Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California
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Balboa Island is an area of Newport Beach, California actually comprising three modified or artificial islands in Newport Harbor: Balboa Island ( ), the largest; the smaller Little Balboa Island ( ) to the east of Balboa Island, joined by a two-lane bridge; and the smallest Collins Island ( ) to the northwest of Balboa Island, joined by a one-lane bridge. The Balboa Island community is joined to the mainland by a short two-lane bridge on the northeast of Balboa Island, and a privately-operated fleet of three, three-car ferryboats (Balboa Island Ferry) which provide access across the harbor to the Balboa Peninsula which lies to the south.
Balboa Island is one of the most expensive real estate markets in North America outside of Lower Manhattan. A two-bedroom house with a water view from the living room can cost about $3 million.
Local tradition has it that Balboa Island is where the frozen chocolate banana was first marketed: There are snack shops on Marine Avenue that will dip a frozen banana on a stick into chocolate sauce and roll it around in ground nuts or candy sprinkles. This legend is referenced in the American television show Arrested Development in which the wealthy Bluth family of Orange County owns a frozen chocolate banana stand on Balboa Island. Also popular is the Balboa bar, a square of vanilla ice cream on a stick prepared in a similar fashion.
The zip code for Balboa Island is 92662.
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[edit] History
The island was not always easily accessible. Newport Harbor was still largely undredged, and sailboat was often the only way to get around. Robert McFadden, an early Balboa Harbor developer had established a successful fishing wharf on the Balboa Peninsula and by 1906, the Pacific Electric line Red Cars began service to the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Pavilion, and soon, the Red Cars would bring thousands of summertime visitors from Los Angeles.
Within a few years, real estate promoters began sending salesmen up to wealthy Pasadena and soon to Los Angeles (both connected by the Red Cars) to promote property in and around Newport Harbor. Considerable Balboa Island property was sold in Pasadena, and this is one of the reasons that so many longtime Island residents continue to have family and contacts in the Pasadena area. One of these real estate promoters was William Collins. At the time, Balboa Island was little more than a sandbar that was usually swallowed up by high tide.
In 1908 and 1909, with permission of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Collins dredged the surrounding bay and piled the sand on the little sandbar that he came to call Balboa Island. Collins originally sold lots on the Island for as little as $25, with the promise of a bridge and ferry service to follow. Joseph Allan Beek, while still a student at Pasadena City College, was enchanted with the area, and became one of Collins' salesmen. Joe Beek played a crucial role in the development of Balboa Island, and spent a lifetime devoted to it. He later served as Secretary of the California State Senate until his death in 1968.
The island grew slowly at first, but in 1916, it became part of the City of Newport Beach. By 1921, homes were beginning to fill in the Island and Balboa Peninsula. Roads to the Newport Harbor area were still largely undeveloped, and many people still arrived by rail to the peninsula and took the ferry over to the island. Although the first bridge from the mainland to the North Bayfront was built in 1912, it was not capable of carrying automobiles until 1929, when it was refurbished.
In 1919, after complaints of inadequate service, the city of Newport Beach awarded a fifteen-year franchise to Joseph Beek to run the ferry. At first it only carried pedestrians, but by 1921, was also transporting cars to the Island. The ferry operation remains in the Beek family.
Then in 1941, William Maxwell from England, purchased 15 lots making an investment that he still owns to today.
[edit] Jamboree Road
The 1953 National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America held its event where Newport Center and Fashion Island now sit. Thousands of tents were pitched in the area reachable only by a two-lane muddy trail called Palisades Road. The road was soon paved, and later the name was changed to Jamboree Road in honor of the Scouts. Today it remains a major thoroughfare through Newport Beach, and ends at Balboa Island.
[edit] Balboa Island today
Over the years, Balboa Island has developed into a close-knit community, home to professionals, families, retirees, students and celebrities.
