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Coronado is known throughout the United States for its luxurious beaches, great weather and the historic Hotel Del Coronado. Named the number one beach in the United States in 2012 by ‘Dr Beach’, Coronado also boasts one of the best-kept secrets of the San Diego bay area – the Coronado Cays development.
The Coronado Cays is an exclusive waterfront community for avid boaters, located 7km south of the iconic Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado Village, which is 15km southwest of downtown San Diego. It is a collection of upscale homes located on the bay side of Coronado’s Silver Strand, with most homes and condominiums dotted along the channels and endowed with their own private boat slip, which forms part of the title deed of the house.
The land where this beautiful marina community is settled was originally a pig farm and a dump, and the only way to reach Coronado was from the mainland via ferry, until the Bay Bridge was opened in 1969.
Prior to this, Coronado had a ‘dirty little secret’, with residents and businesses using the island’s nooks, crannies and outlying areas for their waste disposal. It eventually became the official city dump until 1955, when the dump was finally moved. The property then stood dormant for 20 years before Coronado Cays was conceptualised. In 1967, construction of the blue Coronado Bay Bridge began, and in 1969, development started on the Cays, with the development being completed in 1995. Landfill that was dredged from the bottom of San Diego Bay was used to create the Cays.
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This upscale development is made up of numerous inlets, peninsulas and waterways. Many Coronado Cays homes – 1 500 homes in total – have bay views and private boat docks. This is the only community south of Newport Beach to possess this unique feature. The Coronado Cays real estate development consists of 10 residential villages, each with access to an exclusive clubhouse, pool and spa. Other Coronado Cays amenities include Silver Strand State Beach access, tennis courts, expansive park space for activities and dogs, city fire department, security patrols, and the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, conveniently located in the centre of the Cays.
Along with the Yacht Club’s scheduled races and assorted club events, the club is known for the beautiful marina, pool and clubhouse, which hosts functions and boating-related events. Club members can dine and socialise at a lovely restaurant and bar, and attend various yachting and social activities, surrounded by waterfront style and nearly perfect weather.
While there is a security guard at the entrance to Coronado Cays, there are no gates or access control system, and residents feel that going home is like going ‘from the city into the country’. “What I like about living in the Cays is the peacefulness. Everything is calm and relaxing, no rush hour of cars, plus there are security guards patrolling, which gives us a sense of protection from the madness of the rest of the world,” says one resident, adding, “The Cays even has a 24- hour hotline that residents can call in case of emergency.”
The canals allow for gondolas to paddle through and boats to get out into San Diego Bay, so if you’ve dreamt of a gondola ride in Italy, or even the Venetian in Las Vegas, you can take a gondola ride at the Coronado Cays. What a perk for residents and visitors to this little piece of paradise.
