San Diego Real Estate Blog

If asked to describe La Jolla, many would cite its beautiful climate, endless sunshine, seven miles of incredible coastline and vibrant village. They would not be wrong, but there are some little-known facts about La Jolla that are equally intriguing:

1. Believe it or not, it has snowed in La Jolla.

Unbelievably good weather nearly 365 days a year would lead one to believe that homes in La Jolla have never experienced so much as a trace of snow on their rooftops. That isn’t the truth though.  Mother Nature can make anything happen at her whim. Almost 50 years ago, La Jolla got some unexpected snowflakes on an otherwise normal December day.

The first and last recorded snowfall in La Jolla was on December 13, 1967. A sharp drop in temperature allowed the snow to stick around and decorate La Jolla homes throughout the day. San Diego proper also got its fair share of flurries.

2. No one is 100% sure where “The Jewel” got its name.

According to LaJollabythesea, historians are torn between two ideas about where La Jolla’s name came from. One argument is that the name came from the Spanish word La Joya, which means “the jewel.” A second theory is that La Jolla originated from the Native American “Woholle,” which translates to “hole in the mountains.” Information from La Jolla Playhouse’s history of the area states that La Joya has been noted on early documents from the region. 

La Jolla’s town council website also considers both theories viable and cites evidence that the Native American term that may have led to the Jewel’s name translates to the word “cave.” This name source would be rather old, as artifacts from the Cahuilla tribe have been found in La Jolla that date back over 3,000 years.

La Jolla Blue Book corroborates the Spanish name theory, but also gives merit to the Native American name origin by citing local Kumeyaay who call La Jolla the “land of holes.”

3. La Jolla has been the home of a number of celebrities.

Politicians, veterans and children’s book writers are but a few of the celebrities who have called La Jolla home at some point in time. LaJollabythesea noted that Mitt Romney, John McCain and Dr. Seuss all lived in La Jolla.

4. The La Jolla Playhouse is responsible for some of Broadway’s headliners.

Since its founding in 1947, the La Jolla Playhouse has been home to 75 world premieres and won over 300 awards. More than 25 of La Jolla Playhouse’s productions have gone on to Broadway, a rather remarkable feat. Of them, 35 earned Tony Awards. In addition to this, shows from La Jolla Playhouse have been performed in international venues, including, London, Brussels, Rotterdam and Moscow.

For information about luxury homes in La Jolla visit our La Jolla real estate page or contact DeSouza Select Properties.