Santa Catalina Island, California (2025)
Sunday, September 28, 2025 – Santa Catalina is a 75-square-mile island located approximately 22 miles off the Southern California coast (measured from the Palos Verdes Peninsula). The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles wide at its widest point, narrowing to just 0.5 miles at the Isthmus where Two Harbors is located. Avalon, incorporated in 1913, is the island's only city, though it is just one of its settlements alongside Two Harbors village. Scattered ranches in the interior and the Catalina Airport (Airport in the Sky) are also inhabited. Avalon covers approximately 3 square miles around Avalon Bay and hosts the vast majority of the island’s permanent population and commercial activity.
There are two regular passenger ferry routes from the California coast to Avalon: one from San Pedro, which takes about 60 minutes, and another from Dana Point, further south, which takes 75 minutes.
I lived in California for almost 40 years before I had the opportunity to visit the island. My first visit was in 2024 and my second in 2025—both day trips on cruise ships. I love the island and plan to return for a longer stay.
An architectural landmark on the island is the Catalina Casino, built by chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. It is not a gambling casino, but rather a grand entertainment center housing a massive circular ballroom and a historic movie theater.
I saw bison on the island and learned that a film crew brought 14 American bison there in the 1920s for a movie production and left them behind. The herd sustained itself over decades, reaching a peak of around 600. However, that population proved too large for the health of the island's soil and endemic plant life due to overgrazing. Today, the population is capped at around 80 to 100. If you drive through the island’s rugged terrain, you may spot some of them; I saw two near the roadside.
Avalon is a very picturesque city, and I was fortunate to capture some of its beauty.
The Avalon Theater
This 1,184 seat theater was designed for the “talkies”. The interior is acoustically balanced that a person speaking on stage without a microphone can be heard clearly in the back row. Its designed was studied by engineers in the 1930s and the principles used to designed Radio City Music Hall in New York. Beneath the stage sits a massive 1929 Page Pipe Organ—one of only two surviving functional instruments. Historically, organists played a 1-hour overture before screenings, almost always enging with the classic jazz standard “Avalon”.
Avalon Harbor
The Cabrillo Mole (Center Pier) is the primary ferry terminal where the Catalina Express and the Catalina Flyer dock.
Bison
Fourteen of these were brought here in the 1920’s for a movie production. They were left behind when the filming was finished.
Catalina Casino
Despite its name this is not a gambling house and never was. It was built as a “gathering place” (from the Italian word casino). William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate commission it as a world-class venue for entertaining visitors. Within is a 1,184-seat Avalon Theater which was one of the first theaters designed for the “talkies”. Also within is a 20,000-square-foot space with a 50-foot domed ceiling Ballroom and Promenade. Big Band legends like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman played there in the 1930’s and ‘40s to thousands of dancers. It can accomodate up to 3,000 people. It is interesting to note that this structure is built without internal staircases; it is built with sweeping, gradual ramps.
The domed circular Ball Room
The remarkable feature of this ballroom roof is that it is 50 feet high spanning the entire 180-foot-diameter room and it has ZERO internal support pillars or columns!
The Serpentine Tile Fountain
A prominent landmark located at Crescent Avenue and Metropole Avenue in Avalon. It is made with Catalina Pottery style tiles produced between 1927 and 1937. The tiles were originally made from local island clay. The company was founded by William Wrigley Jr. to provide employment for the residents. Its location is considered the “heart” of the waterfront walk.
Green Pleasure Pier
This pier was constructed in 1909. It is the official home of the Avalon Tuna Club’s official scales. The building with the green tower and clock houses Eric’s On The Pier, a famous local spot know for fish and chips, clam chowder in bread bowls, and buffalo milk cocktails. It is the hub for Bay Excursions, including: glass-bottom boat tours, semi-submersibles, paddleboat rentals and harbor taxis.
Driving around Catalina Island and enjoying the song “Romance”
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