Esoteric Survey

Sam H. Bell Beach House & Tramway (1955-65) by Dale Naegle. It's also known as the La Jolla Mushroom House. I've done a few posts on the house over the years. In fact, this photo was taken a decade ago. It was built on Blacks Beach in La Jolla, California, as the guest house of the Samuel Heffelfinger Bell  summer residence. Despite rumors that this was Sam L. Bell of Bell's Potato Chip fame, it was actually commissioned for Samuel Heffelfinger Bell, with no relation to the chip tycoon.   According to his youngest daughter, Sam H. was the youngest son of James Ford Bell and Louise Heffelfinger Bell, of Minneapolis MN. James Ford Bell did found General Mills but it was never a family business (despite my grandfather and my uncle working for General Mills) so my father never inherited General Mills. She said her father was an artist – a sculptor – until World War II when he went into farming and then ranching in Arizona as part of the war effort and then stayed in Arizo...

Low tide at Blacks Beach in La Jolla Hidden just around the point above is one of the best houses in San Diego. It certainly has the best view.   Sam H. Bell Beach House & Tramway (1955-65) by Dale Naegle It's also known as the La Jolla Mushroom House The wall was added later.  "Guest house of the Samuel L. Bell summer residence, Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California. 1965. Architect Dale Naegle. The beach house features a private funicular connecting the “satellite” into the main house on the cliff." Source: House & Garden, 1967 via Archive I think it's safe to say that the Coastal Commission would never let a project like this happen today. This is the house at the top of the tram. According to Eric, Dale's son, the original 1950s house that was there when the pavilion was built was demolished in 1990. The home there now is the house Dale designed in the 1990’s for the current owner.  Source: Sabastiaan Kaal Read more about Nae...