Fundraising efforts continue as the cultural institution amps up its programming this year.
Nearly a year and a half after a devastating landslide that wiped out a good portion of the outdoor space at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, the renowned San Clemente institution reopened its enhanced Main Salon in October.
“We had to postpone a lot of things and we’re still recovering financially from the landslide,” said Kylie Travis, executive director of operations and programming for Casa Romantica. “Now, we’re finally able to bring back things like the jazz series and our classical concerts … so it’s a big win for us to be open.”
Housed in a Spanish Colonial Revival landmark that was constructed in the 1920s, Casa Romantica offers a lineup of eclectic cultural, art and wellness programming in a historic setting. While it has been a long road to restore the property to its former glory – and there is still a good amount of work to be done – the landslide has given the nonprofit a chance to reevaluate and renovate other parts of the blufftop estate as well in an attempt to create a name for Casa Romantica throughout Orange County and beyond.
Big Changes to Come
Heavy rains pummeled South Orange County on April 27, 2023, resulting in the landslide that damaged Casa Romantica’s grounds.
The Ocean Terrace, Native Bowl garden and amphitheater were all part of the half-acre of land impacted by the storm, but shifting ground has kept a number of other outdoor areas closed for safety reasons, including the Spanky Chang Children’s Garden, the Woodland Garden and the Story Circle.
The work has been a slow and steady process, as the city of San Clemente owns the historic building. But last summer, the city allocated $8.5 million to grading and rebuilding the slope at Casa Romantica. With tiebacks now in place and dirt being brought back in, Travis says they are just a few months away from being able to turn to the California Coastal Commission for approval to hardscape the land.
“They’re bringing it back to what it was – safe and stable and … (long-lasting) – and then our part comes in,” Travis said. “We’ll need to do a lot of extra fundraising to replace all of the plant life.”
As winter nears, the next challenge will be to battle the weather. “They’re trying to beat the rain that’s coming,” she said. “Being so close to the ocean, there have been days where it’s not even raining, it’s just so wet that they have to drain out the site before they continue.”
PHOTO 1: Casa Romantica’s outdoor areas were damaged in a landslide that occurred April 27, 2023. PHOTO 2: A look at some of the landslide damage from above. PHOTO 3: Dirt is currently being brought in to fill the space before the hardscaping plan goes to the California Coastal Commission for approval. PHOTO 4: The Ocean Terrace remains closed due to the damage from the landslide. Photos courtesy of Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens
Improving the Interiors
In addition to the changes to come outside, Casa Romantica used the time when the Main Salon was closed to consider the story they wanted to tell within its walls. “We hadn’t updated the interior in over 20 years,” Travis said. “So when we were closed, we wanted to make sure that we took the time to evaluate what our visitors see and feel and experience, and then make it better. We’ll continue to improve it, so that every time you come back, there’s something new.”
Where there were once some old photographs of Orange County and the original homeowner, Ole Hanson, who founded the town of San Clemente, the Main Salon has been brought to life with tales that celebrate history and culture simultaneously.
Pieces from the nonprofit’s art collection, focused heavily on California Impressionism and plein air paintings, were taken out of storage and hung on the walls for the first time. Historic photos showcasing old-school surf greats were obtained from the nearby Surfing Heritage and Culture Center. The Hallway of Memories is filled with Greek vases and other antiquities, while the dining room showcases a collection of vintage teacups. A section dedicated to the indigenous Acjachemen tribe reflects the history of the land and its earliest settlers. Mysteries await around every corner.
All of these new exhibits are specially curated and, with additional pieces being introduced to the rotation over time, allow guests to learn as they wander through ivory arches along a Spanish-tiled floor. Delicate touches, from the decor and lighting – including a sparkling grand chandelier – to the artwork itself, create a unique sense of place for all who visit the center.
Elevated Events
A little over two decades ago, an anonymous donor pledged $1 million to the city of San Clemente in hopes of turning this property into a cultural center. Dating back to 1927, Casa Romantica has been many things throughout its history, from a senior living facility to a private event venue. But it started out as the home of Ole Hanson, a real estate developer and former Seattle-based politician and mayor.
Wandering the Spanish-style home feels a little bit like stepping back in time. One of the old bedrooms toward the front entrance has been converted into an art gallery, where Travis helps curate exhibits ranging from sculpture, photography and immersive installations to acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, as well as the early California art that South Orange County is known for.
The current exhibit, a Dia de los Muertos-inspired exhibition featuring artwork by Mexico City artist Lourdes Villagomez titled “The Power of Reconciliation,” is a brilliantly vivid display filled with bold colors and messages that reveal art to be a bridge between the past and present. “This was actually supposed to happen last, last summer, but it had to be postponed because of the landslide,” Travis said. The exhibit runs through mid-December and will be followed up with one on storytelling and illustration.
In the Main Salon, another room has been renamed The Studio and will serve as a workshop for a rotating, six-month artist-in-residence program that launches this month with San Clemente resident and landscape painter Rick J. Delanty. A central space inside the salon also plays host to special events like a jazz series that welcomed French vocalist Chloe Perrier in mid-November following the reopening.
Because the historic building is centered around an open-air courtyard, events are regularly held outdoors as well, including the children’s storytime, Coffee Concerts, theater performances and more. Wellness sessions for yoga, meditation and ballet are also offered at the center, part of the more than 100 events offered at Casa Romantica throughout the year.
“We’re always doing something,” Travis said. “But I like that. You don’t want to go to an empty old house. You want it to be vibrant and full of arts and culture and history, and that’s what we give.”
PHOTO 1: A number of events for kids, like the Children’s Storytime, are offered. PHOTO 2: The alfresco courtyard at the center of Casa Romantica. PHOTO 3: Local musicians and fresh brew come together for the center’s morning Coffee Concerts. PHOTO 4: Yoga classes are held in the building. PHOTO 5: Troubadour Theater Co. performing "Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra" at Casa Romantica. Photos courtesy of Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens
What Lies Ahead
Another popular happening at Casa Romantica is Toast to the Casa, the center’s annual fundraising gala. Held in September with a Renaissance theme, this year’s iteration garnered more than $240,000 that will benefit the estate’s rebuilding efforts.
While it has been difficult to navigate the challenges caused by the landslide, Travis says the age of Casa Romantica can present issues in its own right – something the staff has been facing recently. “It’s a 90-year-old house,” she said. “There’s maintenance – huge maintenance things – that we have to do every year just to make sure everything is maintained the way it should be. And so we had paused some of those projects when the slide happened and a lot of that is coming up now. That just kind of compounds on the ongoing challenge of recovery.”
Another challenge, Travis said, is simply being patient with the process, especially the hillside progress. With quite a few steps to go, she said the center will continue to request donations that will benefit fixing up and replanting the gardens around the main structure.
To date, community response has been overwhelmingly positive. “The community has been so generous and supportive of us,” Travis said. “They know the value of having a cultural center as beautiful as this, with so much to give the community …. We know that people will continue to … (give), because we’re well worth it at the end of the day. It’s worth it to have a beautiful place that’s preserved in history, that offers diverse programming – and a lot of it free or low cost.”
Although they’re not out of the woods yet and still have a lot of work to go, reopening the Main Salon restores a big piece of the puzzle that had been missing over the last 19 months. Moving forward, Travis hopes to continue to inspire guests visiting Casa Romantica through unique and thoughtful programs. “They always call us the jewel of San Clemente and that’s kind of what we are,” she says. “But we want to be the jewel of Orange County.”
Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens
Where: 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday; closed Monday; open evenings during events
Contact: casaromantica.org
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