The Beach – Balboa Family
Nothing says “Family” more than Balboa Island Beaches. The small, lapping waves of these bay beaches are perfect for the younger set, watched over by loving parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. For the Island is truly multi-generational. Many families have held on to original homes for the past 100 years. These beaches serve as gathering places for our annual sandcastle building contest, a view to the Back Bay 4th of July fireworks and five nights of cheering for the Newport Harbor Christmas boat parade. Our South Bayfront beach is also home to the very unique, Balboa Island Yacht Club. This “dock and beach based” club for kids started in the 1920s and continues today. Take a morning, summer walk down our South Bayfront to see our Island kids sailing, diving, swimming, and paddling to their hearts’ content.
Or enjoy and evening stroll on the boardwalk to greet our Island dogs and catch a glimpse of a glittering fish, caught by anglers young and old from our five public docks.
OUR STORY
The Balboa Island
Ferry
The Balboa Island Ferry is not JUST transportation to and from the Balboa Peninsula. It’s a treasured icon of our community, operated by the same family for over 100 years. In this panel, we see Joe Beek, in the 1920s, pushing the first car barge with his “Fat Fairy”. The three ferries operating today, The Admiral, Captain and Commodore, were all built on the Island from 1954 to 1956. While the crossing takes just a few minutes, the memories of the sights, sounds and feeling of the bay breeze are enough to last a lifetime. The ferry operates daily. Cost is three dollars for a car and driver, $1.75 for car passengers and walking adults. Kids are less and bikes a bit more. Cash only. Closing hours are seasonal, so be sure to check before you cross.
Fire Station #4
This second panel shows the first location of Newport Beach Fire Station #4, but we locals call it the Old Balboa Island Fire House. Depicted in the driveway is an engine known as the “Dodge Squad”. This station housed Engine #4 and its crew from 1931 to 1994. This wood, brick and stucco building was actually built by the two firemen that would initially serve and live in the station. For a short time, it also served as a small police station and jail for Saturday night rowdies. It is the last standing firehouse in Orange County that was built in the regionally significant California-Mediterranean style.
OUR STORY
Having outgrown this location, a new, modern station was built on the lot directly behind you and opened in June 1994. The old station was sold to a private owner. Every June since, a long parade of fire engines, happy locals with dogs, kids on bikes, school bands, decorated golf carts and classic cars with local dignitaries travel the two blocks of Marine Avenue to celebrate our dedicated staff at Firehouse #4.
Our new station is home to the Island’s annual Christmas Tree lighting and snow day; yes, snow on Balboa Island. This is just one of the fun activities provided by donations to the Balboa Island Improvement Association. And finally, while none of Newport’s original fire engines survived to present day, a 1920 American LaFrance engine was donated to the City. In 2006, after three years of restoration, this beautiful engine was ready to be admired. You can see it today, parked inside our own Station #4.
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Newport Harbor AKA Balboa Bay
Our beautiful Newport Harbor was formed by nature in the mid-19th century. Over time it’s been home to shipping endeavors, boat building, fish canning, duck hunting, and more. The one constant from the very beginning has been its attraction to tourists and boaters. Today it is home to over 9,000 pleasure boats making it one of the largest pleasure boat harbors on this coast. Many large yacht clubs and service clubs dot the bay, in addition to beautiful homes and restaurants.
Experienced sailors compete in summer races and year-round regattas. Sabots with crews of kids can be seen sailing the summer breezes. Anglers of all ages fish from docks or head out the jetty to find bigger fish to fry. A fun way to see the bay and our eight islands, is from a rented electric boat.
There are many companies around the ferry landings that rent by the hour and no driving experience is needed. Or, if you want to leave the driving to someone else, the Fun Zone Boat Company offers affordable harbor tours on their vintage boat, the Queen. Balboa Island is the only island in the bay with a public “boardwalk” that completely surrounds it. So at the very least, take a stroll around our island for a view that won’t cost you a penny.
The Post Office
Welcome to 92662! This panel depicts the third and current location of the Balboa Island Post Office. In 1926, on the spot you’re resting now, Wally Kaufman built “Wally’s Grocery Store”. In 1927, he applied to conduct an official post office from his store. It was granted, with the postmark “BALISLE”, because the authorities deemed our Island’s name “too long and confusing”. Wally sent to Chicago for the actual post boxes and expanded his store to accommodate them. Two years later, the authorities came to their senses, and allowed the two-word postmark, “Balboa Island”.
OUR STORY
Wally Kaufman served as the Island’s first postmaster for 5 years. When Tony and Mina Hershey bought the store in 1935, the post office was moved across the street behind Allen’s Pharmacy, now the side door of Arbor Real Estate. Street delivery began in 1949, and a decade later, the office was moved to its present location at 206 Marine Ave.
