In 1882, the Southern California Railroad began its new route from San Diego to San Bernardino. A man by the name of Theodore Loop, who worked for the railroad, instantly fell in love with what he called "the most attractive place on the entire coast." He and his wife, Ella, built a tent city on the beach, which Ella called Del Mar after a popular poem titled, "The Fight on Paseo Del Mar."

Several years later, the South Coast Land Company eventually built a new hotel called the Stratford Inn. From the moment it opened its doors in 1910, the hotel became a focal point of town and a magnet for Hollywood stars.