Cameo Shores Real Estate & Homes

Cameo Shores is a small enclave of luxury homes located next to the beach with rows of streets that work from the beach and gradually go up the hill toward Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The Cameo Shores lifestyle gains you access to three private gated beaches of Cameo Shores and Crystal Cove, where great surfing and beach living can be found. Cameo Shores is also ideally located close to restaurants and shops in Corona del Mar. 

Pelican Hill Golf Club’s Ocean course,   on the north by  Pacific Coast Highway,  on the west by Morning Canyon and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. The lots are terraced up the hill toward   PCH so all of the homes with the exception of the first two streets closest to the highway have  panoramic  ocean or canyon and ocean views. The definition of cameo is “a gem, carved in relief.”   

In the 1950’s, Myford Irvine loved the idea of a Cameo coastal community that would extend from Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach and become the American “Riviera.” Cameo Shores became the first area where the Irvine Company developed using a “bare-ground lease” concept, which is land with no improvements such as grading, streets or sewers. Gilmore Ward, Frank Harrington and Charles Hester (The Sunny Homes Corporation) and the Irvine Company agreed to the concept of a 55-year bare-ground lease. The beginning state of their development was going to be called Cameo Cliffs as Irvine was developing the cove area at the other end of the open land and planned to name it Cameo Cove, having “Cameos” on either end of the land. The Irvine Company changed Cameo Cove to Irvine Cove and Cameo Cliffs became Cameo Shores as several cliffs to the north caved in, which gave the name “cliffs” a bad connotation. 

The area was built in 1960 with a variety of architectural styles (mostly modern or ranch style). The last 10 to 15 years have seen the second generation of homes arriving. As a rule, the replacement homes are much larger than the originals. A significant development was the approval by all parties to allow excavation downward into the slope for subterranean entries and/or garage entrances. The majority of the new homes are two stories with much more square footage, while remaining within the 14-foot height limits. This option has increased the desirability and value of the entire area. Cameo Shores is the location of the famed Portobello clean front estate, which recently sold for cash and a land trade at about $49 million and occupies three ocean front lots. 

Cameo Shores has a number of unique features which really add value to the quality of life, especially for ocean and beach lovers. There are three beautiful gated beaches which offer spectacular settings that rival or exceed those anywhere in the world. Cameo Shores residents also have access to Pelican Point (that used to be stables for boarding horses) which in turn allows them to walk to Crystal Cove Park beaches and to walk as far as El Moro. 

The community has family holiday events (Easter, July 4th, etc.) every year in Roxbury Park or at Third Beach. The park features a playground with plenty of room for kids to safely play and climb. There are a growing number of young families that take advantage of all of these opportunities. 

If you would like further information or assistance regarding Cameo Shores real estate and available homes for sale including off market and pocket listings throughout Cameo Shores, please feel free to contact us.