Cliff House
CLIFF HOUSE
A La Jolla coastal bluff project overlooking the beautiful Emerald Cove and the La Jolla Bay from a perch 120 feet above the Seven Caves.
This ½ acre historic 6 parcel site was once the location of the Gilbert Cottage, removed in the 1920’s adjacent the Carey Crest Residence of Josephine Seaman. The site also sits over the tunnel to the Sunny Jim Cave that descends 144 steps from the Cave Store that was originally dug as a tourist attraction in the 1902 when the property was owned by Professor Gustof Shultz.
SeaCliff was a collection of 9 structures in 1995 when the property was purchased for $5.3 million dollars, by William James Allen and before owned by Robert & June Barrymore, a collector of antique cars and before that by Josephine Seaman, and before that, Merriam of Merriam Dictionary, all community philanthropists. Allen did much to historically preserve the site and subdivided it into pieces of history. He also wanted a house, a New House later named Cliff House. This 10-year project was an adventure into archaeology, palaeontology, geology, coastal bluff erosion, community history, human behaviour and local politics.
