Wrigley Residence, Santa Catalina Island
Wrigley Residence, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island was built in 1919 shortly after Mr. William Wrigley Jr. purchased Santa Catalina Island. Wanting an island home for his wife, Ada and himself, Mr. Wrigley sought out the best location in Avalon, which turned out to be at the top of a lovely mountain on the south end of the bay, with a full commanding view of the island, Avalon and the Pacific beyond. It was the first spot to receive the morning sun and the last of the afternoon sun as it dipped behind the mountains. He named the mountain top Mt. Ada. In asking his wife what she would like the house to look like, Ada answered that she had always wanted a house with dark green shutters.
Returning from Chicago the following year, Mrs. Wrigley arrived on the island to find this lovely Georgian Colonial Mansion with dark green shutters. The home was completed in 1921. “L” shaped, the mansion wraps around a formal motor court entry on the mountain side, with a graceful grand staircase of over 100 stairs leading up to the home from the ocean side. Mrs. Wrigley was fond of succulents and cactus and had the garden planted with a number of unique species. The home was originally designed using her own ideas, involving three stories, a Turkish bath, billiard room, organ chamber, and a refrigerating room. There were also six bedrooms, a sun room, and an elegant terrace porch. However, many of these original design details were modified or removed entirely such as the entire third floor of the home. 1921 is also the year that Mr. Wrigley decided to have his baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, spring train on the island. Although Mr. Wrigley usually watched the training from the bleachers, he had made sure he could watch them from his mansion office as well. The Wrigley's enjoyed their time on the island and would visit at least twice a year until Mr. Wrigley’s passing in Arizona in 1932.
During the 1960s, visitors could tour the mansion, until the Wrigley family donated it to the University of Southern California to use as a Marine Science Center.
In 1985, the property was leased to a private party who set about creating the Inn on Mt. Ada as a bed and breakfast. They turned it into a highly successful venture which was awarded the Mobil Travel Guide 4-Star rating, Conde Nast’s “Best in the World” Readers Choice Award, the Forbes Four Star Award and several Trip Advisor Certificates of Excellence.
As of 2014, The Inn is now managed by the professional hospitality team of the Santa Catalina Island Company.
- Santa Catalina Island Post Cards: Wrigley Residence
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]
90208
Residence of Wm. Wrigley, Jr.
Catalina Island, Calif.
C. T. American Art
Published by Island Pharmacy Co., Avalon
postmarked April 25, 1928
[original in SCIF archives]
C.I. 7
Residence of Wm. Wrigley, Jr.,
and Avalon Bay, Catalina Island, California
Western Publishing & Novelty Co.
[original in SCIF archives]
C.I. 7
Residence of Wm. Wrigley, Jr.,
and Avalon Bay, Catalina Island, California
Western Publishing & Novelty Co.
Theo Sohmer, Los Angeles
[original in SCIF archives]
Residence of Wm. Wrigley, Jr.,
Avalon, Catalina Island, Calif.
Western Publishing & Novelty Co.
Theo Sohmer, Los Angeles
[original in SCIF archives]
Avalon & Bay from Mt. Ada
Showing the Wrigley Residence & Casino.
Santa Catalina, California
Western Publishing & Novelty Co.
[original in SCIF archives]
Western Publishing & Novelty Company
The Wrigley Residence on Mt. Ada, Avalon —
Catalina Island, California
[original in SCIF archives]
Avalon, Catalina,
Home of Wm. Wrigley, Jr.
Pacific Novelty Co.
[original in SCIF archives]
