Dolly Varden Hotel (Long Beach)

335 Pacific Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-8950

The newly renovated Varden Hotel in Long Beach, California is the first downtown Long Beach boutique hotel, which blends style and affordability. Located in the heart of downtown Long Beach, the hotel has been known as the Dolly Varden Hotel since the 1920’s.

An extensive renovation combines history and contemporary style. The 35-room hotel contains the original front desk from 1929, historic windows, railings and archways; all blending seamlessly with white leather furniture, a diamond shaped gray pewter and white limestone lobby floor, and state of the art technology.

The Varden Hotel’s location is within walking distance to all the Long Beach Attractions. The hotel is only one block from trendy Pine Avenue restaurants, and four short blocks from the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. It is within walking distance to the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Pike at Rainbow Harbor, local beaches, museums, boutiques and many other attractions.

The Dolly Varden rooftop sign is placed atop a rectangular, nondescript apartment hotel constructed in 1929. The building is not architecturally significant, nor does it have an identifiable architectural style. However, the rooftop sign is a vintage historical object, notable for its period design and for the charming and nostalgic message displayed. It is a visual landmark in the downtown. City permits do not exist for the sign, but based on stylistic inference, it appears to be a product of the `thirties. Building permits for post-earthquake repairs were taken out in August 1933, including work on the roof; one could surmise that the sign was erected at that time.

The sign recalls a time when apartment hotels without amenities were common in the downtown. It is the only historic sign which contains an advertising message in addition to the name of the facility. It is a visually prominent feature both during the daytime and at night because of its neon. Its design and materials embody a typical "thirties" stylistic character.

The sign and the message on the sign on the roof of the Dolly Varden Hotel evoke the nostalgic flavor of Long Beach's past. The unique feature of this rooftop sign is the addition of a commercial message to the name of the hotel; this neon advertisement was placed on two diagonal positions to catch the attention of travelers from both directions. It is an example or roadside vernacular design, similar to Route 66 artifacts and early examples of creative roadside commercial signage. It is also a reminder of Long Beach's prominence as a beach resort town, with profusion of small hotels close to the beachfront.

Dolly Varden's obituary paints a portrait of a colorful and eccentric person, a circus performer who hoarded jewels. She apparently did not live in Long Beach, but apparently had an admirer in Long Beach. The name Dolly Varden also belongs to a character in a Dickens' novel, "Barnaby Rudge". The name of the original owner who built the hotel was L.F. Dolly.

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