The original property on the mineral springs site was an eighty-five room, four-story hotel and spa called simply the Carlsbad Hotel. Described as “elegant and commodious," this was Carlsbad's first hotel, opening in late 1887. The hotel drew thousands from across the country, including tourists and “health seekers,” attracted by the fine beaches, easy railroad transportation, and the mineral water. In 1896, the hotel burned to the ground. Some suspected arson, but no charges were ever filed. Shortly thereafter, the real estate bubble in Southern California burst. Real estate agents quit bringing special excursion trains to Carlsbad. Land prices slid throughout San Diego County and the site remained dormant for decades.
