The Norconian Resort Supreme
The Norconian Resort Supreme is a former hotel/resort in Norco (Corona), California, built in the 1920s, largely intact after over 70 years as a naval base and prison. Originally called the "Lake Norconian Club", it opened on February 2, 1929 in this rural community, whose main businesses were poultry, rabbits, and agriculture.
In 1920, after years of land speculation in the San Diego/Julian area of California, Rex Brainerd Clark (May, 1876 – Aug 31, 1955), through his North Corona Land Company, purchased 15 square miles (39 km2) of land just north of Corona. The land was a failed agricultural community known as "Orchard Heights", but Clark renamed this hilly area "Norco", based on its position North of Corona. In less than three years, Clark's engineer, "Captain" Cuthbert Gulley (April 30, 1878 – 1961) (so named for his service in World War I) laid out streets and installed pumps and reservoirs and on May 13, 1923, "Norco" held its grand opening. Sometime in 1925, "Captain" Gulley, while drilling a well, struck hot mineral water, giving rise to the idea of a health spa that would ultimately become The Norconian.
Construction of the resort began in 1926 and consisted of a golf course, immaculate grounds, air field, hiking trails, Lake Norconian with a pavilion, chauffeurs' quarters, garage, power house, laundry, and a truly spectacular "Clubhouse", which consisted of a first class hotel, two indoor bath complexes, ornate ballroom, dining room and lounge, and the first outdoor AAU-qualifying swimming and diving pools in Southern California, which remained the only qualifying pools until those that were built in Los Angeles for the 1932 Summer Olympics. The clubhouse architect was Dwight Gibbs (Carthy Circle Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse Interior). The outbuildings were designed by G. Stanley Wilson (Riverside's famed Mission Inn). All the interiors were created by A. B. Heinsbergen ( chain). The golf course was designed by legendary John Duncan Dunn (Catalina).
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