: A popular guest.
Humphrey Bogart, Kirk Douglas, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Olivia de Havilland: Just a few of the many Hollywood stars who frequented the hotel.
W.C. Fields: One of the earliest celebrity guests.
Other Notable Figures:
King Kalakaua of Hawaii: A visitor to the hotel.
Thomas Edison: A notable guest.
L. Frank Baum: Wrote several books from his "Wizard of Oz" series while staying at the hotel.
Babe Ruth: A guest at the hotel.
Duke of Windsor: Another notable figure who stayed at the hotel.
Charles Lindbergh: A notable visitor.
It's also been a popular destination for US Presidents:
Benjamin Harrison: The first president to visit the hotel.
William McKinley: According to the Hotel del Coronado
William Howard Taft: Stayed at the hotel in 1900 and 1915.
Woodrow Wilson: According to the Hotel del Coronado
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Stayed at the hotel multiple times, including during his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and during the California-Pacific International Exposition in 1935.
Lyndon B. Johnson: Attended a state dinner for Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz in 1970.
Richard Nixon: Hosted a state dinner in the hotel's Crown Room in 1970.
Gerald Ford: Attended an economic conference in 1975 and made other frequent visits.
Jimmy Carter: Attended an AFLCIO Building and Construction Trades convention in 1979 and made other visits.
Ronald Reagan: A frequent visitor, even before his presidency.
George H.W. Bush: Stayed at the hotel both before and during his presidency.
Bill Clinton: According to Wikipedia
George W. Bush: Visited the hotel in 2005.
And then there's one of the most famous guests, Kate Morgan, who checked in and never left. She's the resident ghost who has been there since 1892. There have been countless sightings of Kate by hotel guests. I've encountered her twice.
For those horticulture lovers out there, the hotel's famous garden courtyard has been fully restored to its Victorian era magnificence.
Garden-facing rooms were the most popular during The Del's early days. The restored Garden features a mix of eclectic botanical selections that showcase the Victorian aesthetic, along with citrus trees to reflect what was originally planted in 1888. Many of the courtyard's existing and historic plants were preserved including Tree Ferns, a large Floss Silk Tree, and Queen Palms.—Hotel del Coronado website
Danielle Pergament, of the New York Times, wrote a dynamite article on May 5, 2025. "A Grand Comeback for a Grand Seaside Hotel" is a fun read, but even better are the 500+ comments left by reminiscing Hotel del Coronado guests.
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