E stablished more than a century ago by developers with big visions , Balboa Island has evolved from humble beginnings as an underwater sand bar into a vivacious neighborhood and tourist destination . The small , densely populated island community boasts perfect weather , unique shops and restaurants and myriad outdoor activities for all ages . Not to mention , it ’ s a great place to live — residents have access to all the amenities the quaint island has to offer while being a quick drive to even more on the mainland .
The harborside neighborhood , ringed by a paved concrete boardwalk , is accessible from the mainland via bridge and from the peninsula via the wellknown Balboa Island Ferry ; there are also several docks for those arriving by boat . A Park Avenue bridge connects the main island to Little Balboa Island , just east across the Grand Canal .
“ It ’ s the only community in our area where you can walk the entire perimeter and admire the beautiful gardens , houses [ and ] boats . The demographics are a mixed bag of singles and couples ,” says Shirley Pepys , the Balboa Island Museum board chairman . “ There is a very strong sense of community . Marine Avenue is a small town main street offering a variety of restaurants and shops .”
HISTORIC BEGINNINGS Balboa Island was once little more than a mudflat formed in intertidal areas where sediment was deposited by the Santa Ana River . James McFadden , who had bought the Newport Landing wharf in 1875 , followed up in the 1890s by purchasing half of the peninsula and the marshlands , including what would eventually become Balboa Island . Later , in 1902 , he sold all of his Newport-area property to William S . Collins .
“ Collins was an idea man — he famously said he could ‘ make money out of sand ,’ and dredged the mud flats … into what would eventually become Balboa Island ,” says Celeste Dennerline , chairman of visitor experience at Balboa Island Museum . “ The main problem that he encountered was that he was trying to sell the lots as we were going into World War I and cars had just come out , which were about the same cost as the lots he was trying to sell .”
Collins subdivided and offered lots for sale for between $ 300 and $ 600 , but not enough were sold to pay for improvements such as sewers , water , power and paved streets . When Collins went bankrupt , many of the lots reverted ownership to the LA banks that held the mortgages .
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