December 13, 2019
Stories of the celebrities, heads of state and famous guests who have roamed the halls of the 131-year-old Hotel Del Coronado were colorfully shared by a hotel historian this week with future residents of Silvergate Rancho Bernardo, a new luxury senior living community that places a strong focus on lifestyle enrichment for seniors.
Surrounded by the grandeur and beauty of the Hotel Del Coronado at the holiday season, attendees were treated to an hour-long historical overview of the hotel after meandering through an array of giant, snowy “White Christmas” holiday decorations in the grand courtyard during Silvergate’s Hotel Del Coronado excursion. While dining in the hotel’s historic Garden Room, Silvergate’s guests were enraptured by the stories imparted by Historian and Heritage Manager, Gina Petrone. In her talk, Petrone recounted the history of the hotel’s colorful owners, including “Sugar King,” John D. Spreckels in 1888. She told of the escapades of celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Thomas Edison and Liberace, who was first discovered at The Del. Petrone spoke of the many visits by heads of state and dignitaries like President Franklin D. Roosevelt, The Prince of Wales and Ronald Reagan. She also described the unexplainable activity of the hotel’s ghostly inhabitants whose eerie antics are still reported by guests to this day.
“We have people come from all over the world to enjoy the Hotel Del,” said Petrone, who has lead the Hotel’s heritage team for more than nine years. “When senior communities come to visit, they often step off the busses and are given time to walk the hotel and shop the Del Shops, but Silvergate really went all out by treating their future residents to our world renowned cuisine, like our famous lobster bisque and adding our historical program to their visit. Their guests now walk away with a better understanding of the majesty of this national treasure we all share here on the West Coast.”
Even prior to the anticipated Spring 2020 opening of the community, soon-to-be neighbors of Silvergate were taking advantage of the community’s regular roster of special events by attending the Hotel Del day trip.
“I wanted to be a part of this outing today because of my memories how beautiful this old Victorian hotel is at Christmas time,” said Lynn Smith, who will be moving into Silvergate Rancho Bernardo in the coming months. “My husband and I spent our honeymoon night here more than 50 years ago when the cost of the bridal suite was just $50 with our military discount. As you can imagine, it’s a tad more expensive today, but participating in these types of nostalgic outings with our Silvergate hosts is part of the reason why we chose their senior living community as our new home. They make all the arrangements for us; they get us there safely and, they treat us with first-class service the whole way.”
“There’s nothing like seeing people, especially seniors, light up with excitement and joy at Christmas time,” said Pam Rundle, Marketing Director for Silvergate Rancho Bernardo. “The Hotel Del is such an iconic Southern California destination and visiting it evokes memories of times gone by for so many of our seniors. This unique excursion, like so many others yet to come, is part of why Silvergate Rancho Bernardo will be such a special golden-years-experience for seniors who choose our one-of-a-kind senior living community.”
Now more than 90% pre-leased, those interested in exploring the top-quality finishes and contemporary styling of this new construction senior living community can call Pam Rundle, Marketing Director at 858-683-9938. Final reservations for the final one-bedrooms are now underway and wait lists are currently forming for all cottage homes and two-bedroom apartments. Silvergate Rancho Bernardo expects to take reservations for the community’s Memory Care Suites in early 2020.
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