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35-450: The search for an appropriate route for the race began at the famous 17 Mile Drive but that later proved unsuitable. After evaluating several alternatives, a collection of roads near the Lodge at Pebble Beach was chosen, partly for its location and partly because it was short enough and tight enough that it wouldn't overtax some of the small cars of the day. Not all of the "track" was paved;

70-537: A salt-pruned Monterey cypress (macrocarpa) tree which is the official symbol of Pebble Beach and a frequent fixture of television broadcasts from this area. In 1990 the Monterey Journal reported that Pebble Beach's lawyer, Kerry C. Smith, said "The image of the tree has been trademarked by us," and that it intended to control any display of the cypress for commercial purposes. The company had warned photographers that "they cannot even use existing pictures of

105-539: A population of about 30 Chinese fishermen living in shacks built upon the rocky shoreline. In 1880, Jacks sold the land to the Pacific Improvement Company (PIC), a consortium of The Big Four railroad barons: Charles Crocker , Mark Hopkins , Collis Huntington and Leland Stanford . By 1892, the PIC laid out a scenic road that they called the 17-Mile Drive, meandering along the beaches and among

140-584: A third hotel. This new hotel was finished in 1926 and requisitioned by the United States government as a training facility in 1942. After World War II, the Hotel del Monte building and surrounding grounds were acquired by the United States Navy for its Naval Postgraduate School and the building was renamed Herrmann Hall. The Del Monte Forest, including the famed 17-Mile Drive, remained under

175-598: A toll to use the road. Like the community, the majority of 17-Mile Drive is owned and operated by the Pebble Beach Corporation. The 17-Mile Drive is a 17-mile (27 km)-long scenic loop having five primary entrances - the main highway entrance at California State Route 1 , and entrances in Carmel and Pacific Grove . In 1602 the Monterey Peninsula was mapped by Spanish explorers. By 1840

210-690: Is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California , much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses , mansions and scenic attractions, including the Lone Cypress , Bird Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees. The drive serves as the main road through the gated community of Pebble Beach. Inside this community, nonresidents have to pay

245-735: Is located on the southwest corner of 16th Street and Central Avenue. It was called a "Hall in the Grove," and later became known as Chautauqua Hall. In 1882, the PIC purchased the Rancho Los Laureles , which was located in Carmel Valley, California . Guests from the hotel could visit the lodge on the property to ride, hunt, and explore the trails. The Pacific Improvement Company built the Carmel River Dam in 1883, to deliver water to Monterey. 700 Chinese laborers built

280-639: The Central Pacific Railroad , (C.P.R.R.). These men were: Leland Stanford (1824–1893), Collis Potter Huntington (1821–1900), Mark Hopkins (1813–1878), and Charles Crocker (1822–1888). They owned the company, each with 25% interest. Archived records date from 1869 to 1931. The company has been identified with many endeavors, including building the Hotel Del Monte in 1880, a large resort hotel in Monterey, California . By

315-824: The Del Monte Forest , Pebble Beach , and Pacific Grove . The PIC and the Southern Pacific Railroad helped to build the town of Pacific Grove. The company contributed 10,000 to the construction cost to build the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Chautauqua Hall was built in 1881 by the Pacific Improvement Company for the Pacific Grove Methodist-Episcopal Camp Retreat. The hall still exists today and

350-619: The El Carmelo Hotel , which opened to guests on May 20, 1887. It was Pacific Grove 's first hotel and sometimes called the sister of the Hotel Del Monte . It was located on Lighthouse Avenue between Fountain and Grand Avenues, Pacific Grove. In 1907, the name of the hotel changed to the Pacific Grove Hotel. In 1917, the PIC decided to dismantle it and use the wood in the reconstruction of The Lodge at Pebble Beach that had burned down on December 17, 1917. The empty block

385-686: The 17-Mile Drive sometimes stopped at Pebble Beach to pick up agate and other stones polished smooth by the waves, and they commented on a few unusual tree formations known as the Witch Tree and the Ostrich Tree—the latter formed by two trees leaning on each other. At that time, the Chinese fishing community continued in existence despite mounting anti-Chinese sentiment among Monterey residents of European heritage. At roadside stands, Chinese-American girls sold shells and polished pebbles to tourists. In

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420-526: The 1880s, the Pacific Improvement Company was one of the largest corporations in the Western United States . The company controlled dozens of subsidiary companies, which conducted shipping, mining, publishing, land development, resort hotels, electric streetcars, and water system. Although it was criticized as a holding company to extract profits, the PIC had an important impact on the history of California. The Pacific Improvement Company (PIC)

