In 1916, the sands of Mission Beach were dotted with striped canvas tents and cabana-style shelters, forming a temporary seaside neighborhood known as Tent City. Visitors and a handful of longer-term residents pitched their lives on the shoreline, enjoying the Pacific breezes, the surf, and a rare chance to live directly on the sand.
Tent City was located in:
• Old Mission Beach, generally west of present-day Mission Boulevard.
• Near Redondo Court, site of the former bathhouse.
• Beachfront parcels that later became permanent residential lots.
Promoted as an affordable coastal retreat, Tent City offered rental sites and small lots for sale, appealing to families and vacationers who wanted more than a day trip to the beach. The settlement reflected a broader early-20th-century trend in Southern California: transforming open beachfront into planned, accessible recreational communities.
Basic amenities supported the community. A bathhouse on Redondo Court provided washing facilities, while period accounts highlight social activities, ocean walks, and a strong sense of neighborhood among residents. Canvas dwellings lined the shore where permanent cottages and multi-story homes now stand.
Tent City thrived for several years but depended on flexible development standards. In 1922, the new city of San Diego’s health regulations restricted non-permanent residential structures, effectively ending the canvas experiment. Tents were removed, and property owners transitioned to permanent homes.
This transition marked a turning point. Streets were formalized, utilities expanded, and lot lines solidified. The dense grid that defines Old Mission Beach today reflects this era of permanent construction.
No structures from Tent City remain, but its imprint survives. Compact lot sizes west of Mission Boulevard, early pedestrian walkways, and archival photographs preserve the footprint of this brief seaside experiment.
Today, Mission Beach is known for its boardwalk, Belmont Park, and tightly packed residential streets. Tent City remains an important chapter in the neighborhood’s history — a fleeting period when beachfront life was temporary, communal, and shaped as much by imagination as by infrastructure.
Understanding Tent City adds depth to the story of Mission Beach, revealing the transitional period that paved the way for the modern coastal neighborhood.
Mission Beach Tent City — Timeline & Location Guide
c. 1916 — Tent City Established
Rows of striped canvas tents and cabana-style shelters were arranged along the sand in what is now Old Mission Beach, offering affordable beachfront living.
1916–1921 — A Seasonal Community
Families and vacationers rented tent spaces or small lots. A bathhouse operated on Redondo Court, providing basic facilities for residents.
1922 — Health Regulations End Canvas Housing
City health rules restricting non-permanent residential structures effectively brought Tent City to a close. Permanent homes gradually replaced tents.
1920s — Permanent Development Expands
Mission Beach transitioned into a formalized residential district with paved streets, utilities,s and fixed property lines.“Mission Beach History.” Mission Beach Women’s Club.
Sources
“Their Own Little World: Mission Beach.” San Diego Reader.
Historical Resource Technical Report, City of San Diego.
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