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What Happened to the Cliff House?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มี.ค. 2022
- The Cliff House (c.1863) was possibly the most iconic Victorian building to ever grace the Pacific Coast, but what happened to it? Find out in this short video
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As a young girl I remember skating at the Ice Rink and dining well into the 60s at the Restaurant. At one time there was an amazing array of Kaliopies, automated musical instruments and Harmoniums.
Thank you for sharing that memory! It is fun to imagine what it might have been like.
Those may have been moved over to Pier 45 when Musee Mechanique moved out of the Cliff House basement and closer to Fisherman's Wharf. I don't know if they have survived the Covid pandemic. Tourism really took a big hit here.
As a kid I was fascinated by the mechanical music exhibits. I never skated there but I did watch the skaters. Great memories. Thank you.
What a great memory. I too remember the collection of instruments and dining there.
I, too, recall ice skating at Sutro Baths. I grew up in the inner Sunset, and several of us from the neighborhood took the N-Judah Street Car to the rink on 47th and Kirkham, on most weekends. However, sometimes, a parent would volunteer to drive us to Sutro. We leapt at that chance ... the rink was so much larger.
Now, I live in the Richmond district. For years, many of us have loved to walk to the Cliff House, and enjoy a lunch ... or, maybe just a glass of wine (or two).
I miss it so much. There have been reports that it may re-open by the end of '22. I hope so.
Negotiations are with the Federal Government (Department of the Interior), as the building is on Golden Gate Recreational Area land.
It has burned, and been re-built so many times. I HAVE to have hopes that it will be a part of our community, again.
I grew up near San Francisco, and I clearly remember eating at the Cliff House restaurant. I knew, even as a young girl, that that was something special. I hope it comes back.
You hope it comes back?!! Please, don't hold your breath, fa get about it!
If you get a chance read the long comment I left for Caryn Simon about being a kid in the 60's in San Francisco. Don't pay attention to that negative remark by Johnny Sunrocket. I hope it comes back too!
Outer Sunset landmark.
One hopes it comes back. However, it has a history of burning down and closing down. They closed because of the pandemic, plus an issue with the long term-lease. They are currently looking for a new vendor, so, it should be back at one point in the near feature.
I've eaten there many, many times. I, too, hope it comes back.
So sad that the structure completely burned twice! It was so beautiful.
They must have intentionally burned it. What a waste
@@daniedanguilan3860 i was thinking the same .
Actually it was the Cliff House that burned down in 1907, then the bathhouses next door that burned down in the 60’s.
The sole value of the 1907 structure is in its dated fire-proof design. It is otherwise so inappropriate to its setting, looking more like a downtown bank building than a landmark ocean front view restaurant. The whole structure should have been razed but instead the concrete walls were saved with none of the ornate interior that was; sitting in the “old” structure when it was open was such a disappointment, with the small boxy windows,when the new structure added to the north was all plate glass with expansive views. The Park Service really needs to reconsider what is historic, and should be preserved; structures like the fire proof Cliff House should have been razed, along with the non-native gum trees in the Presidio.
@@Gryphonisle People on here, though, would clamor to save any elderly monstrosity. Clearly, it's the site not the building that has the real value, but what park wants to lose a tourist site with food and restrooms? :)
Can you imagine the movies that would have been filmed there if it hadn’t burned down? Would have been awesome!
Was raised in SF in 1948 to 1974, wisited cliff house,Sutro baths many times,ice s stated there often. What a wonderful childhood. Road all the rides at playland, loved the fun house, great memories
,
I was born in S.F. in 1957 and remember Playland so well. Loved the Cliff House; went there for drinks, dinner, last time was 5 yrs ago, now they're closed. SF was so great back then. I moved in 1985 To Houston, TX. SF is nothing like it used to be sadly. If you saw the movie "Harold and Maude" there are scenes at Playland and The Sutro Baths.
@@PossumLover1111 in the movie the baths building had already burned down. (1966) You see the baths outside, no longer inside the long gone building. If you get a chance read the long comment I left Caryn Simon (a few comments up) about being a kid living in S.F. in the 60's.
