And then there are the landmarks: Who could forget the lights at night on the Balboa Pavilion or the bell tower at Newport Harbor High School?
There are some landmarks that have been lost but not forgotten. Many have fond memories of their first strike at Kona Lanes or seeing a second-run double feature for $1 at the Mesa. And don't forget the less-than-frightening Scary Dark Ride at the Balboa Fun Zone — what a thrill.
We wanted to take a look at some of the local landmarks in the area and explore their histories. We came up with this list of 14 places that hold a spot in local history — twice as many as the Seven Wonders of the World. Take that, Giza.
Click here to see a slide show of the 14 Wonders of Newport-Mesa.
The 14 Wonders of Newport-Mesa
THE ARCHES
3334 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach
Restaurant owner Dan Marcheano is counting down the days — 88 to go, as of today — until he gives up the historic building that is his Arches Restaurant, a fine dining establishment that specializes in steak and abalone dishes.
But soon Marcheano will be packing up and heading to another Newport location to open up a barbecue version of the restaurant, which he says will retain the Arches name. Newport native Joseph McGinty Nichol — better known as McG, a Hollywood film director and TV producer — announced earlier in the year his plans to take over the restaurant's lease and retain its Newport charm.
"We just want this to be a reflection of everything that is so great about this town — the Wedge, the Dory Fleet, the junior lifeguards," McG told the Daily Pilot earlier this year.
Even if McG is not able to keep the name, stories about the Arches will likely not fade away. The building was constructed in 1922, Marcheano said, and has catered to a host of celebrities and sometimes illicit activities over the last eight decades.
