A street-by-street guide to San Clemente’s original Ole Hanson-era homes, historic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, notable addresses, and the older neighborhoods where these homes still survive.
If you've ever driven through the older parts of San Clemente and wondered, “Is that an original Ole Hanson home?” you're definitely not the only one.
I get curious about these houses too.
You'll see white stucco, a red tile roof, an arched doorway, maybe an old courtyard or hand-painted tile, and think: that has to be one.
Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't.
And that's what made me want to put this guide together.
I wanted to answer a question that's surprisingly difficult to answer online: Where are the original Ole Hanson homes in San Clemente?
Not just Casa Romantica or the handful of famous landmarks. I wanted to know the streets, addresses, historic pockets and individual homes that are still part of the original Spanish Village by the Sea.
So I went back to the City of San Clemente's historic surveys, designated historic structures list and individual historic-resource records rather than relying on real estate descriptions.
And I found something important right away: there isn't one current City document called “The Complete List of Ole Hanson Homes.”
The records overlap, and they don't all mean the same thing. That's why you'll see different numbers online.
This guide is my attempt to make that history much easier to understand.
How Many Ole Hanson Homes Are Left in San Clemente?
The best official number for the narrow Ole Hanson-era definition comes from San Clemente's 2006 Historic Resources Survey.
The City identified 149 properties that appeared to contribute to a potential Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea thematic district. Those properties were associated with the 1925–1936 period, retained good material integrity and were designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.
That's different from San Clemente's broader list of designated historic structures, which includes buildings from different periods and includes houses, multifamily properties, commercial buildings and civic landmarks.
The San Clemente Historical Society also describes roughly 500 original Spanish-style structures as having been built during the founder's era, with 203 remaining today.
So if you see 149 in one place and roughly 200 or 203 somewhere else, it doesn't necessarily mean somebody is wrong. They're talking about different historic inventories.
For this article, I am not going to call every historic building an Ole Hanson home. When I can verify an individual house as part of the Ole Hanson period, I'll say so. Otherwise, I'll call it what the records support: a designated historic residence or historic resource.
What Years Are Considered the Ole Hanson Era?
For historic-survey purposes, the City uses 1925 through 1936 for the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea period of significance.
That period begins with San Clemente's founding and covers the years when the original Spanish Colonial Revival vision shaped the town.
Early buildings were required to follow the Spanish design theme—white stucco, red tile roofs and Spanish-influenced details such as arches, balconies, courtyards, towers, decorative tile and deeply recessed windows and doors.
That consistency is a big reason older San Clemente still has such a recognizable architectural identity.
Where Are Most Ole Hanson Homes in San Clemente?
The surviving homes aren't all lined up on one historic street.
That's actually one of the most interesting things about them.
The City's 2006 survey describes the potential Ole Hanson district as thematic because its contributing properties are scattered rather than clustered into one clean geographic district.
In practical terms, you'll encounter much of San Clemente's early historic fabric west of I-5, through the older parts of town around North Beach, downtown, the Pier Bowl and the coastal residential streets to the south.
If you want to see the architecture for yourself, I would start with streets such as Avenida Miramar, Avenida Granada, West Marquita, West Mariposa, Avenida Cabrillo, Avenida La Cuesta, Avenida Victoria and several of the smaller streets that connect these older neighborhoods.
Which San Clemente Streets Have Ole Hanson and Historic Homes?
This is where the guide becomes useful if you're actually trying to find these properties. I've written the complete street address each time rather than grouping house numbers together, because it's easier to read, easier to search and much more useful when you're researching a particular property.
One caution before the list: the addresses below come from San Clemente's broader designated historic structures list. That does not mean every address is automatically a 1925–1936 Ole Hanson home. Some are later historic resources and some are not single-family houses. The individual DPR historic-resource record is the better source when you need to classify one specific property.
Avenida Miramar: One of My First Stops for Ole Hanson-Era Homes
If someone asked me where to start looking at San Clemente's historic residential architecture, Avenida Miramar would be high on my list. It has a particularly interesting concentration of designated resources, including houses whose individual City records tie them directly to the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village period.
