The iconic Chapman Estate in Shell Beach is back open just in time for the spring and summer months ahead.
For those who walk down Ocean Boulevard in the seaside town, it’s hard to ignore the historical and gated property.
“People say, ‘I’ve walked by here for years and I’ve always wondered,’ so it’s a way to get inside the gates and look around and see what the house looks like,” said Chapman Estate docent Toni Kincaid.
While the gates are closed in the winter, the Chapman Estate is back open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays. For $5, locals can enter the property during business hours and for another $5, they can take a docent-led tour.
“We go through the history of the property, how the one house the gull house was owned by an artist and how the Rodgers, who owned the house in back of me or built the house in back of me, bought three lots for $10 in 1929. People love that one,” Kincaid said.
Public visiting hours will continue through October. If you want to spend more than a few hours at the estate, mark your calendars for Swingin’ by the Sea on September 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy food, live music and a silent auction. For more information on the Chapman Estate, click here.
