Playa del Rey-Beach of Kings

Playa del Rey is a long time Los Angeles enclave nestled in between LAX and the Ballona Creek and Marina Del Rey.

Manchester Blvd. cuts right through the middle of the town as it leaves the Westchester area going down the hill towards Pershing and up the hill of homes that eventually overlook the ocean.

Pershing which runs along the Westside of the Airport from Imperial Blvd and the city of El Segundo all the way to the fenced off land between Pershing/LAX and Vista del Mar which runs North South along the Gilles Beach and Toes Over beach which butts up against the creek.

This original 1921 neighborhood land development by Dickinson & Gillespie Co. that later came to be called Playa del Rey. The company advertised this area of sand dunes as the last stretch of coastal land in the city of Los Angeles to be developed. 

All of the houses in this area were custom built, many as beach homes owned by Hollywood actors and producers, including Cecil B. Demille, Charles Bickford, Charley Chaplin , and others.

Other noteables that have lived in the original developments or the mansions overlooking the Marina are,  Roseanne Barr, Charles Bickford, Mel Blanc, Jerry Buss,  Sam Elliott, and many others including Ronald Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis who lived at one time off Vista del Mar and Waterview. Howie Long, some members of the band Heart, Jack Youngblood could be seen jogging the hills.

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Surfridge

Just south of Waterview is a large mass of land that are a ghost town of what was obviously once neighborhoods. Many areas overlooking the ocean. 

Until the 80’s there were some of the areas still un-fenced.  One section was off Waterview and Pershing. And was a favorite spot for filming movies and TV. A Chips episode was filmed there. And the Sanpiper Street now closed was a shortcut to cut across from Pershing to the beach. And a favorite for local high schoolers to visit during lunch or to ditch.

If not for the airport what could have been in Playa del Rey?

Ronald Mcginnis

I have had the pleasure of having Carol Gilles represent me on selling my first home several years ago and purchasing 2 other homes. Carol is the Best! She’s patient, very knowledgeable about the neighborhoods and is very open and honest. I trust her and never felt pressured about selecting a property. We spent a lot of hours together searching and debating the pros and cons of some of the properties. At the end of the day I was very happy with my selections and it has been very profitable on the sales. I definitely recommend Carol as your Agent!