- 107 Avenida Miramar
- 130 Avenida Miramar
- 132 Avenida Miramar — Casa Miramar, a documented 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival residence associated with the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea theme
- 140–140½ Avenida Miramar
- 154 Avenida Miramar — a documented 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival residence associated with the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea theme
- 165 Avenida Miramar — a 1928 historic residence described in City planning records as an Ole Hanson family home
- 202 Avenida Miramar
- 205 Avenida Miramar
- 207 Avenida Miramar
- 215 Avenida Miramar
- 219 Avenida Miramar
- 235 Avenida Miramar
Avenida Granada and the Pier Bowl
Avenida Granada gives you another excellent look at the original San Clemente story, especially as you move toward the Pier Bowl. It also gives us the city's most famous Ole Hanson address: Casa Romantica.
- 130 Avenida Granada
- 142 Avenida Granada
- 143 Avenida Granada
- 209 Avenida Granada
- 246 Avenida Granada
- 251 Avenida Granada
- 310 Avenida Granada
- 410 Avenida Granada
- 415 Avenida Granada — Casa Romantica, Ole Hanson's own historic residence
West Marquita
West Marquita is another street where the historic inventory becomes surprisingly dense. This is the kind of street where I would slow down rather than simply drive through.
- 123 West Marquita
- 154 West Marquita
- 161½ West Marquita
- 201 West Marquita
- 204 West Marquita
- 230 West Marquita — Swigart House
- 236 West Marquita
- 267 West Marquita
West Mariposa
West Mariposa has another pocket of designated historic residences. As with the other streets, I would verify an individual DPR form before calling a particular property an Ole Hanson home.
- 128 West Mariposa
- 129 West Mariposa
- 210 West Mariposa
- 212 West Mariposa
- 222 West Mariposa
- 239 West Mariposa
Avenida Cabrillo
Avenida Cabrillo has a substantial group of designated historic resources and is another good example of why the original Spanish Village wasn't confined to one or two showcase streets.
- 117 Avenida Cabrillo
- 202–204 Avenida Cabrillo
- 213 Avenida Cabrillo
- 246 Avenida Cabrillo
- 304 Avenida Cabrillo — L.S. Fraser House
- 316 Avenida Cabrillo
- 319 Avenida Cabrillo
- 325 Avenida Cabrillo
- 329 Avenida Cabrillo
Avenida La Cuesta
Avenida La Cuesta includes several historic resources, including one of San Clemente's better-known historic residences, the Goldschmidt House.
- 193 Avenida La Cuesta
- 199 Avenida La Cuesta
- 209 Avenida La Cuesta
- 233 Avenida La Cuesta
- 243 Avenida La Cuesta — Goldschmidt House / Casa Tres Vistas
Buena Vista
Buena Vista matters not only for its surviving historic resources but also for its connection to San Clemente's original bluff-top mansions.
- 803 Buena Vista
- 904 Buena Vista
- 1102 Buena Vista
- 1206 Buena Vista
- 1209 Buena Vista — associated with the historic Moulton House property
Avenida Victoria
Avenida Victoria mixes residential history with other historic property types, which is a good reminder that the City's historic list is broader than a list of Ole Hanson houses.
- 207 Avenida Victoria
- 215 Avenida Victoria
- 219 Avenida Victoria
- 234 Avenida Victoria
- 235 Avenida Victoria
- 306 Avenida Victoria
- 308 Avenida Victoria
- 309 Avenida Victoria
- 525 Avenida Victoria
- 529–533 Avenida Victoria — Beachcomber Motel, a historic resource rather than a private Ole Hanson home
- 606 Avenida Victoria
Avenida Monterey and Monterey Lane
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 206 Avenida Monterey
- 214 Avenida Monterey
- 254 Avenida Monterey
- 312–314 Avenida Monterey
- 323 Avenida Monterey
- 404 Monterey Lane
- 411 Monterey Lane
- 504 Monterey Lane
West Avenida Palizada
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 111 West Avenida Palizada
- 125 West Avenida Palizada
- 162 West Avenida Palizada
- 202 West Avenida Palizada
- 210–212 West Avenida Palizada
- 236 West Avenida Palizada
- 316 West Avenida Palizada
Avenida Pelayo
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 119 Avenida Pelayo
- 121 Avenida Pelayo
- 130 Avenida Pelayo
- 146 Avenida Pelayo
- 204 Avenida Pelayo
Avenida Rosa
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 210 Avenida Rosa
- 212 Avenida Rosa
- 230 Avenida Rosa
- 233 Avenida Rosa
Avenida Serra
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 110 Avenida Serra
- 137 Avenida Serra
- 146 Avenida Serra
- 157 Avenida Serra
- 202 Avenida Serra
- 217 Avenida Serra
Cazador Lane
Cazador Lane is a smaller cluster, but it includes named historic residences and helps show how these resources are tucked into pockets throughout older San Clemente.