455-554: The 1900s, the automobile began replacing horses on 17-Mile Drive, and by 1907 there were only automobiles. The drive featured region's historical sites, forests, and on to the coastal scenic attractions in the Hotel Del Monte Park Reservation, as it was known at the time. Drawn by six bay horses, President Benjamin Harrison took the coach ride through the reservation in 1891. The coach was adorned with

490-529: The 1950s-era roads have already been developed or rerouted, and the corporation that owns and manages Pebble Beach is planning a major overhaul of the area that includes demolishing many of the roads that served as part of the race course. Visitors can drive most (but not all) of the old race course today. Simply pay the standard $ 10.75US entrance fee and follow your map. 36°34′28″N 121°57′17″W  /  36.5744°N 121.9546°W  / 36.5744; -121.9546 17 Mile Drive 17-Mile Drive

525-680: The Mississippi. In 1919, the Los Angeles Times called the 17-Mile Drive one of the "great wonders of the world." On February 27, 1919, Samuel Finley Brown Morse formed the Del Monte Properties Company, and acquired the extensive holdings of the Pacific Improvement Company, which included the Del Monte Forest and the Hotel Del Monte. Another fire destroyed that structure and was replaced by

560-609: The Pebble Beach Company. In 1990 Davis sold the company to Japanese businessman Minoru Isutani, who made it a subsidiary of the Japanese resort company Taiheiyo Club Inc. under a holding company called the Lone Cypress Company. In 1999 the Pebble Beach Company was acquired from Cypress by an investor group led by Clint Eastwood , Arnold Palmer , and Peter Ueberroth . At the north end, a portion of

595-416: The area now called Pebble Beach was a rancho left to widow Carmen Garcia Barreto Maderiaga Maria by her husband. She sold the 4000 acre property for $ 500 in 1846. Ownership passed several times until 1862 when the property was purchased at auction for 12 cents an acre by David Jacks . At the time, the area was called "Stillwater Cove". Jacks leased the land to the "China Man Hop Company", a small village with

630-409: The coastal hills, providing scenic viewpoints. The route allows for self-directed travel and stopping, with frequent turnouts along the roadway in many locations along the route. Without stops, it takes a minimum of 20 minutes to reach Carmel . The numerous turnouts allow stopping to take pictures, or getting out to stroll along the ocean or among the trees. Visitors receive a map that points out some of

665-672: The company's vast land holdings. On February 27, 1919, funded by Herbert Fleishhacker , Morse formed the Del Monte Properties (DMP), and acquired the 10,000 acres (4,047 ha) holdings of PIC, in Monterey County, including the Del Monte Forest , the Del Monte Lodge, Hotel Del Monte, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach and Rancho Los Laureles , now the Carmel Valley Village, California , and

700-534: The dam by laying cast iron pipe to bring water out of Carmel Valley. The Pacific Improvement Company hired William Hatton to manage a dairy and ranching operation in Los Laureles. In 1887, to secure a right-of-way west of Santa Barbara, California , the company purchased 2,000 acres (809 ha)acres from Thomas Hope's widow for $ 250,000. By the 1900s, the company sold "villa sites" from 2 acres (1 ha) or 50 acres (20 ha) acres in size. PIC built

735-500: The early route through Pacific Grove begins at the intersection of Del Monte Blvd and Esplanade Street. The famous portion of 17-Mile Drive then begins a few miles south of this point . The crossing of Highway 68 (Holman Highway/Sunset Drive) and 17-Mile Drive marks the entrance to Pebble Beach. From the Sunset Drive/Pacific Grove gate, the drive runs inland past Spanish Bay, then adjacent to beaches and up into

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770-477: The forested areas between Monterey and Carmel. Within short order, the area became a tourist destination with the building of the Hotel Del Monte . The hotel was the starting and finishing point for 17-Mile Drive, (originally called the 18-mile Drive by hotel operators). The drive was offered as a pleasure excursion to hotel guests, and was intended to attract wealthy buyers of large and scenic residential plots on PIC land. Sightseers riding horses or carriages along

805-409: The more scenic spots. In addition, a red-dashed line is marked in the center of the main road to guide visitors, and help prevent them from venturing into the adjacent neighborhood streets. Primary scenic attractions include Cypress Point , Bird Rock, Point Joe, Pescadero Point, Fanshell Beach & Seal Point. The famous "Witch Tree" landmark, often used as scenic background in movies and television,

