Looking for a unique spot for a vacation? There is a place in OC that may be one of the
most visible secrets you will find here at the OC You Don’t See.
Take a drive down Pacific Coast Highway from Long Beach
toward Seal Beach, and just as you get to a curve in the road at Sunset Beach,
you will see the famous Water Tower Home on the ocean side of the street. The tower was originally built in the early
1900’s to supply water to the steam locomotives that traveled up and down the
coast. Those trains were long forgotten by the 1980’s, and the city was
considering tearing down the 85 foot structure.
Developer George Armstrong had another idea. Partnering with his son, Dan, and
anesthesiologist Robert Odel, Armstrong bought the structure (which was completely
infested with termites) and began a long restoration project to turn the tower
into the most unique home along the California coastline. Replicating the look
of a water tower, the team removed the tank that once held 75,000 gallons of
water and set to rebuild the enormous supports.
When they replaced
the tank, they converted the structure into a three-story home with vista
windows looking in every direction. Set
high above the busy PCH below, you can view the entire coastline from Palos
Verdes down to Dana Point, on a clear day.
An amazing home with a completely windowed third story, the
developers sold the tower in 1995 to Gerald Wallace, who tried selling it
several years later… and then again, and again.
Seems no one wanted to buy a converted water tower with terrible street
access. There is an elevator, but it is
small, so most large pieces of furniture must be brought up the towering
stairways.
Finally, some new developers bought the property, and now
for the secret: You can reserve it for your very own water tower vacation. Yes, the Sunset Beach Water Tower House can
be yours for a night or a week, and as of this writing, the cost is slightly
less than $1000 per night… plus a $300 cleaning fee. You can book it today on Trip
Advisor!
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