About the Beach

History
In 1885, the Coronado Beach Company was formed to develop the resort potential of the area. The first recorded development of the area was a road graded across the strand in anticipation of eager buyers.

In 1889, the Coronado Railroad Company placed a steam train in the area connecting the Coronado Hotel with the Coronado Pier. The train circled the bay over the strand on to Coronado Heights (Imperial Beach), the South San Diego Saltworks, National City, and on to San Diego. Passengers and freight were transported, as was the hotel’s garbage, which was taken to a nearby "hog farm," where hogs, chickens, and produce were raised for the Coronado Hotel’s restaurants.

The railway line was acquired by the San Diego and Arizona Railways Company shortly after World War One. The rail line is now abandoned.

Following the financial crash of 1888, the Coronado Beach Company was sold to the J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Investments and Securities Companies.

In 1931, the Spreckels holding companies gave the land that became Silver Strand State Beach State Park to the California State Parks Commission.