La Venta Inn, Palos Verdes Estates, California

Abstract/Description: Image shows elevated view looking north of La Venta Inn, located at 796 Via del Monte on lots 4, 5, and 6, block 1536. Visible is the south façade, showing the newly added dining room with chimney, designed by architect W.L. Risley, in northeast corner of the property. Several automobiles are in the parking lot, with Via del Monte in foreground. The Inn, originally built as a club house (named "Clubhouse 764") to entertain realtors and prospective land owners, opened in the summer of 1923 and was the first permanent building constructed by the Palos Verdes Project. The name was soon changed to La Venta (meaning "The Sale" in Spanish) and the inn served as a sales office and architectural prototype for the peninsula. During the 1930s it became a weekend retreat for notable celebrities such as Charles Lindbergh, Erroll Flynn, Betty Grable, Bob Hope, Tyrone Power, Cary Grant, and Gloria Swanson. Briefly in 1942 the Inn became the central observation post of the coastal artillery. From 1944 to 1954 the property was the residence of Commander and Mrs. Stanley Schnetzler, and was re-established as an inn in 1955. On November 11, 1978, La Venta Inn became the first structure designated as an historical landmark by the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society. In 1992 the New York Food Company took over management of the property.
Subject(s): La Venta Inn (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.)
Historic buildings--California--Palos Verdes Estates
Hotels--California, Southern
Bird's-eye views
Date Created: 1927-04-29
Title: La Venta Inn, Palos Verdes Estates, California.
Name(s): Davis, Francis Pierpont, architect
Davis, Walter Swindell, 1887-, architect
Risley, Winchton Leamon, architect
Olmsted Associates, architect
Shattuch Construction Co., builder
Lawyer, Jay, builder
Lewis, Edward Gardner, builder
Chaney, Charles H., builder
Lawyer, Donald K., builder
Date Created: 1927-04-29
Extent: 1 photographic print (b/w); 4 x 6 in.
Abstract/Description: Image shows elevated view looking north of La Venta Inn, located at 796 Via del Monte on lots 4, 5, and 6, block 1536. Visible is the south façade, showing the newly added dining room with chimney, designed by architect W.L. Risley, in northeast corner of the property. Several automobiles are in the parking lot, with Via del Monte in foreground. The Inn, originally built as a club house (named "Clubhouse 764") to entertain realtors and prospective land owners, opened in the summer of 1923 and was the first permanent building constructed by the Palos Verdes Project. The name was soon changed to La Venta (meaning "The Sale" in Spanish) and the inn served as a sales office and architectural prototype for the peninsula. During the 1930s it became a weekend retreat for notable celebrities such as Charles Lindbergh, Erroll Flynn, Betty Grable, Bob Hope, Tyrone Power, Cary Grant, and Gloria Swanson. Briefly in 1942 the Inn became the central observation post of the coastal artillery. From 1944 to 1954 the property was the residence of Commander and Mrs. Stanley Schnetzler, and was re-established as an inn in 1955. On November 11, 1978, La Venta Inn became the first structure designated as an historical landmark by the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society. In 1992 the New York Food Company took over management of the property.
Identifier(s): 000025841 (Bar Code)
Note(s):

Date Built: 1923

Photo Source: Palos Verdes Homes Association

PVH building permit #4; dining room addition, building permit #48; two prints available [Cataloguer's note - the sepia-tone print is printed on Velox photographic paper, invented in 1893 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland who also invented Bakelite plastic. Velox was the first photographic paper that could be printed in artificial light (previous ones has to be printed in sunlight). Baekeland sold the rights to Velox to the Eastman Kodak Company in 1899.]
Subject(s): La Venta Inn (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.)
Historic buildings--California--Palos Verdes Estates
Hotels--California, Southern
Bird's-eye views
Held by: Palos Verdes Library District. Peninsula Center Library.
Location: Local History Room.
Shelf locator: PVLH.LAV.07.65
Restrictions on Access: Electronically digitized by the Palos Verdes Library District from the Palos Verdes Library Local History Room Photo Collection. Copyright status must be investigated before publishing or commercial use. To obtain permission and images for publication purposes please contact the Palos Verdes Library District.
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