When Carlsbad Was Southern California’s Best-Kept Secret

“The best stories don’t simply teach history…they transport people there.”

Setting the Scene

Location: Twin Inns

Length: 5–7 minutes

Theme: Wonder • Nostalgia • Hollywood • Community • Preservation

Storytelling Tip

Before you begin…

Pause.

Allow your guests to admire the Twin Inns.

Don’t rush.

Great storytelling starts with anticipation.

Step Back into the Golden Age of California

I want you to use your imagination for just a moment.

If you’re comfortable…

Close your eyes.

Or simply picture the scene.

It’s the late 1940s.

There are no freeways.

No Interstate 5.

No smartphones.

No GPS.

No LEGOLAND.

No Starbucks.

The only way to travel California’s coast is along beautiful Highway 101, winding beside the Pacific Ocean.

The road is quiet.

The ocean is sparkling.

Palm trees sway gently in the breeze.

Now imagine hearing the soft rumble of an engine.

A long black Cadillac slowly pulls up in front of this beautiful Victorian building.

The driver steps out.

He walks around the car.

Opens the rear door.

Out steps…

A Hollywood movie star.

Perhaps John Wayne.

Perhaps another familiar face from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Behind him, another automobile arrives.

Then another.

Actors.

Musicians.

Business leaders.

Families.

Travelers heading to Del Mar…

Or continuing south toward Tijuana.

Welcome…

To Carlsbad.

California’s Hidden Escape

Long before Carlsbad became famous for LEGOLAND, championship golf, and beautiful resorts…

People came here for something much simpler.

Peace.

Fresh ocean air.

Quiet beaches.

Healing mineral water.

Wonderful food.

And the chance to slow down.

When I think about it…

That’s exactly why people still come today.

Some things never change.

The Twin Inns

Now take another look at this beautiful building.

It was built in 1887 and has stood here for nearly a century and a half.

Imagine everything it has witnessed.

Newlyweds celebrating their wedding day.

Families gathering for Sunday dinners.

Travelers stopping for the night.

Children running across the front lawn.

Community celebrations.

Business deals.

Birthday parties.

Anniversaries.

If these walls could talk…

They would tell the story of Carlsbad itself.

For generations, the Twin Inns became known for its warm hospitality and famous family-style chicken dinners, welcoming locals and travelers alike.

Many stories have been shared over the years about notable visitors stopping here while traveling California’s coast. Whether every story can be documented or has become part of local lore, they all reflect the special place the Twin Inns has held in Carlsbad’s history.

Today, Sun Diego occupies this historic landmark, carefully preserving many of its original architectural details—including the beautifully restored Duke Room, a tribute to the era when Old Hollywood helped shape Southern California’s coastal culture.

The Road to Hollywood

Carlsbad’s location made it special.

Everyone traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego passed this way.

Then, in 1937, another chapter began.

The opening of the Del Mar Racetrack attracted celebrities, entertainers, and socialites from across the country.

Bing Crosby was often seen at either the horse racer or golfing in Carlsbad.

Weekends became lively.

Hollywood’s biggest names traveled south along Highway 101.

Carlsbad became a natural place to stop, relax, and enjoy the journey.

The town quietly became part of Southern California’s Golden Age.

Leo Carrillo

Hollywood wasn’t only passing through.

Some stars chose to stay.

Just a few miles from here, actor Leo Carrillo built a working ranch where he escaped the fast pace of Hollywood.

Many remember him from The Cisco Kid, but here in Carlsbad he preferred ranch life.

He raised cattle.

Worked the land.

Welcomed family and friends.

Today, Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park remains one of Carlsbad’s hidden treasures and reminds us that even Hollywood legends sought the peace and beauty of this community.

The Roaring Twenties

Now let’s go back another twenty years.

Imagine it’s 1928.

America is in the middle of Prohibition.

Alcohol is illegal.

But just a few hours south…

Tijuana is alive with music, casinos, elegant restaurants, and lively nightlife.

Hollywood celebrities often made the trip south, traveling the same coastal highway that passed directly through Carlsbad.

The Twin Inns became a familiar stop along the journey.

Over the years, local legends have told stories of discreet deliveries made behind the building and hidden rooms where conversations continued long after dinner.

Whether every detail belongs to documented history or has grown into community folklore, these stories have become part of Carlsbad’s personality.

Today, a modern speakeasy tucked behind the building pays tribute to that fascinating era.

Finding it is part of the adventure.

Listen Carefully

Now…

Take a deep breath.

Listen.

Can you hear the waves?

The ocean sounds exactly the way it did 100 years ago.

Feel the breeze.

It’s the same breeze that welcomed early settlers…

Farmers…

Hollywood actors…

Surfers…

Artists…

Restaurant owners…

And travelers from around the world.

That’s one of the things I love most about Carlsbad.

Our history isn’t hidden behind museum glass.

You’re standing in it.

Walking Through Time

Everywhere we’ve walked today…

We’ve followed in the footsteps of pioneers.

Entrepreneurs.

Movie stars.

Artists.

Surfers.

Chefs.

Restaurant owners.

Dreamers.

Every generation has added another chapter.

Today…

The chefs preparing your lunch…

The artists painting murals…

The families opening new businesses…

They’re writing the next chapter in Carlsbad’s story.

And someday…

Someone will tell their story too.

Closing Reflection

That’s why I don’t think of Carlsbad as simply another beach town.

I think of it as a collection of stories.

Stories of courage.

Dreams.

Hospitality.

Creativity.

Family.

Community.

And kindness.

Those stories are what transform a beautiful destination into a place people never forget.

My hope is that today, you won’t simply enjoy a wonderful meal.

You’ll leave feeling like you’ve become part of Carlsbad’s story.

And perhaps…

You’ll carry a little piece of it home with you.

(Pause.)

Smile.

“Now…let’s continue our journey and meet another local business that’s helping write the next chapter in Carlsbad’s story.”

Cheri’s Reflection

When I stand in front of the Twin Inns with our guests, I don’t just see a beautiful Victorian building.

I see generations of stories.

Families gathering around the dinner table.

Travelers discovering Carlsbad for the first time.

Neighbors celebrating milestones.

Dreamers building businesses.

Children growing up to tell these same stories to their own families.

That’s what I love about Carlsbad.

Its history isn’t trapped in the past.

It’s still alive.

Every restaurant.

Every mural.

Every historic building.

Every smile from a local business owner adds another page to the story.

And now…

You’ve become part of it too.