View 2027 MAda 200826.jpg — Mt Ada Bed and Breakfast The Cradle of William Wrigley, Jr.’s Santa Catalina Island

By Steve Tabor

William Wrigley, Jr. established his fame and significant fortune by selling America’s favorite chewing gum, but it was Santa Catalina Island that captivated his imagination. In 1919, Wrigley brought his wife Ada Elizabeth and their two children, Dorothy and Phillip, to Santa Catalina Island for a brief holiday stay at the St. Catherine’s Hotel in Descanso Canyon (the hotel was demolished in 1966). The Island quickly stole their hearts and the Wrigleys set forth a plan to make the Island their family legacy.

Wrigley originally purchased shares in the Catalina Island Company from a real estate development company. Eventually, Wrigley gained full interest in the Company and assume full ownership of the island. He began to create a Southern California attraction would bring locals and travelers alike for an experience like no other.

One of Wrigley’s top priorities was to create a home for his family. He contracted engineers to explore various locations on the hilltops surrounding the City of Avalon to find the best location to build a home for his wife. They found a location high on the southeast hillside above Avalon Bay that received the island’s the first morning light and the last glimpse of light before sunset.

The original design of the home called for three stories, a Turkish bath, Organ Chamber, refrigerating room and billiard room along with six bedrooms, but most importantly Mrs. Wrigley’s request for dark green shutters. As construction got under way the building’s plans were modified and only two stories of the house were built.

The Georgian colonial mansion was built in an “L” shape that wraps round the hilltop allowing for an unsurpassed panoramic view of Avalon. Outdoor terraces wrapped around the building to allow unobstructed views of Avalon Bay, the City of Avalon, and Avalon Canyon. The main entrance of the home is located off the formal motor court facing the hillside. A 110-step staircase was installed from the ocean side house to the road below to allow for street access. During baseball’s spring training, the Chicago Cubs players would ascend the stairs in the evening to bid good evening to Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley as they conducted their conditioning run along the road in front of the home.

The second floor interior features six bedrooms each with its own bathroom. Mr. Wrigley’s and Mrs. Wrigley’s bedrooms feature separate sitting areas and sleeping chambers. Mr. Wrigley’s original radio is still located in his room.

The windows on the lower level of the home provide an endless view of the island and ocean. The living area features a formal entrance, living space with a fireplace, dining room, butler’s pantry, kitchen, and billiard parlor. Shortly after completion of the home, Mr. Wrigley added a downstairs office off the billiard parlor. Although a frequent visitor to the ball field during the Spring Training activities, Wrigley would watch the activities from his office window making certain his players were fully engaged in developing their baseball skills.

There is a second building connected to the home with a second story bridge. This building served as maid’s, butler’s, and caretaker’s quarters. The property also contained a guest house that was a short, but very steep walk down the hillside. Today, the guest house is a single-family home and not part of the Wrigley mansion property.

Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley’s hosted many house guests including Presidents and royalty. Such guests included Herbert Hoover (prior to him serving as President), President Calvin Coolidge, and Edward VIII, King of the United Kingdoms and Dominions of the British Empire.

Construction of the property began in early 1920 and was completed in 1921. At the time of completion, the cost of the construction was $250,000 (which is in today’s market is equal to $3,368,729). What must be factored into the cost is that most of the construction materials were shipped from the Port of Los Angeles to the Island. Once the materials arrived on the island, they had to be transported from dock to the hilltop construction site. And like today, many of the construction workers were brought to the island for the project. The retaining wall along the way to Mt Ada was built at a cost of $200,000.

Only a few of the original furniture pieces remain in the home. However, the current furnishings do resemble those that would have been present during the Wrigley era. The living area fireplace is original. The billiard parlor is converted into additional lounge space. Although the sun terraces have been slightly reduced in size, there is plenty of space to sit outside and enjoy to picturesque views of Avalon and beyond.

After Wrigley’s death in 1932, Mrs. Wrigley continued to visit the island until she suffered a stroke in 1948. For the next ten years she remained in a coma and died in 1958. During the 1960’s, the Wrigley family donated the home to the University of Southern California (USC) to use as part of their Marine Science Center. USC eventually transferred their entire Marine Science Center activities to Two Harbors. In 1985, the Santa Catalina Island Company then leased the Mt Ada property to a private party who made some improvements to the property and operated it as a bed and breakfast.

The private party returned the property to the Santa Catalina Island Company who then assumed management of the mansion as a bed and breakfast. The Island Company continued to make improvements to the property with respect to its historic past and continues to operate the property as a bed and breakfast. It is important to note that there are no public tours of the property.

The property has been recognized by Conde Nast’s as the “Best in the World”, Forbes “Four Star” Award and TripAdvisor “Certificate of Excellence” in addition to other travel awards.

Currently, the property features five rooms that sleep 2 people and one room that sleeps up to 4 people. The room rates range from approximately $455 to $1,119 per night which includes access to your own golf cart, daily breakfast and lunch, a 24-hour butler’s pantry which includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks. Also, there is full access to the living areas and sun terraces. Transportation services to and from the heliport, water taxi service and Catalina Express dock are provided as well.

Steve Tabor Bio

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.

Watch for Steve Tabor Images on the worldwide web.