Hotels on Catalina Island

Inn History
    The Avalon is the culmination of years of planning and dedication by its three owners. Hand-carved mahogany, imported slate and hand-made tiles based on classic Catalina designs are just some of the elements that the owners have chosen to emphasize their dedication to seeing The Avalon become a pinnacle of Catalina hotels.

    The lot where the Avalon Hotel is located began life as a pre-World War I gentleman's club. Although little is known about the Pilgrim Club, its luxurious surroundings and aura of mystery have become a local legend. Like much of Avalon, the Pilgrim Club's existence was extinguished in the Great Fire of 1915. A decade later, the building was reconstructed as a hotel. It has had several incarnations since that time, always serving those who have been attracted to this island paradise.

   In February of 2003, Carl Lambert and Rock and Kathleen Gosselin purchased the property, seeing beyond its ramshackle appearance to the potential presented by its location and its spectacular views. Construction began shortly after escrow closed and the owners' vision began to emerge through careful oversight of the rebuilding process. Inspired by classic Craftsman style, the hotel was designed to evoke a more hospitable age, when attention to detail in the construction process showed through in the final project. Those details are now visible to our guests, who are enchanted by hand-carved mahogany, etched slate and stained glass as well as hand-crafted tile and local artwork. The custom furniture was crafted in the Greene and Greene style of the Gamble House in Pasadena.