Coronado Island is filled with pretty things. White sand, pastel cottages, and a giant red-roofed hotel by the sea. But look closer. You’ll spot something stranger.
A witch decoration on a fence post. A street sign that reads “Wizard of Oz Ave.” A library with glowing glass panels of Munchkins.
This small beach town has a real link to the Land of Oz. Author L. Frank Baum spent his winters here. Hotel records show visits in 1904, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1916, and 1917. He wrote parts of several Oz books on this island. Some say the town shaped his imagination in lasting ways.
Baum wasn’t a casual visitor either. He kept a daily writing routine here, working from about 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Afterward, he’d often go sailing on Glorietta Bay. He even read stories aloud to children on the hotel grounds. One year, he presented a silver cup to a newborn guest. He even wrote a poem for the occasion.
Grab your ruby slippers. This walking-friendly itinerary follows Baum’s footsteps across Coronado. Then it takes a fun detour into the sky.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road Through Coronado
Long before Judy Garland skipped down a yellow brick road, Baum walked Coronado’s sidewalks. He was a New York native who settled in Chicago. He needed a break from harsh midwestern winters. Coronado gave him that break, year after year.
Most of those winters, Baum and his family stayed at the Hotel del Coronado. Two of his visits were spent in a rented cottage. Locals now call it the Oz House. During his stays, he wrote or finished several Oz books. Titles include Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz and The Road to Oz. He also finished The Emerald City of Oz here.
The connection is deeper than lodging. One of Baum’s most memorable characters supposedly came from a beach encounter. That character is the Woggle-Bug. As the story goes, a young girl showed Baum a fiddler crab on the sand. She asked him what it was. He blurted out “A Woggle-Bug.” The name stuck so well he built a character around it. That character later starred in newspaper comics. Readers even competed to guess his next punny line.
Coronado shows up in Baum’s writing beyond Oz, too. Writing under the pen name Edith Van Dyne, he set a novel here in 1911. That book, Aunt Jane’s Nieces and Uncle John, features the Hotel del Coronado. He also wrote a lesser-known poem, Nelebel’s Fairyland. Historians believe it describes a Coronado sunset over the bay. Baum wrote another short poem about Coronado too. It praised the island’s beauty and glowing evening light.
This itinerary strings together the real places tied to Baum’s years here. You’ll start at his old winter house. Next comes the grand hotel he loved. Then you’ll walk easy stops around Orange Avenue. Finally, because every good adventure needs a big finish, you’ll head to the water. There, you’ll take a flight of your own.
Step Into Baum’s World at the Oz House
Your first stop sits at 1101 Star Park Circle. Locals call it the Oz House. It’s easy to see why. Painted shutters and a small “Wizard of Oz Ave” sign decorate the front. A witch cutout hangs near the door. Both nod to the books written inside.
Baum rented this yellow cottage during his winter stays. It was here where he wrote several Oz titles and plays. The City of Coronado later designated the home a historic resource. That designation recognized the property’s tie to Baum’s most productive writing years.
Old newspapers back up the story. A 1912 interview in the San Diego Union ran beside a photo of the house. The caption read simply: “Winter home of L. Frank Baum, Coronado Beach, Southern California.” That caption, plus decades of local record-keeping, still matters to historians today.
Remember one thing before you go here. This is a private home. You cannot walk through the gate or knock on the door. Just admire the house from the sidewalk. Snap a photo of the quirky Oz touches. Then imagine Baum inside, dreaming up flying monkeys and emerald towers.
Discover the Emerald City at Hotel del Coronado
From the Oz House, it’s a short walk to the Hotel del Coronado. Locals call it “The Del.” Baum knew it well. He stayed here most winters, arriving each January from Chicago. His favorite room was number 3132, with gorgeous ocean views. He also stayed in rooms 3217 and 3474 over the years.
The Del is hard to miss. Its white walls, red turrets, and wraparound porches rise straight from the sand. It looks like something out of a storybook. Some fans believe this fairy-tale silhouette shaped Baum’s vision of the Emerald City. That claim is popular around town. Historians treat it as legend, not confirmed fact. No written record proves it directly.
What is well documented is the Crown Room. This grand dining hall stretches 160 feet long. Its domed ceiling rises 33 feet high, paneled in Oregon sugar pine. Ornate crown-shaped chandeliers hang from that ceiling. Hotel historians credit the design to Baum himself. They say it borrows from illustrator W. W. Denslow’s original drawings. Those drawings showed the Cowardly Lion’s crown in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The Crown Room has hosted royalty, a Lindbergh celebration, and even a presidential dinner. Today, it’s just as well known for Sunday brunch. That brunch regularly wins “best in San Diego” honors from local publications.
