Welcome to this charming little
city on the Southern California coast near the northern border of
Orange County. Stretching for one mile along Pacific Coast Highway,
nearly half the houses in town get a sandy beach and view of the
ocean out their doors. Pacific Streets North and South are the
heart of a town where parking is free, the beach is at your door and
strolling in the park means a walk down the grassy knoll which used
to provide right of way for the Red Car from
Los Angeles.
It's obvious that changes are
in store when you exit Huntington Beach heading north on Pacific
Coast Highway. The Pacific Ocean disappears and the scenic view is
replaced with buildings and signs. There's a post office where
residents must get their mail, hotels, boat rentals, gift and surf
shops, a psychic readings shop and restaurants announcing your
arrival.
The citizens of Sunset Beach
have a homeowner's association which meets and plans several annual
community events. There's a mile-long garage sale (that's how long
the city is) which is usually held in September, a chili cook-off
and an art contest held in the Spring or Summer. Francis Ford
Coppola's aunt lives in town as does actress Cameron Diaz from time
to time.
The water tower on 1 Anderson
St. (pictured) is a landmark. When it outlived its useful purpose
several decades ago, community activism kept it alive. Bought and
sold several times, the now converted house offers one of the finest
views anywhere. An elevator leads up to the approximate 4th story
living area of a luxury tri-level home with 2 master suites, huge
bar, fire pit lounge, outdoor jacuzzi and office in a view room at
the top.
Rising 87 feet into the air, 30 feet in diameter on a 35 square
foot lot was built in the late 1800s to service the steam engines
that ran from Los Angeles to San Diego.
In 1945 water was pumped from an artesian well from Bolsa Chica
bluffs to the tower to service Sunset Beach and Surfside. The tower
was deactivated in 1974. Purchased and renovated, six years
later, restoration of the redwood tower began. The tank
portion was lowered to ground level and made into a home which was
then lifted by crane back into position on 21 wooden legs which were
reinforced with steel at the joints.
The owner finally moved into
the one-of-a-kind house in 1985 and it has since been sold with
another occupant enjoying the best view on this portion of the
coast.
The door is always open nearby
at the Harbour House Cafe. Weekend mornings people line up to
eat a favorite omelet or sandwich. In business for many years, it
was one of the first restaurants in the region to offer outdoor
dining. Other restaurants include Captain Jack's, Harpoon Harry's,
Harry's Grill, Sam's Seafood, Sunset Patio Cafe and Woody's. Turc's
and Irish Mist are favored local pubs.
