Austin KlarVanguard Properties · Lawyer Turned Real Estate Agent

What Happened to San Francisco’s Cliff House?

Name: What Happened to San Francisco’s Cliff House?
Uploaded: 2025-11-03T01:00:42+00:00
Duration: 59 s
Channel: Austin Klar
Description: In this YouTube monologue, Austin Klar outlines the history and recent challenges surrounding San Francisco’s iconic Cliff House. He traces its origins…

3 Nov 2025 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:59

In this YouTube monologue, Austin Klar outlines the history and recent challenges surrounding San Francisco’s iconic Cliff House. He traces its origins from the 1863 Gold Rush‑era resort, through two fires, to the construction of the current 29,500‑square‑foot neoclassical building in 1909. The landmark, owned by the National Park Service, has been vacant since 2020. A 20‑year lease with a private operator was intended to revive the site with new restaurants, but renovation cost estimates ballooned from $10 million to $25 million, pushing the projected reopening from 2025 to at least late 2026, with a realistic earliest date of 2027. Klar ends by expressing continued optimism and asks viewers to follow for updates.

Chapters

Looks like the most anticipated reopening of the year has been delayed yet again. After the Gold Rush, San Francisco real estate developers saw Lands End as a new development opportunity and constructed the original Cliff House in 1863 as a resort for the wealthy. After it burnt down and a subsequent restaurant built at the site also burnt down, the 29,500-square-foot neoclassical Cliff House that stands there today was built in 1909. Unfortunately, it's been vacant since 2020, and it doesn't look like the vacancy is gonna end anytime soon. The National Park Service owns the land landmark and entered into a 20-year lease with an operator with plans to build new restaurants there, but after costs to restore and renovate the building exploded from an estimated $10 million to $25 million, those plans were delayed initially until 2025 and have now been delayed again until at least late 2026. Realistically, probably 2027 at the earliest. Still looking forward to the reopening and will keep you updated of any changes, so make sure to follow along for more information.