Parts of the interior and exterior were built from recycled materials from old, dismantled mid-western post offices. Beloved Island resident, Hal Will Smith, whose real estate office stood across the street, was responsible for donating the wood planks that created the western motif. Mr. Smith also planted the original eucalyptus trees that lined Marine Avenue. For all your mailing needs, visit our Post Office at 206 Marine Avenue, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.
OUR STORY
The Balboa Island Museum
This panel features the Balboa Island Museum – Newport Beach, right here on Marine Avenue. It includes Newport Beach in its title, because its exhibits showcase much more than just Balboa Island. Founded in 2000, the mission of the museum is to preserve the history of this very special island, in addition to greater Newport Beach and Orange County. The current location at 210 Marine Avenue is a treat in itself. Built in 1927, the building is one of the first constructed on this commercial street. Originally built as a “Yacht Club Garage”, it housed boats, cars and even the first Island fire engine. A portion of this address was rented in the 1930s by Carl Rehnborg. He used the space for a lab to develop his Nutrilite Products.
The next five decades saw a series of Hardware Store owners, the Original Balboa Beach Company, and the very unique “Art for the Soul” gallery. This is the third location for the Balboa Island Museum, which opened here, with all new exhibits, in 2018. To learn more about the topics on this beautiful mural, visit the museum or their website at BalboaIslandMuseum.org. The museum is open daily and is free of charge.
Frozen Bananas & Balboa Bars
It wouldn’t be summer without the sight of locals and visitors lined up at various sweet shops, patiently waiting to order their favorite Island treat. The most popular, for decades, are the Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana, the inspiration for the fictional Bluth Banana Stand on the TV show “Arrested Development”. There’s nothing like watching your custom ice cream bar or banana get dipped in warm, delicious chocolate and rolled in your favorite toppings. Just holding its cardboard tray can take most returning visitors back to the excitement of a childhood tradition.
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But no matter what time of year, or the treat you crave, be it a cold treat, a hot drink, pastry, taffy, fudge or a special candy, you’re sure to find it on Marine Ave.
Artist's Statement
337,693. That’s the number of ½ inch glass tiles used to make this 10
by 56 foot mural. Let’s explore the process used from the beginning
sketches to the final work of art on the wall.
To begin the mural, I researched the archives of the Balboa Island
Museum Newport Beach. I had decided that an historical timeline of
the island’s history would be an appropriate theme. In addition to the
photographic images from the Museum, I added contemporary scenes
of our Post Office, the harbor, children playing on the bayfront beach,
and Marine Avenue, which I created as individual watercolor paintings.
Next, it was important to find a medium for the mural, since the wall is
south-facing with a harsh exposure to sun, salt air, heat and rain. After
much research, I found the company Artaic Innovative Mosaic which
could produce a large-scale mosaic from my artwork. Because the
colors are in the ½ vitreous glass tiles, they would not fade and would
be durable for decades. Working together with Artaic and their very
clever robotic system of glass tile assembly, I was able to translate my
artwork from paint to mosaic. It was exciting to bring the ancient
medium of mosaic to Balboa Island with state-of-the-art technology.
As an artist, I hope that for generations present and future, the images
in the mural will express the lively, sunny, lighthearted atmosphere of
Balboa Island.
Barbara Reed Abbott
B.A. Art – University of California, Santa Barbara
M. A. Art - California State University, Long Beach
OUR STORY
General Balboa Island Information
Our Island, like all but one in our bay, is man made. It was dredged between 1906 and 1913.
Our side streets are named for gems, because the early developers felt we had a “gem of an island”.
It was incorporated with Newport Beach (the area around Newport Pier and Balboa) in 1916.
The island is comprised of 3 attached islands: Balboa Island, Little Balboa Island and Collins Island.
The main Island perimeter is 1 & ¾ miles.
The Little Island perimeter in ¾ miles. The total walking loop for both Islands is 2.5 miles.
There are approximately 1,400 lots and 4,500 residents.
Original lot size was 30’ x 80’, and most are still that size.
It’s not unusual to see golf carts cruising down our streets, carrying kids and dogs on their way to Marine Ave or the shops on Bayside Drive. This golf cart tradition started with our Island realtors, and caught on with residents as a fun way to get around and an easy way to park.
Our Zip Code, 92662, holds the densest housing in Orange County.
Members of the two volunteer non-profit groups, the Balboa Island Improvement Association, established in 1918, and the Little Balboa Property Owners Association, established in 1974, work tirelessly, year round, to provide beautiful landscaping, festive decorations and fun activities like concerts, home tours, parades, pancake breakfasts and veterans events – all possible through donations from Island residents, visitors and friends.
Watch how an Artaic Mosiac is created!
210 Marine Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92662
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00PM | Friday –
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
210 B Marine Ave. Balboa Island, CA 92662 | 949.675.3952 or info@balboaislandmuseum.org