Mount Ada, Santa Catalina Island

C-24
The Wrigley Residence livingroom, Mt. Ada, Avalon

Mount Ada, Santa Catalina Island, also known as Mount Buena Vista, is the hill to the south overlooking Avalon Harbor. William Wrigley, Jr. chose the site for the location of his colonial-style home, which was constructed between 1920 and 1921 for his wife, Ada (1868-1958), near the top of the hill. He named it for his wife, Ada Elizabeth Wrigley nee Foote. The site has a commanding view of the bay and town of Avalon from the east rim of the bay, 350 feet above town. It was designed and built by building contractor, David M. Renton, with six bedrooms, a drawing room, billiard room, sunroom, dining room, office, and terrace porch. William Wrigley, Jr. died just over a decade after the house was completed. His wife continued to use the house for 37 years, until the late 1940s. Following Ada Wrigley’s death in 1958, the property was managed by the Santa Catalina Island Company and used for meetings and events.

The property was donated to the University of Southern California in 1978 and used as a conference center for several years. In 1985 the property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. That same year it was leased to a local corporation and transformed into the Inn at Mt. Ada. Several fireplaces were added and a new roof was installed.

• Long term lease of The Inn on Mount Ada announced.
  
  
• The Inn on Mt. Ada
• Ally Quest : Catalina Island, 1920s Part I: The Inn

• 

  29296 N
  Mt. Ada, overlooking Avalon Bay, Catalina Island, California
  Home of Mr. Wm. wrigley, Jr. on the Mountain
  E. C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee
  Wilmington Transportation Company flag on verso
  © by Keystone Photo Services, Los Angeles, Cal.
  [original in SCIF archives]
• 

  C-7
  Avalon & Bay from Mt. Ada
  Showing the Wrigley Residence & Casino.
  Santa Catalina, California
  Western Publishing & Novelty Co.
  [original in SCIF archives]
• 

  C-24 (1A-H424)
  Western Publishing & Novelty Company
  The Wrigley Residence on Mt. Ada, Avalon —
  Catalina Island, California
  [original in SCIF archives]

Top of Page

In the News~

June 29, 1920 [TI/Avalon]: “…In the semicircle of the second floor is designed a magnificent drawing room, 22 x 60 feet, with an eight foot fireplace. A $100,000 pipe organ, with an echo organ built into the opposite side, will be a feature in this room…”

January 3, 1922 [TI/Avalon]: “Mr. & Mrs. William Wrigley and party arrived on the island Wednesday, and were immediately taken to their home, Mt. Ada, on the east Avalon terrace.