Two thousand years ago, long before Laguna Beach became one of the most desirable resorts on California's coast, an Indian tribe named the Ute-Aztecas (later the Shoshones) roamed the land. Lured by the temperate weather and the rich coastal strip, the tribe inhabited the canyon formations directly east of Main Beach. They named the area Lagonas, their word for lakes, after two fresh water lagoons that decorated the canyon.

Over the decades the stars continued to flock to Laguna Beach as did dignitaries like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and writers like John Steinbeck who wrote Tortilla Flats while living at 504 Park Avenue. They traveled to Laguna for inspiration and relaxation, frequenting landmarks like the White House and the Cabrillo Ballroom.