Viewers may remember a recent NPS scandal, when it was revealed that some of Yosemite’s most iconic names were lost to the public thanks to a concessionaire copyrighting them (necessary to commission souvenirs to sell) without leaving the ownership of the copyright with the park service due to park service oversight. As a result, everything from the Awahnee Hotel to Camp Curry had to be renamed until Washington got the issue resolved, a couple of years later. Not reported at the time, the concessionaires who closed the Cliff House during High Covid in 2020 evidently also made the same copyright grab. When Cliff House closed, the concessionaires took the signs AND the name which should be historic SF public property,, care of the NPS. Of course no one in SF seems to find this an issue worth reporting, or responding to.
A woman in Massachusetts copyrighted trademarked wampum. All legal when the wampanoag tribe found out there was a huge trip to Washington DC to say I don't think so. They had claims to the name for ten thousand years.
J. Heils himself copyrighted trademarked his name before he died. When the band tried to tour wei to hour him he said nope. The other members sued and settled out of court.
No one in the city today cares about the city and are transplants.
Because its boring.
I loved going to the Cliff House! They had an arcade downstairs, the Sutro Bathhouses and swimming pools, and caves. Such a fun place to explore. I have a black and white photo of the Cliff House on fire.
I loved it too when it was the Victorian version when it had the big dark wood bar with the round Victorian couch in the middle and all the movie star pictures in the dining room. Love the arcade downstairs. So much fun to look around down there. Then they remodeled it in 2017, lost all its charm.
I was 12 years old in 1976 when my parents moved the family to SF. I spent the first 2-3 years there running around the cliff house/lands end area walking many times along the coastline to the golden gate bridge. There were (I don't know if they're still there) old small concrete buildings that had fallen down the cliffs to lay on the beach that you could go into as there were no doors, roofs or windows left, one of them had bars on the windows like it was an old jailhouse. I spent many years fishing from the rock just down from the cliff house, there was an old stone walkway that was later destroyed to prevent people from going out on it as many people were washed off of it from the waves. There was one large pool left from the Sutro hot tubs that was right on the water with no walls, waves would rush into it and it made a large tidal pool that was amazing to explore.
The Movie "Harold and Maude" filmed a few scenes there, I watch that movie and know exactly where they are. The hole Ruth Gordon falls into was real but always covered with a grate for safety.
The little row of shops around the base of the restaurant had a small arcade I spent a lot of quarters in, I have a lot of fond memories from there.
I went back there in the early 2000's and a lot of the places I use to go have concrete walkways now, the tunnel to the tide pool has been sealed so you can't visit it anymore :(
Thanks for sharing your memories.
Wow it seems like you have some fabulous great memories of that place. I have a few but not anywhere near what you have. Isn’t it great that we have had such good memories in our life to remember that people now will have no idea. Thank you for your post
My parents got engaged at the Cliff House in 1961 ❤
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing.
That’s awesome!
For everyone who bemoans the loss of the arcade downstairs - you can visit it at the Muse’ Mecanique at Fisherman’s Wharf and play all of those games, many of which were originally rescued from Playland by the Sea, across from Sutro Baths and Cliff House, then placed in the arcade downstairs. Also there’s still the Camera Obscura on display on the premises of the Cliff House location, but both are closed because of the pandemic (Cliff House possibly permanently, sadly)
Thank you for sharing!
@@ThisHouse A friend introduced me to this in the early 60's and we went there several times. However, although I have lived in the Monterey Bay area all of this time, I haven't visited there since.
Fourteen years ago, I met the woman who would become my second wife and athough we both regularly pass through San Francisco, I haven't been there since. However, I've been seriously thinking about checking it out, just for nostalgia if nothing esle.
Actually, I was eating at one of the outside tables and almost fell off into the surf 50' below, so I never went back! BHE
And also the historic Charles ID Looff carousel that operated at Playland from 1913-1972 has been beautifully restored and operates at Yerba Buena Gardens near the Moscone convention center in downtown SF!!!!!! 👍
I lived in San Francisco from 1980 to mid-1988 and I still have family living there. I used to go to the restaurant there from time to time. I can only imagine how spectacular this place must have been during its early days. I still miss the city by the bay.