You don’t need a reservation to peek inside. Just walk through the lobby toward the Victorian Building. Step into a room Baum quite literally helped design.
Find More Oz Around Orange Avenue
Head back toward downtown Coronado, and the Oz trail keeps going. This stretch works well on foot. Everything is within a few blocks of Orange Avenue.
Coronado Public Library
First, visit the Coronado Public Library on Orange Avenue. Inside, nine large glass panels illustrate scenes from the Oz books. Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion all appear in bright glass. The panels sit near the children’s section. They make a fun, free stop for Oz fans of any age.
Coronado Museum of History and Art
A few steps away sits the Coronado Museum of History and Art. Inside, you’ll find first editions of the Oz books Baum wrote here. You’ll also see other artifacts from the town’s early days. Admission is free, though donations help keep the museum running.
Emerald City Surf Shop
Finish this stretch at the Emerald City Surf Shop. Its name is a playful nod to Oz. It’s a fun reminder that Baum’s fantasy world never really left this island. It just picked up a surfboard.
1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach
Want to sleep inside the story? This bed and breakfast keeps a room called the “Author’s Study.” It’s a fitting nod to Baum’s writing habits. Book ahead, since Oz fans often request it by name.
Visit During the Holiday Season
The Hotel Del hosts an Oz-themed event each winter. It runs from late November through the holidays. Guests can see themed trees and glowing lights. The Crown Room offers festive holiday dining too. Dorothy and her friends often greet guests in person. Time your trip for November or December. That timing adds extra Oz magic to your visit.
A Guided Look Behind the Curtain
For even more Baum trivia, join a historic walking tour with Coronado Touring. Guides depart from Glorietta Bay Inn on select days. They share stories about Baum’s time on the island. You’ll hear details that don’t make it into any plaque.
Together, these five stops make an easy walking loop. Pair it with a coffee stop on Orange Avenue. That covers most of Coronado’s Oz-themed sights on foot.
Take the Wizard’s Journey to the Water
You’ve followed Baum’s footsteps across the island. You saw his cottage, his hotel, and his chandeliers. Now it’s time to see the coast a different way. Baum once imagined flying monkeys and hot air balloons carrying his characters. You can take your own trip skyward, minus the danger and the witches.
A short drive from Coronado brings you to Mission Bay. This is the home base for Go Parasailing. From there, you can rise high above the water, storybook-style. Flights use winch-direct takeoff, so you lift off and land right on the boat. There’s no running down a beach and no jumping off a dock.
For the biggest thrill, book the SkyRider flight. It’s Go Parasailing’s most extreme option. It sends you out on 800 feet of line. Expect roughly 8 to 10 minutes of airtime. From up there, Mission Bay spreads out below in shades of blue. Sailboats drift like tiny toys far beneath you. The San Diego skyline stretches out in the distance.
Most groups fly tandem, or even in threes. That makes this a natural finish to a shared day with family or friends. As the boat pulls away, the parasail fills with air. The engine noise fades fast. What’s left is quiet, open sky, and a clear view of the bay.
Want proof you actually did it? Add the Photo & Video Package. A tethered camera captures your entire flight automatically. There’s nothing to push or aim. You’ll walk away with hundreds of photos. You’ll also get several minutes of video. Everything saves to a memory card that’s yours to keep.
One quick note for planning: flights depart from Mission Bay, not Coronado itself. It’s a short and scenic drive between the two. Easily done in the same day as your walking tour.
You followed the Yellow Brick Road across Coronado’s streets and porches. You saw the library windows and the Emerald City chandeliers. Now you get to follow your own path upward. It’s a view no witch, wizard, or Munchkin ever saw.
FAQs
Is there a Wizard of Oz house on Coronado Island?
Yes. L. Frank Baum rented a cottage at 1101 Star Park Circle during his winter stays. He wrote several Oz books there, including parts of The Emerald City of Oz. The city later designated it a historic resource for its Baum connection. It remains a private home, so visitors can only view it from the street outside.
Can anyone walk into Hotel del Coronado?
Yes. The hotel’s public areas, including the lobby and Crown Room, welcome all visitors freely. You can walk through, admire the Baum-designed chandeliers, and explore the Victorian architecture freely. Guest rooms and private events stay reserved for hotel guests and ticket holders.
What is the address of the Wizard of Oz house in Coronado?
The house sits at 1101 Star Park Circle, near the Hotel del Coronado. It’s a private residence, so you can’t step inside. You can still view its playful Oz-themed touches from the public sidewalk.