San Diego is a very special and desirable city, and has always been an attraction for many people. What you may not know, is that San Diego has been and still is home to many of the rich and famous. In fact, many celebrities have been instrumental in helping develop San Diego into the world class city it is today.
In 1926, movie stars and studio executive moguls, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Mary Pickford bought a ranch estate in San Diego as a retreat away from Hollywood. They initially named their ranch after one of Fairbank’s movies The Mark of Zorro and then later it was named Fairbank’s Ranch. They planted hundreds of citrus trees, acres of beans, tomatoes and grain to feed the 250 head of cattle that roamed the ranch. The property sat on a seven acre lake that was created in 1928. Today the surrounding area is known as Fairbanks Ranch and it remains one of the most exclusive communities in San Diego. But they were not the only Hollywood royalty who were attracted to San Diego.
In 1937, international singing sensation and movie star, Bing Crosby, talked to some of his Hollywood friends about a dream he had to build a horse racing track in the quiet resort community of Del Mar in San Diego. His friends Jimmy Durante and Pat O’Brien shared the dream and helped Bing build a great race track where they could play the horses all day and then party into the night in the pleasant climate with the cooling Pacific coast breezes of Del Mar.
When the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and race track opened, Bing himself took tickets at the gate and welcomed race fans to what was to become one of the most famous race tracks in the United States, visited by race fans, horse owners and sports enthusiasts from all over the world.
In the years following its opening, Del Mar race track was frequented by all the rich and famous Hollywood celebrities like Douglas Fairbanks, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Dorothy Lamour, Ava Gardner, Jimmy Durante and Don Ameche just to name a few. Today the Del Mar race track continues to be a major San Diego attraction and is attended by thousands each year.
After the success of having four gold record albums, pop recording artist, Jim Croce and his wife Ingrid moved to San Diego in 1973. Unfortunately Jim’s life was cut short in a plane crash. However, Ingrid remained in San Diego and opened a restaurant and jazz bar in San Diego’s Gaslamp District in downtown, called Croce’s. This was a dream that both Ingrid and Jim had. In fact, Ingrid was one of the pioneers and first business owners that helped revitalize the old Gaslamp Quarter.
After making their financial fortune from their McDonald’s Hamburger Corporation, founder Ray Croc and his wife Joan moved to San Diego. Over the years, the Crocs gave millions of dollars to many local San Diego charitable organizations, including organizations that supported the gay community. After Ray Croc passed away, Joan continued to be a true philanthropist and shared her vast fortune with many. Before her death in 2003, Joan donated $90 million to have a state of the art community services center built here in San Diego. The center was completed in 2001 and sits on a 12 acre site on University Avenue, just east of College Avenue. It offers a variety of activities to all community members. In her will, Joan also gave $1.5 billion to the Salvation Army, which was the largest charitable gift ever given to an organization at one time. The Crocs were very instrumental in supporting San Diego and its many non-profit organizations. They may be gone, but they are definitely not forgotten!
After Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz became Hollywood moguls, they split up and went their separate ways. Desi moved to San Diego with his new wife and they lived here until his death in 1986. Desi was also very supportive of local organizations, like San Diego State University. In fact, Desi actually taught for the university back in the 1970s.
It is not possible to mention all of the rich and famous who have been instrumental in San Diego’s development over the years and who have made this paradise their home. But it is nice to know that many of these special people have used much of their time, money and energy to make San Diego a more special place.
When you become rich and famous, you too can make your mark by doing something special for San Diego. In the meantime, enjoy our beautiful city and everything it has to offer!
Trent St. Louis is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. He can be reached at trent@tns.net or at his office in Hillcrest, The Metropolitan Group. DRE#01273643.
