Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, California


Capistrano Beach, also known as Capo Beach, is a coastal neighborhood in the city of Dana Point in Orange County, California. It is bordered by San Clemente to the south and Doheny State Beach to the north.
Capistrano Beach is situated along the coast on the southern end of Dana Point. Homes range from beach cottages to some of the finest real estate in Orange County. Many multimillion-dollar homes can be found in the area, with some situated atop a cliff overlooking Coast Highway and the Capistrano Beach park below. Several celebrities live in the town area, notably on Beach Road, where Hobie Alter conceived of the popular Hobie Cat catamaran. There are modest, older homes a little farther from the shore.

History

Originally a part of Rancho Boca de la Playa, the area now known as Capistrano Beach was known as Serra in the late 1880s when the California Central Railway was first extending down from Los Angeles. The land was sold to the San Bernardino and San Diego Railway. Development of Capistrano Beach started in 1925 with residential homes on the bluff. The Capistrano Beach Club was built along the shore of the new development. In 1929, the Petroleum Securities Company became the new owners of the Capistrano Beach development. In 1931, following the death of Doheny's son, he donated over to the state for Doheny State Beach. Capistrano Beach became part of the city of Dana Point in 1989.
During the excavation of the land during development, the bones of a mastodon were discovered in 2016.
The wooden pier is popular for strolling, sightseeing, and fishing. The pier was severely damaged by waves in 1964, after which it was condemned and demolisded 1965. The Capistrano Beach Club became rundown and, in the late 1960s, was dismantled.
During storms in 2018, a boardwalk collapsed and an outdoor basketball court was severely damaged after being undermined by erosion caused by the waves. The storm exposed old cars put there decades prior as part of a now corroded sea wall. More Boulders were placed to protect the basketball court that was damaged.