Cliff House building is on track to reopen as a restaurant in late 2022.
Same architecture?
@@dominikjakaj1999 they’ve remodeled it to resemble a ‘90s era Taco Bell…teal triangles everywhere.
@@TheCeilingIsLava How dreadful.
Isn’t this cliff house now a nice hotel.
Oh wow, this video came up and I recognized the Cliff House name right away. I am a proud former Emergency Road Service employee of the California State Automobile Association. Back in 1900, before any roads were really yet developed, a motor club way ahead of it's time was formed at the Cliff House. That motor club we now know today as CSAA. True pioneers who helped develop our roadways and vehicle safety. It was formed two years prior to the first AAA club in Chicago in 1902. Great video.
Thank you for sharing your history! This is why I read the comments section, neat tidbits like this.
I visited the Cliffhouse for the first time in 2018. Sat at the bar and had a glass of cold Chardonnay and a crab cake. I loved it so much. Saw a whale ! And the feeling of it’s history was visceral!
We used to eat there fairly frequently. I always felt so grown up and special when eating there. I was in the Bay Area a couple years ago and my friend and I ate there. It was pretty much a shadow of it's former self. So, sad. We had a window table and the view is just beautiful. Lots of boats heading out. I hope it can be saved and not just fall into disrepair.
Thanks for this update! My family and I used to ice skate there almost every weekend in 1963/63......amazing to see all the various changes it went through the years! Thanks again, D
So many iconic places in San Francisco have closed since the pandemic. The Cliff House, Allitotos, Tarantino's just to name a few. So very 😥 sad.
I had no idea! That’s so sad!
Wow… but considering the idiocy of SF politicians, I’m not surprised. Suicide
Yup Fisherman's wharf isn't what I remember in the late 50's and early 60's. My grandparents use to take us to dinner every Friday night at Fisherman's wharf. Tarantino's, Pompeii's grotto, A Sabella's or even The Franciscan restaurant!!!! Many great dinners there. Where I had my 1st Dungeness crab Louie salad and SF sourdough french bread!!!!!!! 👍
Lived in the bay area for 15 years and went to the cliff house so many times. Loved it.
THE BUILDINGS IN THE BEGGINING WERE BEAUTIFUL. THEY SHOULD HAVE RECREATED THE VICTORIAN HOUSE. GREAT VIDEO. GOOD INFORMATION.
I visited the House the summer of 73. My family and I drove from Downey,Ca via the 101. We went to the House 🏠 I have visited San Francisco three times. One of my favorite cities next to London and Los Angeles.
Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High School California 🇺🇸...
Cliff House had awesome views of the ocean, and if you got a window seat, you could see far down the coast.
I used to love going to dinner or lunch there. Great restaurant with a wonderful view. I also loved the basement arcade that had old fashioned game machines to play and a Gypsy fortune telling machine from early days.
There's a lot more to the story! For those in the area I highly recommend the SF City Guides free tour of Land's End/Sutro Heights to learn all about it and the surrounding attractions. But bring a jacket, it gets cold and windy out there.
I loved going here when i lived in SF...you can come here late at night and get an expresso with a romantic partner and listen to the soft piano playing while the waves crash against the rocks right below. There was something distinctive about this place, a mix of romance and old world, it is always busy during the day but super private at night...i can't explain it, it was just magical!
I have spent a many pleasant evening having cocktails and having dinner!!! Thank you for the historic video. I didn't realize it had been rebuild so many times. I am very sorry it closed. It was a wonderful place! I miss San Francisco!!!!
Why have they never restored it to it's Victorian look? Obviously with better safety protocols, but yeah it was definitely the prettiest and eye-catching version.
I lived on the Coastside and worked in San Franciso years ago. Instead of taking the freeway home, about once a week or so, I'd go to the Cliff House for a cocktail on my way home down Hwy 1. I miss those days, looking out the window at the ocean, relaxing after a hectic workday, sometimes watching the sun set into the ocean! I could do that from home too, but stopping there to watch it was very special, just sitting there relaxing, listening to the seals and sea lions barking from their perch on the big rocks jutting up from the ocean below the Cliff House, lost in my thoughts, seems like a lifetime ago now. That was about 107 years after the Cliff House was first built, over 50 years ago now I wish I could bring those moments back! I was sad to hear its doors closed in 2020, I wonder what will happen to it now.
