There is just something about the Golden Age of Hollywood. The actresses were true ladies in shining gowns, the actors wore tuxes and stole our hearts with their winning smiles. The Lake Norconian Hotel was a stunning architectural feat that sadly had just a few months in the sun before tragedy changed its course in history. Now, almost 100 years later, the nonprofit Lake Norconian Club Foundation is working to preserve this incredible piece of Old Hollywood history.
Lake Norconian Hotel: A Brief History
The City of Norco’s founder, Rex B. Clark discovered a hot spring while digging a well in 1924. The hot spring was the catalyst for the building and opening of a grand Hollywood-style resort. A star-studded event marked the grand opening on February 2, 1929.
Some of the resorts amenities included boating on the manmade Lake Norconian, horseback riding, mineral baths, tennis, golf and more. An airstrip allowed for people to practice landing and taking off aircraft. “Amelia Airhart used to practice on it when she visited,” shares Diane Markham, social media chair of the Lake Norconian Club Foundation.
A grand resort, the Lake Norconian Hotel attracted the hottest, A-list celebrities of the time. Bing Crosby, Buster Keaton, John Barrymore, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Bob Hope, Leslie Howard, Basil Rathbone, Cary Grant, the Disney family, Greta Garbo and more came to relax and stay at the Hotel.
However, its brilliant star would be short-lived, as it had the unfortunate luck to be opened just months before October 1929, when the stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression.
Years later, the United States would be thrown into World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On December 8, 1941, the Lake Norconian Hotel became a United States Navel Hospital. It was used again as a hospital during the Korean War.
It never opened as a resort again.
Lake Norconian Hotel Today
Today, the Lake Norconian Hotel is almost impossible to see or visit. Most of it is surrounded by a prison, explains Diane, and the rest—including research laboratories and the pavilion—are on the naval base. “You can’t get to them unless you have access to the base,” shares Diane. There is also no lake access.
The prison did allow them in a few years ago to do what they could to preserve what’s left. “We were allowed in at one to do some upkeep and put water pumps on the roof for water that was building up,” Diane shares. “We had some of the roofs re-done with money we fundraised and we closed some windows and doors to keep it a bit more airtight.”
In December 2022, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced that the prison was supposed to close, but it has not yet. If it closed, it would allow the Lake Norconian Club Foundation to have access to the main parts of the resort and do more restoration.
There are sometimes public events, Diane explains, that allows people to get on the grounds, but not necessarily in the building. For example, the Norco Kiwanis Foundation’s annual Lake Norconain 5K run/walk runs around the lake part of the resort.
As for the hot springs, Diane shares that they were tapped off a long time ago and while no one has dug down to them in years, it’s believed they are still there.
A Night with the Norconian Stars Gala
Started in 2010, the Lake Norconian Club Foundation continues its work to educate the public about the history of the place and why it should be preserved.
On May 31, 2025, you are invited to Galleano Winery for a night of Old Hollywood glitz and glam in support of the Lake Norconian Hotel. “The theme will be centered around old Hollywood because old Hollywood filmed a lot of films at the Norconian,” explains Diane. “Kevin Bash, the lead historian on the Norconian will speak briefly, all the wine you can drink, beer too, dessert, dinner, dancing—it’s going to be fun!” Kevin has written two books that pertain to the Lake Norconian resort, “The Norconian Resort,” and “The Navy in Norco.”
Come dressed in your favorite 1920’s, 30’s or 40’s Hollywood styles, a modern tux or your fancy cowboy duds—no matter what it will be a fun time under the stars raising money to save a Hollywood icon.
Along with incredible food and drinks, there will be dancing, a silent auction with high-end items and a gun raffle donated by Norco Armory.
To purchase tickets to the Gala, visit the Lake Norconian Club Foundation website. You can purchase single tickets, but even better buy a table! Your friends can all sit together and you will get advertising for your business.
If you have any questions or want to volunteer with the Foundation, contact Diane Markham at 951.733.1328 or DianeM@LakeNorconianClub.org.
