Page 104 - California Diving and Surfing

B was almost uninhabited except for a
y the end of the 19th century, the island ism due to World War I, the Banning broth- work improving the infrastructure of the
island. During World War II, the island was
ers were forced to sell the island in shares closed to tourists and used for military
training facilities. Catalina’s steamships
few cattle herders. The first owner to try to in 1919. were expropriated for use as troop trans-
ports and a number of military camps were
develop Avalon into a resort destination O ne of the main investors to pur- established. The U.S. Maritime Service set
was George Shatto, a real estate specula- chase shares from the Bannings was up a training facility in Avalon, the Coast
tor from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shatto Guard had training at Two Harbors, the
Army Signal Corp maintained a radar sta-
purchased the island for $200,000 from chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. tion in the interior, the Office of Strategic
Services did training at Toyon Bay, and the
the Lick estate at the height of the real In 1919, Wrigley bought out nearly every Navy did underwater demolition training at
Emerald Bay. On February 15, 1975, Philip
estate boom in Southern California in 1887. share-holder until he owned controlling Wrigley deeded 42,135 acres of the island
from the Santa Catalina Island Company to
Shatto created the settlement that would interest in the Santa Catalina Island Com- the Catalina Island Conservancy that he had
helped to establish in 1972. This gave the
become Avalon, and can be credited with pany. Wrigley invested millions in needed Conservancy control of nearly 90 percent
of the island. The balance of the Santa Cat-
building the town’s first hotel, the original infrastructure and attractions to the island, alina Island Company that was not deeded
to the Conservancy maintains control of
Hotel Metropole, and pier. Despite Shatto’s including the construction of the Catalina much of its resort properties and opera-
tions on the island.
efforts, he defaulted on his loan after only Casino which opened on May 29, 1929.

a few years and the island went back to Wrigley also sought to bring publicity to

the Lick estate. The sons of Phineas Ban- the island through events and spectacles.

ning bought the island in 1891 from the Starting in 1921, the Chicago Cubs, also

estate of James Lick. The Banning brothers owned by Wrigley, used the island for the

fulfilled Shatto’s dream of making Avalon team’s spring training. The Cubs contin-

a resort community with the construction ued to use the island for spring training

of numerous tourist facilities. On Novem- until 1951, except during the war years of

ber 29, 1915, a fire burned half of Avalon’s 1942–45. Following the death of Wrigley,

buildings, including six hotels and several Jr. in 1932, control of the Santa Catalina

clubs. In the face of huge debt related to Island Company passed down to his son,

the fire and the subsequent decline in tour- Philip K. Wrigley, who continued his father’s