I’m an SF native once again my grandmother would take me for Easter, they would have a huge breakfast , the Easter bunny as well as an Easter hunt. My last visit is of course before the pandemic in 2019 Very sad to see that it didn’t survive initially. But I do believe it was bought by someone. So hopefully the legacy stays. And this is the way to get to Sutro baths!
Ty mo...I couldn't remember the name of the baths there...sutro...I grew up in the visitation valley area. And hung out at playland at the ⛱️🏖️ and learned to swim across hwy1 in that pond called the Pacific 🌊🌊🤔🤔🇺🇸. I remember the cliff 🏠🏡. And ALOT of other sites no longer there 💖🌹🦋 and if course the 🌉💖🌹
Oh born in San Francisco, my grandfather took me there in 1948. A very good friend of the family ran a small take away within the block just up from there. Many happy memories and the pool!,
Your videos are great. No wasted time or fluff. To the point on all the pertinent information. Very enjoyable.
My brother and SIL were married there in 2006. Absolutely beautiful.
Reminds me of my house. My great grandma bought it in SF in 1941. It's been in my family for 81 years now.
My parents went to the Cliff House 50's-70's. They had many enjoyable evenings. My husband had enjoyed many visits as a child thru adulthood (we now live in Northern California). We especially remember muse`e me`canique, an old time arcade full of player pianos for $0.25, nickelodeons, Victrolia record player, dioramas, clapping monkey band, fortune teller, love grip tester, strength grip tester, etc. These were common in the early 1900's. My grandmother enjoyed some of these as a child. She like player pianos and bands in one unit. There was also camera obscura where inside you could see what was going on outside. This wasn't mechanical nor used any lenses. It used reflection. It's no longer there.
Had many great meals with friends at the last restaurant that operated there . If you were from the Bay Area you knew where it was , making an easy choice for meeting . The food , the views , the history , the location . One of a kind
Awesome. Ken, you have such a delightful voice, and I love the time you put in to research and pass on accurate information. I hope you are recovering well, and thank you for yet another wonderful history lesson.
Bay Area native, From a huge family.... Needless to say we did not go to movies, amusement parks, or costly places. Our recreations were camping and day trips to explore what was around us.... Remember my father taking us there to see The Cliff House and what was left of the baths...Playland was closed....Good times❤️
I remember going to the old Sutro Museum there in the early 60s, when I was around 10-11 years old. It was great fun for us kids, and the mummies and automotons fascinated us.
I just found your channel. I love it!!! Thanks for all of the photographs to go along with the stories of these homes! Now, I get to binge watch the rest of your videos this weekend!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Cheers
I kept thinking the end of this story would certainly be that the house fell off the cliff or some destruction due to the foundation on the side of a cliff but the sucker just kept burning down. 🤷♂️ sucks though, it was basically a castle at one point.
I kept thinking, that someone who REALLY LOVED it, would restore it to the GINGERBREAD style... What a SHAME to Just leave it !!! 😞😞😞
@@dinahjackson8146 It would cost a fortune to do that. They will be lucky to reopen it in the building that is there now.
I was in nursing school in Oakland 68-71 and spent many happy memories on the beach and looking at the restaurant
Crazy how many of these houses end up “burning to the ground” 😂. Loving this content!
Growing up in Monterey California I was so blessed to have seen the playland … with the big giant scary clown mouth at the beginning of the park…stopped and enjoyed it and also …seeing what was left of the Cliffhouse in the early 70s it was a beautiful sight !!went back many years later as an adult with my children …unfortunately pretty much everything is gone ..😢 but at least I could say I was there at one time to see the beautiful history of the area of San Francisco Bay. Rest in peace we definitely miss you.!!
Weird Hollywood fact. These are the ruins that the vampires in The Lost Boys hung out in.
I have to say that was fascinating, I loved it! The Cliff house built by Sutro has to be the most audacious, not to mention stunning pieces of architecture that I have ever seen occupying a very precarious looking location and it is a crying shame it only stood for 11 short years but what a visionary Sutro was to achieve it in the first place.
