At the turn of the twentieth century, every major seaside town on the Pacific Coast had a Victorian-style palatial hotel to lure tourists to the beach. Santa Cruz had the Sea Beach Hotel. Monterey had the Hotel Del Monte. San Diego has the Hotel del Coronado (the only surviving hotel). Capitola had the Hotel Capitola.

First built in the late 1870s at the base of Depot Hill, the Inn at Capitola gradually evolved into the Colonial Revival and Queen Anne style hotel that was the showpiece of Frederick Hihn’s vacation retreat. From the time of its construction in 1895-1897 until it burned to the ground in 1929, the four-story structure designed by architect Edward L. Van Cleeck was the heart of the village and a source of pride for those who stayed here.

Readers of this Limited Edition version of The Grand Hotel Capitola will feel as if they’ve traveled in time to check in to this grand hotel and enjoy its breathtaking ocean vistas.

All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the Capitola Museum.