Annenberg Community Beach House

What Annenberg Community Beach House does

The Annenberg Community Beach House is a public community beach facility located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California, operated by the City of Santa Monica's Recreation and Arts Department under a partnership with California State Parks. Established in 2009 through a founding grant from the Annenberg Foundation (directed by Wallis Annenberg) with supplemental federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the facility combines the historic Gold Coast era Marion Davies Guest House with contemporary amenities including a swimming pool, splash pad, playground, beach volleyball and soccer courts, beach canopies, and the on-site Back on the Beach Café. The Beach House Gallery hosts contemporary art exhibitions featuring local and Indigenous artists, and free Wi-Fi, EV charging stations, and accessibility features (gender-neutral restrooms, wheelchair access) round out the amenity set.

The facility's core offering is free general public access to beach recreation amenities, with revenue generated through four fee streams: event space rentals accommodating groups of 10 to 280 guests for private events, film/photo shoots, and casual public gatherings; reservations for beach volleyball courts, beach soccer, and beach canopies during the summer season via the ActiveNet platform; seasonal pool passes (Memorial Day Weekend through summer plus September weekends); and paid parking at the adjacent Annenberg Community Beach House Parking Lot. Pricing is pay-as-you-go, with general admission free and transaction-based fees for the reservation-eligible amenities. Booking for courts, canopies, and pool passes is handled through the City of Santa Monica's ActiveNet online system, while event inquiries are processed via direct sales for larger group bookings.

The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: the facility serves as a public destination promoted through organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X), an email newsletter, and the City of Santa Monica's website, supplemented by recurring community programming (Sunset Swim, Community Picnic, SMPL at the Beach) and cultural events. The primary customer segment is the general public and families seeking beach recreation, with secondary segments consisting of SMB and individual consumers booking courts, canopies, or pool passes, and enterprise clients booking private events. Distribution is direct-to-visitor via self-serve public access, with e-commerce reservation flow for fee-based amenities and direct sales for event bookings.

Name

Annenberg Community Beach House

Legal name

Annenberg Community Beach House

Website

https://annenbergbeachhouse.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Annenberg Community Beach House is a public beach facility in Santa Monica, California, operated by the City of Santa Monica with the Annenberg Foundation and California State Parks, offering free public access to a historic guest house, pool, splash pad, courts, and event rentals for groups up to 280.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Recreation Facility

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Family Entertainment Centers (Splash Pads, Aquatic Playgrounds, Swim Parks) (THAJAEAL)

Keywords

• Public beach recreation
• Community event venue
• Historic guest house tours
• Beach court reservations
• Public pool access

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Space Rental: The Beach House serves as an event venue accommodating intimate gatherings of 10 guests up to celebrations of 280 people. Spaces are available for private catered events and casual first-come-first-served public area gatherings. The venue is also available for film and photo shoots.
2. Activity Reservations: Revenue generated through reservation of beach volleyball courts, beach soccer courts, and beach canopies during summer season. Reservations processed through ActiveNet system.
3. Pool Passes: Pool access during summer season and September weekends available through purchased passes. Pool opens Memorial Day Weekend and operates daily through summer.
4. Parking Fees: The facility has paid parking at the Annenberg Community Beach House Parking Lot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Annenberg Community Beach House is a public community beach facility offering free general admission to beach recreation amenities including a splash pad, playground, open seating, beach courts, and free wi-fi. It also operates as a paid event venue accommodating 10 to 280 guests for private catered events, film and photo shoots, and provides reservable beach volleyball/soccer courts, beach canopies, pool passes, and historic Marion Davies Guest House tours.

Product overview

The Annenberg Community Beach House is a public community beach facility operated as a gift from the Annenberg Foundation in partnership with the City of Santa Monica and California State Parks. The facility combines historic amenities (Marion Davies Guest House tours, historic pool) with contemporary offerings including splash pad, playground, beach courts (volleyball/soccer), event spaces, café, gallery, and recreation classes. The facility offers free Wi-Fi and serves as both a community recreation center and event venue accommodating groups of 10 to 280 guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marion Davies Guest House: Historic Gold Coast era guest house available for tours Friday-Monday, 12PM-2PM
• Annenberg Community Beach House Gallery
• Back on the Beach Café

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• City of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Santa Monica operates the Beach House in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation and California State Parks. The city manages facility operations, maintenance, programming, events, and public access. This public-private partnership enables the facility to provide free community access while maintaining professional operations.
• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State Parks is a key partner in the Beach House operation, providing beachfront location and jurisdictional oversight. The partnership enables public access to the Santa Monica beach property.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Bay Club: A multi-location California membership-based sports and recreation club with pools, courts, fitness, and event spaces. Comparable as a recreation and event venue operator serving families and event clients, though private/membership-based and at much larger scale than the Beach House.

Others

• The Queen Mary (Long Beach): A historic oceanfront attraction and event venue in Long Beach offering tours, dining, and event rentals. Comparable as a Southern California coastal heritage attraction monetized through ticketed tours, events, and on-site F&B rather than lodging.
• Hollywood Bowl: A large outdoor event venue operated by a public-private partnership (Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Philharmonic). Comparable as a publicly accessible cultural and event venue that monetizes through ticketed events and premium experiences layered on a public amenity.
• The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: A public-benefit cultural and botanical institution offering ticketed admission, art exhibitions, gardens, and event rentals. Comparable as a Southern California philanthropic cultural destination with free-adjacent community programming, ticketed specialty access, and event venue operations.

Regional players

• Shutters on the Beach: A luxury beachfront hotel in Santa Monica with event venues, dining, and recreational amenities. Comparable as a high-end Santa Monica beach venue competing for the same premium event and visitor demand, though under a commercial hotel ownership model.
• Casa del Mar: A luxury oceanfront hotel in Santa Monica offering event spaces, dining, and beachfront amenities. Comparable as a Santa Monica beachfront hospitality and event venue, though operating under a commercial hotel model rather than public access.

Direct peers

• Pacific Park (Santa Monica Pier): Iconic beachfront amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier offering paid attractions, events, and free public access to surrounding areas. Comparable as a high-traffic Santa Monica beach entertainment destination that monetizes through paid experiences layered onto a public amenity.
• The Getty Villa: A beachside museum and historic site in Malibu offering free public access with timed reservations, cultural programming, gardens, and event spaces. Comparable as a publicly accessible coastal heritage site with free general admission, ticketed special programs, and event venue capabilities.
• The Jonathan Club: A private members-only beach club located in Santa Monica with beachfront amenities, event venues, dining, and recreational facilities. Most directly comparable as a Santa Monica beachside venue offering a mix of recreation, events, and hospitality, though operated under a private membership model instead of public access.
• The Adamson House (Malibu Lagoon Museum): A historic beachfront estate in Malibu offering public tours, gardens, and special events on California State Parks land. Directly comparable as a publicly accessible historic coastal property combining heritage tourism, paid tours, and event venue functionality.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMBeachHouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/annenbergbeachhouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/annenbergcommunitybeachhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/annenberg-community-beach-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Annenberg Community Beach House