Nice video and some very good historical information! I have a photo with my great-grandfather in front of the old cliff house on a horse and buggy. I’m a native California maidu so it always wonderful to see people talk about this states history.
There was a “Cliff House” in Ogunguit Maine. It was a beautiful Victorian building and was a health sanitarium with treatments in the turn of the last century. The facility is still there offering massage, therapies and restaurant, but the building is gone. Still a nice place to relax on the Maine coast. Unfortunately these amazing buildings are gone throughout the country with only a few still in existence as the upkeep was extremely expensive and were demolished in the 50s & 60s for more modern architecture. Great video 👍👍
Your storytelling had me on edge , the whole time.
I know the new neo-classical building is more practical, but it cannot TOUCH the grand scale of the Victorian era Cliff House.
There was also a streetcar line operated to the Sutro Baths,and Cliff House! It was run by the Market Street Railway[White Front Cars],and was discontinued after a major land slide,that occurred on the route! If I remember correctly,that event happened during the 1930's! For reference,see,"The White Front Cars of San Francisco", Interurbans Press,as the data on routes,and dates is contained therein! Thank you for your attention ☺️!
The ackiff House was a regular stop every trip south to SF and Half Moon Bay. IThe last time after the last renovation. The dining was on the bottom floor and the fully opened up the vista...it was breathtakingl...literally...let us hope that it continues somehow, If indeed it's doors are closing....for it is a Majikal place and as a Witch I'd know..
Grew up in SF, specifically there in the Richmond District. The Cliff House and Sutro Bath ruins were my “playground “. I used to go to Playland at the Beach as well, until they closed it down. One of my most cherished places in the world.
Thanks for the history!
What a shame after all those "re-births" and decades in business that it was finally closed. Talk about an "institution" !
The National Park Service is talking about leasing it to a restaurant business again. They had a big rent dispute with the long time operators, which is a total shame. Same kind of crap happened in Old Town San Diego with the Mexican restaurant there.
Lol voló grupou
Jóíbukkik
Interesting history on the Cliff House. Thank you for sharing this video.
I had a great birthday dinner with my parents there not too many years ago. Luckily we were sat at the corner table with huge those huge windows around us looking over the baths and ocean. I couldn’t stop thinking about what the social scene must’ve been like decades ago in the pool areas prime after seeing photos.
Went to the cliff house for many years. My father and his brothers used to swim at the sutra baths.
I always get excited when I see “This House” come up!!❤️
Me too!! A "This House" journey back in time makes for a really good day.
@@twistoffate4791 the best days are This House days!!
@@christians.7019 Great minds!!!
Killer video and a concise presentation, great pace!
I loved skating there as a young girl also. The museum was also fun to see.
IT's super interesting to have known my great grandfather lived in the Sunset in SF, and prob swam at Sutro Baths.
I grew up in San Francisco and every new years day my family had our first meal of the year there. Breakfast at the Cliff House was a tradition ❤️
The Cliff House appears prominently on the cover of Blue Oyster Cult's 1988 album 'Imaginos'.
I remember seeing it on an album cover while shopping in a music store a long time ago and recognizing it as the Cliff House.
I was so drawn into the story (and a local) that I wanted more.
Unfortunately, the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
...they would be closing their doors. Thank you all for watching...
End scene
it was so beautiful back then, looked so majestic and magical
I'd visited what remains of the Sutro Baths around 1989/90. My parents (prior to their marriage) had gone to Playland on a couple dates in 1969, and my dad had one a bright green dog plushie that was passed on down to me when I was 9. I had that plushie until I moved out.. 12 years, and I suspect I'd still have it if everything hadn't been lost in storage.
As a young boy from LA we would travel to San Francisco many times from late 40s to mid 50s, even though I was young I still remember looking forward to eating at the Cliff House during those visits to the Bay Area
Wait what? Kind of an abrupt awkward ending there. I visited CH around 1995, it was sumptuous and an amazing location. I still remember the old style round couches in the waiting area. Well hopefully it’s reopening soon!