- 325 Cazador Lane
- 412 Cazador Lane — Warner House
- 418 Cazador Lane
- 420 Cazador Lane — associated with the Ann Harding House
Other San Clemente Streets With Designated Historic Residential Resources
The City's designated historic list also includes the following addresses on this street or group of streets.
- 103 Alameda Lane
- 109 Alameda Lane
- 166 West Avenida Alessandro
- 120 Avenida Algodon
- 202 Avenida Aragon
- 224 Avenida Aragon
- 105 Avenida Barcelona
- 117 Coronado Lane
- 102 Corona Lane
- 104 West Paseo De Cristobal
- 114 West Paseo De Cristobal
- 240 West Avenida Del Poniente
- 245 West Avenida Del Poniente
- 505 Elena Lane
- 508 Elena Lane
- 516 Elena Lane
- 327 Encino Lane
- 332 Encino Lane
- 122 East Escalones
- 126 East Escalones
- 101 West Escalones
- 121 West Escalones
- 201 Esplanade
- 217 Esplanade
- 1314 Avenida De La Estrella
- 135 Avenida Florencia
- 319 West Avenida Gaviota
- 320 West Avenida Gaviota
- 7 West Avenida Junipero
- 215 La Paloma
- 1608 Calle Las Bolas
- 1638 Calle Las Bolas
- 255 Avenida Lobeiro
- 139–141 Loma Lane
- 1815 Calle De Los Alamos
- 2024 Calle De Los Alamos — guest house only on the historic list
- 243 Avenida Madrid
- 307 Avenida Madrid
- 212 Calle Marina
- 131 Avenida Mateo
- 1411 Calle Mirador
- 315 North Ola Vista
- 402–404 Pasadena Court — Vista de Las Olas
- 138 Avenida Princesa
- 612 Calle Puente
- 704 Calle Puente
- 147 West Avenida Ramona
- 165 Calle Redondel
- 223 Calle Roca Vista
- 169 West Avenida San Antonio
- 217 West Avenida San Antonio
- 124 Avenida San Dimas
- 120 Avenida San Pablo
- 233 Avenida Santa Barbara
- 240 Avenida Santa Barbara
- 205 South Calle Seville
- 208 South Calle Seville
- 210 South Calle Seville
- 304 Avenida Sierra
- 141 Trafalgar Lane
- 143 Trafalgar Lane
- 224 Trafalgar Lane
- 212 West Avenida Valencia
What About the Original Ole Hanson Mansions?
This part of San Clemente history is fascinating.
The San Clemente Historical Society says most homes built during the Ole Hanson period were modest two-bedroom, one-bath bungalows. But there were also nine large villas or mansions built along the bluff from the Moulton House on Buena Vista south to La Casa Pacifica on Calle Isabella.
One of the nine—the Murphine Mansion—was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake. Three others were demolished during later development. Five survived.
Two of those surviving grand residences are in the Pier Bowl: Casa Romantica at 415 Avenida Granada and Vista de Las Olas at 402–404 Pasadena Court.
That contrast is important. When people picture an “Ole Hanson home,” they sometimes imagine a grand Spanish villa. In reality, many of the original houses were much more modest. The villas were the exceptions.
Historic San Clemente Isn't Just Houses
If you're exploring Ole Hanson's San Clemente, don't ignore the commercial and civic buildings.
North Beach alone includes major historic resources such as the Ole Hanson Beach Club at 105 West Avenida Pico, Casino San Clemente at 140 West Avenida Pico, the historic bowling center at 150 West Avenida Pico and the Miramar Theater at 1700 North El Camino Real.
Downtown and El Camino Real also contain historic commercial buildings tied to the development of the original Spanish Village.
I wouldn't mix those into a list of “Ole Hanson homes,” but they're essential if you're trying to understand what Hanson was building. His vision was a whole town—not just a collection of Spanish houses.
