Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach - You Do You

The history of Ocean Beach dates back to the late 19th century. In 1887, “developers” Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins laid out streets and sold lots at a mussel roast on the beach, renaming the new town from "Mussel Beds” to "Ocean Beach." As it turns out, Carlson and Higgins were con men developers who swindled would-be investors out of their money and really didn’t do anything for Ocean Beach except change the name, hold big parties at the beach, and build the first hotel – which burnt down from suspicious origins.

Understandably, the town initially struggled with development until David Collier began promoting it in the early 1900s, bringing in electricity, paved streets, and a streetcar line. Ocean Beach was marketed as a resort town and saw significant growth in the 1950s despite being cut off from tourist trade due to street rerouting and highway construction.

Grassroots activism has been a significant part of Ocean Beach's history since the 1960s, becoming a hub for counter-culture activities akin to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The community united against development projects like a jetty in 1970 through civil disobedience and legal actions. Grassroots groups like OB Ecology Action emerged to protect the environment and preserve the unique character of Ocean Beach.

During the 1970s, Ocean Beach experienced a shift from hippiedom to a more tolerant and mellow community. The residents embraced entrepreneurship, leading to the establishment of food co-ops, free schools, and new local businesses. Civic organizations like the Town Council and Merchants' Association nurtured the friendly atmosphere of Ocean Beach in the 1980s, reviving old traditions and starting new ones like street parades and fireworks displays.

Today, Ocean Beach remains an urbanized coastal community known for its eccentric style, political awareness, and laid-back attitude. It is one of the last communal beach towns in San Diego, characterized by locally owned businesses, residential properties, and its beautiful coastline. The community has preserved its unique character through measures like height restrictions on new developments and a focus on local values while incorporating newer growth and development initiatives.

Our Ocean Beach walk takes you down Newport Avenue (OB’s “Main Street”), down to the beach near the (now closed) OB Pier, north on the sand to Dog Beach and back again. And there might be an occasional aroma in the air that takes you back to 1969…