We had our wedding reception there in 1994. Sad to hear that it has closed.
They should have preserve that beautiful architecture. It's a great waste when they tore it down. A loss GEM.
Where was “Laughing Sal”? You placed quarters in the slot, and she laughed in a manner that made you laugh too. Was that the Cliff House? Last saw her in 2007ish.
Laughing Sal was in the museum mechinique downstairs under the Cliff House. But now she's up at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 👍🎢🎠
that's a lot of fires 🔥
Used to go to the ruins when they were still cool. The restaurant had the best pastrami on rye with anchor steam on tap.
So many fires 🔥....Sad history for such an iconic, majestic building.
AMAZING history here. Thank you for sharing.
Very interesting. Thank you!
Victorian homes are so magnificent and the location and size whoaaaaa
I enjoyed the video and your range Ken.
Thank you for sharing this with us today from Henrico County Virginia
There was an original Cliff House in Maine destroyed by fire. They never look the same when rebuilt
Man that softshell and warm dungeness crab salad sandwich was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten in my life.
As we see our modern architecture is nothing compared to the prestige of old... such a shame... with how far we have come you would assume beauty would be all around us... yet we are stuck in a world of straight lines.
I lived near by in college. I use to go to the cliff house. I forgot all about it. This was so cool. Ty
So sad this iconic monument is no longer in business
Hey Ken, since you mention Sutro. Maybe a video on the Sutro mansion that was by the Sutro tunnel in Nevada?
lots of memories of eating there in the '70's. Thanks.
Thank you for the video!
I have eaten at the cliff house a couple of times and it was great. Sorry to see it close.
I played there as a child swam in the pools, ice skated, and visited the museums. Your description leaves out many interesting facts. The buildings were referred to as the Glass Palace and allowed in so much light and the air was so damp from the swimming pools that many plants and trees coming from equator thrived throughout. Sutro's at the beach, the Fox Theater on upper Market Street, Coit Tower, the Cross on Mt. Davidson are all cherished childhood memories. The Fox Theater had one of the largest pipe organs west of the Mississippi. The organist would provide entertainment during the intermission and began playing in the basement, and rise up on a platform with the enormous organ. The sound was absolutely stunning coming from huge pipes all around above stage. He would eventually play until you could barely hear him as he returned back down to the basement.
Thank you very much for your detailed recollection. What's weird to me is: I was born in 1965, and my mom lived in Pacifica in the late 1950's. She visited Playland by the Beach and Sutro Baths while living there. I can imagine myself walking down the large staircase, flanked by palms, and seeing the large swimming pools as if from a childhood memory. Having never actually been there in my lifetime, how I envision having a detailed memory of my being at Sutro Baths seems both fascinating and a bit eerie.
You can still see the baths that are left. It's a cool place to go and see.
My goodness what a lovely building. Can
you imagine living here? I’d love it.
i LOVE creators that just get the fuck to the video. no dumb ass intro. THANK YOU!
Too bad it's closed now! After all that history!!
Cool. I've eaten there several times when it was the roadhouse. Great food and service. Sorry to here it's closed down.
What a shame. I have eaten several meals there when visiting San Francisco.
I have eaten at the restaurant there now. Beautiful spot.
My parents went on a date at The Cliff House in 1942!
I remember visiting the Sutro Baths in the '60s, and it had a large number of Egyptian mummies on display in the basement. Also I remember going down to Playland many times and eating wonderful tamale dinners at the Hot House and often munching on the delicious caramel puffed rice from the ITT Shop. We sure wish those shops survived. I wonder if Golden Gate Park is as beautiful as I remembered it now 50--60 years later.
Speaking as someone who lived in the Bay Area for 2 years or so....isn't that the place whose history can be summarized as "burned down a few times between being an intermittently successful tourist attraction?"
....Yes, apparently it is. Between it and the Sudro baths, the phrase "and then mysteriously caught fire after the owners found it to be a money pit" shows up a LOT. (Although, to be fair: first generation electrical grids probably weren't up to what you would call modern safety standards. Combined with a decaying maintenance budget, the end result probably wasn't a question of "if", but rather "when".)
Awesome video, thank you