Land beneath Casa Romantica drops 10 feet, halts railroad service through San Clemente
An already weakened patio at the back of the 2.5-acre Casa Romantica estate slipped another 8-10 feet Thursday afternoon while a geologic firm was drilling to get boring samples to study the extent of a growing landslide. (Photo courtesy of Steve Knoblock)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cracks are appearing in the patio at Casa Romantica in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rail workers check out the tracks below Casa Romantica in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica is closed in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Casa Romantica patio hangs over a cliff north of the pier in San Clemente, CA, on Friday, April 28, 2023. The already weakened bluff-top patio at cracked and slide down the hillside Thursday afternoon, April 27. The slide halted rail service in the area and caused four condos to be red-tagged out of concern for safety. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crews from LGC Geotechnical Inc. had been drilling borings to install equipment in the ground to measure movement when the sandy earth began moving Thursday morning, said Councilmember Steve Knoblock, who had been out to look at the damage to the patio at the back of the landmark.
As work proceeded on Thursday, the small patio began to move slightly, pulling away from the ground with the cement below its tile giving way. By 1 p.m., the entire lower part of the concrete in the back corner had dropped down the hillside, pulling some of the slope with it. A chunk of hillside landed close to the railroad tracks.
Officials have said they believe an apartment building below and slightly to the north of the estate is not threatened because it is built on caissons that go deep into the hillside. But on Thursday, four condos on the building’s lowest level were red-tagged, displacing the residents, out of concern that if more earth or debris were to fall, it could smash windows or otherwise endanger their safety, Knoblock said.
The drilling work started Tuesday. Knoblock said crews from LGC were on site Thursday afternoon to continue to try and get better borings to assess the slide.
The area had been cordoned off, and nobody was injured. The debris field did get close to the railroad tracks that run at the foot of the hillside and passenger and freight service between Laguna Niguel and Oceanside was stopped “in an abundance of caution,” officials with Metrolink and the Orange County Transportation Agency said. The closure snarled evening commutes for many in the region.
Service will only resume when it is determined safe, officials said. Updates can be found on the OCTA, Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner social media and website.
Casa Romantica is the historic home of the city’s founder, Ole Hanson, and is now used as a cultural and events center. The 2.5-acre property, which is on a bluff overlooking the San Clemente pier, features gardens, an open-air courtyard, an amphitheater and ocean views from its terrace and patios.
Amy Behrens, executive director of the historic landmark, said city officials advised that the estate be “temporarily closed and to cancel all future events until further notice.” A Celtic festival had been planned this weekend.
“The safety and well-being of our guests, patrons, volunteers, and staff remain our top priority,” Behrens said. “We appreciate everyone’s understanding, and we will keep you updated on the status of the re-opening and rescheduling of events.”
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correctly identify Councilmember Steve Knoblock.
