No Trespassing: the La Jolla ‘mushroom house' cleaned up and secured from vandals
It’s been one of San Diego’s biggest wonders.
Known as the ‘mushroom house’ on Black’s Beach, the structure was never supposed to be a tourist attraction or place for illegal parties.
The structure that some say also resembles a flying saucer (UFO) was commissioned by Sam Bell in 1968. The wealthy heir to the General Mills fortune already owned a home at the top of the La Jolla cliffs and wanted a guest house on the beach below.
The house was built of concrete and teak wood to survive earthquakes and withstand high winds and the extreme moisture of the ocean. It also had a one-of-a-kind tram to carry guests from the top of the cliffs down to the house. That tram was damaged in 2020 when a portion of the coastal bluff collapsed.
The house fell into disrepair, forcing the current owner to stop using it. The COVID pandemic brought a social media notoriety that started a flood of trespassing, graffiti, vandalism and illegal parties.
“People need to know that it’s private property, that it is not a public space. They have no legal authority to be in it,” said Heath Akers, contractor with GDC Construction. Akers gave NBC 7 a tour inside the building on Sunday.
Much of the teak wood staircase and other carpentry work is still intact. The walls are littered with spray-painted graffiti and appliances and furniture have been vandalized and removed.
“The owner of the property wants it secured,” Akers said. “He also wants to put an end to social media influencers trespassing and using the space for underground parties and producing content.”
There are no permits or plans for the cleanup project. It is not a renovation at this point, more of a recovery effort until the owner decides what to do with it next. The California Coastal Commission did not exist when the home was originally built. However, the commission is now involved along with the City of San Diego. Current environmental requirements will not allow a fence to be put up around the property.
“Our challenges include high tides twice a day that keep us from easy access,” Matt Wurges said. He is a superintendent with GDC Construction who is working on the cleanup. “We also have beachgoers up and down the sand all day and all night,” he said.
On Sunday, several people wandered into the house and were told to leave. No trespassing signs are posted.
Removal of debris is expected to take at least another month. Negotiations continue with the Coastal Commission and the City about permanent security measures.
