Recent El Niño Storms have unveiled a long-buried secret just off the shores of Coronado, California. Back on January 1, 1937, a ship known as the “sin ship,” the SS Monte Carlo, met its fate as it crashed onto Coronado’s coastline.
This gambling casino ship was no ordinary vessel; it was shrouded in mystery and excitement. Delve into the intriguing history of this newly revealed shipwreck with the following 10 remarkable revelations.
- The SS Monte Carlo, originally the SS McKittrick, started its life as a 300-foot concrete and iron oil tanker, launched in 1921;
- During the early 1930s, Southern California’s mobsters took control of the ship, transforming it into a thriving center for gambling and prostitution by 1936. Eventually, they decided to anchor it off the coast of Coronado, California, following persistent pressure from law enforcement;
- The question arises: how did they manage this audacious venture? The answer lies in the fact that the Monte Carlo was strategically anchored in international waters, approximately three miles away from Coronado Beach in San Diego, where state and federal laws held no jurisdiction;
- Interestingly, the ship attracted Hollywood luminaries like Clark Gable and Mae West, who were known to visit. This was perhaps no surprise, considering the Hotel Del’s rich history of hosting Hollywood royalty;
- San Diego’s evangelists dedicated entire sermons to the ship and its eventual downfall, a reflection of the moral and societal impact it had;
- The “sin ship” met its end on New Year’s Day in 1937, crashing in front of what is now the El Camino Tower of the Coronado Shores condos during a storm. Curiously, once it landed on the shore, no one was eager to claim ownership, as it became technically illegal on land. It wasn’t until 2014 that Stephen Turner, the grandson of the owner, stepped forward to assert ownership;
- Remarkably, the SS Monte Carlo was not the solitary gambling ship along Southern California’s coast during that era. Between 1927 and 1939, as many as ten gambling ships reportedly operated between San Diego and Long Beach. Among them were the Lux, the Rex, the Johanna Smith, the Rose Isle, and, of course, the Monte Carlo;
- The wreckage, situated approximately half a mile from the Hotel Del, is visible underwater during low tide and occasionally revealed during powerful storm tides, reminiscent of the recent ones that have occurred in the past weeks;
- Adding an element of mystery and allure, legend has it that within the sunken wreckage may lie around $150,000 worth of silver dollar coins, as recounted by the late Bud Bernhard, who, as a child, retrieved hundreds of dollars from the shipwreck. He once confidently stated, “I’m convinced there is $100,000 in gold and silver coins deep in that wreck.”
These astonishing facts unveil a captivating chapter in the history of the SS Monte Carlo, the “sin ship,” and its enduring legacy off the coast of Coronado, California.
Conclusion
The saga of the SS Monte Carlo, known as the “sin ship,” remains a testament to a bygone era of daring endeavors and hidden treasures. Unearthed by recent El Niño Storms, this shipwreck off the coast of Coronado, California, has revealed its secrets and mysteries.
From its humble beginnings as the SS McKittrick, a concrete and iron oil tanker, to its transformation into a hub for gambling and prostitution under the control of Southern California mobsters, the SS Monte Carlo has a storied past. Anchored strategically in international waters to evade the reach of state and federal laws, it attracted Hollywood’s elite and was the subject of impassioned sermons by San Diego evangelists.
The ship met its dramatic end on New Year’s Day in 1937, crashing onto Coronado’s shores, and remained abandoned until 2014 when ownership was finally claimed. The SS Monte Carlo was not alone in its illicit activities, as several other gambling ships dotted the Southern California coast during that era.
Today, the wreckage of the SS Monte Carlo lies submerged, tantalizingly close to the Hotel Del, occasionally revealing its secrets during low tide or powerful storms. Legends persist of hidden treasures, including valuable silver dollar coins, deep within its depths.
In conclusion, the SS Monte Carlo’s history is a captivating chapter in the annals of Coronado’s past. It stands as a reminder of an era of audacity and intrigue, and the secrets it holds beneath the waves continue to fascinate and inspire those who dare to explore its mysteries.