Catalina's New Activities

Catalina Island Undergoes Renaissance with Alluring Array of New Attractions and Amenities

New Zip Line Eco Tour, Sea Trek Undersea Adventure and Restaurant Plus Renovated Pavilion Hotel and Descanso Beach Club In Store by this Summer

AVALON, Catalina Island, Calif. — Santa Catalina Island is undergoing a renaissance thanks to an $11 million revitalization that’s adding an array of alluring activities and amenities to the historic destination. Major changes in store include renovations of the Pavilion Hotel, a makeover for Descanso Beach Club, addition of the Avalon Grille restaurant, and introduction of the Zip Line Eco Tour, Sea Trek Undersea Adventure and GPS walking tours of Avalon.

Dating back to its genesis in 1894, Santa Catalina Island Company is now getting back to the original vision set forth by William Wrigley Jr. with the revitalization of Catalina Island.

“Santa Catalina Island has been a favorite getaway destination for generations of visitors since the late 1800s,” said Brad Wilson, for Santa Catalina Island Company. “But Catalina is not the same place you visited when you were a child, or even compared to two years ago. By maintaining its  unique charm and character while at the same time adding distinctive amenities and activities, we’re in the midst of a rejuvenation that will appeal to past visitors while also drawing a new generation of families, adventure seekers, and people wanting a departure from the hurried pace of life on the mainland.”

Changes underway include:

• A complete renovation of the 71-room, two-story Pavilion Hotel (formerly the Pavilion Lodge) just 14 steps from the beach. Its upscale design will make use of a huge garden courtyard area by creating private lanais for many rooms, inviting guests to enjoy indoor/outdoor relaxation. The hotel will also offer two luxury suites with breathtaking ocean views, an elegantly landscaped garden sitting area with fire pit, wine & cheese bar, indoor lounge & internet café, and open air ocean-view lounge area near the lobby.
• Nestled in a private cove just past the famous Casino Building, the Descanso Beach Club will enjoy a complete transformation with new high-end amenities such as private cabana and chaise lounge rentals. The open-air restaurant will offer daytime and evening dining with fire rings on the beach, and two outdoor bars. Weekly music on the lawn and an expanded beach area will provide for ample enjoyment of the seaside location.
• The Descanso Beach Club will also serve as the new activity headquarters, where guests can rent kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkeling & scuba gear, as well as book massage and golf tee times, plus all Discovery Tours. The Beach Club will be the staging area for the new Zip Line Eco Tour and Sea Trek Adventures.
• The Avalon Grille will be a new American pub-style restaurant with central bar, on the waterfront in the center of town across from the Green Pleasure Pier. High, open architecture and indoor/outdoor patio seating will seamlessly blend to create an al fresco atmosphere no matter where seated. The menu will include appetizers and entrées paired with a world-class selection of microbrews, wines and cocktails.
• Beginning almost 600 feet above Avalon, the new Zip Line Eco Tour will provide a way to see and experience Catalina like never before. The nearly 4,000-foot zip line comprises five separate zips across Descanso Canyon and ends by the seashore at Descanso Beach, with speeds reaching 45 miles per hour and heights of more than 300 feet. Each zip ends at a specially designed platform with spectacular views of the surrounding Island interior and ocean. Platforms will have special interpretative signage highlighting the unique flora and fauna of the island.
• Where the Zip Line Eco Tour provides a view of Catalina from above, the Sea Trek Undersea Adventure will provide a glimpse from below, enabling guests to walk along the sea floor using innovative diving helmets (no prior diving experience is necessary). Guides will direct a specially designed underwater trail through towering kelp forests and abundant sea life. Beneath the waves participants may find themselves surrounded by teeming schools of mackerel or anchovies; observe sea lions or a solitary bat ray gliding through the blue water; or even catch a glimpse of an octopus or California Lobster hiding among the rocks.  Laminated fish finders will help them identify the unique marine life found off the island’s shore. 
• The GPS Ranger Walking Tour, which meanders through the streets of Avalon, offers visitors their own personal high-tech guide to experience the sights at their own pace. The GPS-enabled multimedia units will lead the way, pointing out landmarks and historical points of interest using audio, video and photos. The tour will accommodate up to six people per unit, and guests will have ample time to complete the tour.

The new Catalina will include these attractions as well as the large array of recreation that has lured generations of visitors to the island, including beach hopping, buffalo safaris, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, wildlife viewing and even walking across the stage in the renowned Catalina Casino where Benny Goodman played before thousands of adoring fans.
For more information, visit the Santa Catalina Island Company or call 310-510-2000.