How Can I Tell if a San Clemente House Is Really an Ole Hanson Home?
This is probably the most useful thing in the entire article.
If a real estate listing says “Ole Hanson home,” don't stop there.
I would check the City of San Clemente's historic-preservation records and, when available, the individual DPR historic-resource form for that address.
Those records can tell you the construction date, architectural style, historic theme, known architect or builder, alterations and evaluation status.
That's much stronger evidence than white stucco and a red tile roof.
132 Avenida Miramar is a good example. Its City DPR record identifies a 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival single-family residence and associates it with the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea theme.
That's the level of verification I want when the history of a house matters to a buyer.
Thinking About Buying an Ole Hanson Home?
Finding the house is only the beginning.
Historic designation can raise completely different questions about remodeling, additions, preservation, the Mills Act and what you should investigate before closing.
I cover those buyer-specific questions separately in my companion guide, Ole Hanson Homes in San Clemente: What Buyers Should Know About Owning a Piece of the City's History.
I intentionally separated the two articles. This guide is about where the homes are. The companion guide is about what it's actually like to buy and own one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ole Hanson Homes in San Clemente
How many Ole Hanson homes are left in San Clemente?
There isn't one official number that describes every possible use of the phrase “Ole Hanson home.” The City's 2006 survey identified 149 properties in a potential Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea thematic district associated with 1925–1936. The Historical Society describes about 500 original Spanish-style structures built during the founder's era, with 203 remaining today. Those figures use different definitions.
What years were Ole Hanson homes built?
For the City's historic-survey context, the Ole Hanson/Spanish Village by the Sea period of significance is 1925 through 1936.
What streets have Ole Hanson homes in San Clemente?
Historic residential resources are scattered throughout older San Clemente. Streets with notable concentrations include Avenida Miramar, Avenida Granada, West Marquita, West Mariposa, Avenida Cabrillo, Avenida La Cuesta, Avenida Victoria, Avenida Monterey, West Avenida Palizada and several surrounding streets.
What street has the most Ole Hanson homes?
I wouldn't declare one street the winner without classifying every individual DPR record by historic theme. Avenida Miramar is one of the strongest places to start because it has a notable concentration of designated historic residences and several individually documented Ole Hanson-era properties.
Is every Spanish-style house in San Clemente an Ole Hanson home?
No. Spanish Colonial Revival architecture continued beyond the original Ole Hanson period, and later homes can also borrow the style. Age, architecture and formal historic status need to be considered separately.
Is every home on San Clemente's historic list an Ole Hanson home?
No. The designated historic structures list includes resources from different periods and different property types. Some are houses, while others are commercial, civic, multifamily or hospitality properties.
How do I verify an Ole Hanson home?
Start with the City of San Clemente's historic resources and preservation records. The individual DPR form is especially useful because it can identify construction date, architectural style, historic theme, integrity and evaluation status.
Where is Casa Romantica?
Casa Romantica is at 415 Avenida Granada overlooking the Pier Bowl. It was Ole Hanson's own residence and remains one of San Clemente's best-known historic landmarks.
Can I drive around San Clemente and see Ole Hanson homes?
Many historic residences are visible from public streets and sidewalks. Just remember that most are private homes. Enjoy the architecture respectfully and don't enter private property.
My Bottom Line
The more I dug into this, the more I realized that the interesting part isn't just how many Ole Hanson homes are left.
It's how much of the original San Clemente is still hiding in plain sight.
You can drive Avenida Miramar, turn onto Marquita, head toward Granada or the Pier Bowl and pass houses that were here when San Clemente itself was still a very young town.
Some are modest bungalows. Some are grand villas. Some have been beautifully restored. Others have changed over nearly a century.
And some houses that look like Ole Hanson homes aren't actually from the Ole Hanson period at all.
That's why I wouldn't buy one—or market one—based only on the phrase “Ole Hanson home.”
I'd verify the address. I'd read the record. I'd understand what's original and what's changed.
Then I'd appreciate the house for what it really is.
Because when one of these homes is authentic, you're looking at more than Spanish architecture.
You're looking at a surviving piece of the original plan for San Clemente.
Tom Bertog
Tom Bertog Real Estate | San Clemente, CA
Serving Orange County since 1989
