Del Mar
A local perspective.

Del Mar, through the Powerhouse and the coastal parks

The Powerhouse gives Del Mar’s waterfront a particular history. Built in 1928 to replace the Stratford Inn’s earlier powerhouse, it originally supplied hot water for the hotel, its cottages, laundry and pool. The City’s account follows the building through several later uses before it became a public community center. It is a useful place to look beyond the appearance of a beachside landmark. Powerhouse history

One building, several different uses

After the hotel era, the building housed the Roaring 20s nightclub from 1958 to 1962. In 1965 it was converted for experiments in turning seawater into drinking water. The City acquired the Powerhouse and nearby park land in 1983; the subsequent restoration culminated in the community center. Those changes make the building a compact record of recreation, infrastructure and civic reuse on the Del Mar shore. The Powerhouse’s successive chapters

Read the parks as separate public places

Powerhouse and Seagrove parks sit above the 15th Street beach area. The City identifies Powerhouse Park’s grassy space, play structure and public facilities, while Seagrove provides another named coastal park nearby. Their relationship to the beach offers more than one way to spend time beside the ocean, but lawn areas and facilities can have their own maintenance or event arrangements. Del Mar beaches and parks · City park and facility descriptions

Check the particular space before a visit

A community event, an open lawn and access to a rentable building are different things. Use the City’s current park and facility information for the specific place you want to use. The Powerhouse’s story is part of Del Mar’s waterfront history, rather than a description of every neighborhood in the city.

Editorial review: 2026-11-07