840-425: The national colors "and the harness on the horses was lined with bunting and roses as far as possible." In the newspaper The Monterey Cypress , President Harrison noted "This is a lovely spot. I only wish I could stay here a week." In 1887, the hotel was destroyed by fire and replaced with a new structure. The Del Monte Golf Course was added in 1897 as part of the hotel and is today the oldest operating course west of

875-560: The old start/finish line. The famous Pebble Beach Golf Links are just a stone's throw to the southeast. The Pebble Beach Road Race course has been recreated in a computer game. Grand Prix Legends allows players to download user-created tracks, and a simulation of the Pebble Beach course is available here . For the future, it looks as though the Pebble Beach Road Race course will soon be obliterated. One or two of

910-467: The original 1950 route consisted of both paved two-lane roads and sections of dirt or loose gravel. Races started along Portola Road near the present-day Pebble Beach Equestrian Center . Cars then turned right onto Sombria Lane, then right again onto Drake Road. In 1950, drivers would turn right once again onto Forest Lake Road; in 1951 and later years they turned left onto Alvarado Lane (now Stevenson Drive), then sharp right onto Forest Lake. The final corner

945-465: The ownership of Del Monte Properties Company. On March 30, 1977, the Del Monte Properties Company was reincorporated as the Pebble Beach Corporation. In May 1979, 20th Century Fox , later bought by Marvin Davis , purchased the Pebble Beach Corporation. When the film company was sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1985, Davis kept several company assets not directly related to the film and TV industry, including

980-536: The popular Pebble Beach Road Races, although it was the genesis of Laguna Seca Raceway , its modern-day successor. Here is an aerial view of the location. Google map The track appears as a lopsided T-shape tilted by about 45 degrees, between the Cypress Point Club (to the north) and the Peter Hay golf course (to the south). The present-day equestrian center occupies some of the space on the infield by

1015-645: The tree for commercial purposes." 36°35′05″N 121°57′54″W  /  36.584839°N 121.9651°W  / 36.584839; -121.9651 Pacific Improvement Company The Pacific Improvement Company (PIC) was a large holding company in California and an affiliate of the Southern Pacific Railroad . It was formed in 1878, by the Big Four , who were influential businessmen, philanthropists and railroad tycoons who funded

1050-400: Was a sharp right-hander at Ondulado back onto Portola and past the start/finish line. Although the course was always tight and twisty with tall Cypress trees hemming in the track on either side, accidents were scarce and relatively uneventful. The exception came in 1956 when Ernie McAfee (no relation to fellow racer Jack McAfee) fatally slammed his Ferrari into a tree. This spelled the end of

1085-441: Was at San Francisco. Capital stock was $ 5,000,000; divided into 5,000 shares of $ 100 each. Directors were J. H. Strobridge, F. S. Douty, Authur Brown, B. R. Crocker, and W. E. Brown. Charles Crocker , one of the California's Big Four railroad barons, funded the Southern Pacific Railroad 's property division of PIC. In January 1880, the branch line of the Southern Pacific Railroad between Castroville and Monterey, California

Pebble Beach Road Races - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-532: Was completed. It was called the Del Monte Express . Charles Crocker chose Monterey as the site for a new seaside luxury hotel, which would be called the Hotel Del Monte . PIC purchased over 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) of ranch land for $ 35,000. The land included the site of the hotel in Monterey, two of the largest Spanish land grants , Rancho Punta de Pinos , and El Pascadero , which today includes

1155-468: Was formerly at Pescadero Point. The tree was blown down by a storm on January 14, 1964. Pescadero Point is also the site of the Ghost Tree , a landmark Monterey Cypress tree. The tree gives its name to a dangerous extreme surfing location known to have storm waves. Currently, the surf break of Ghost Tree is off limits to surfers and watercraft. Chief among the scenic attractions is the Lone Cypress ,

1190-690: Was incorporated in San Francisco , California on November 4, 1878. A copy of the articles of incorporation were filed in the office of the County Clerk in March 1879. It was the successor of the Western Development Company. The company was created for the "purpose of engaging and carrying on the construction, manufacturing, mining, mercantile banking and commercial business in all its branches." The principal place of business

1225-480: Was sold to W. R. Holman in 1919 to open the Holman Department Store. By 1899, all the original owners of the PIC had died. Their heirs wanted to dissolve the company and go their separate ways. However, its assets were not liquidated until after 1916, when real estate developer Samuel Finley Brown Morse was made general manager of the Pacific Improvement Company, in charge of liquidating all of

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