All photos courtesy S.D. Malkin Properties, unless noted otherwise.
Historic image looking northeast toward the Graves House showing how it originally appeared. Dr. Graves and his wife are seen in the photograph. This image was heavily utilized in the research to restore all the decorative woodwork. Photo courtesy Bruce Coons
Looking northeast at the Graves House once the restoration had been completed in June of 2021
Looking east at the primary west façade prior to the commencement of the relocation and restoration project. The non-historic diamond patterned windows were removed
Looking east at the primary facade after restoration. Note the restored double-hung windows
Looking north at the south facade prior to the restoration. The non-historic addition to the east was removed
Looking north at the restored south facade. The decorative porch railing was restored using historic photos as reference
Looking south at the north facade prior to the restoration
Looking south at the restored north facade
Detail photo showing the reconstructed chimney, which had to be deconstructed for the building relocation. The chimney cresting was replicated using historical photos as a reference
Detail photo showing the replicated porch spindle work and post brackets. Also shown are the restored ridge fan vent and the ridge finial
All photos below by Sandé Lollis
IF YOU’VE SEEN the Tom Cruise hit movie "Top Gun" (1986), you probably know about the “Top Gun House” in Oceanside, where romantic scenes between Cruise’s character “Maverick” and Kelly McGillis were shot after Maverick’s flashy arrival by motorcycle. Built as a vacation home for Dr. Henry Graves of Riverside, the 1887 cottage is one of the oldest homes in Oceanside. It is also one of the most ornate seaside Folk Victorian cottages built in San Diego County, and is now the county’s “last best” home of its kind from the 1880s housing boom.
The house is also the best representative of the City of Oceanside’s origins and the development of the town as a vacation and tourist destination that continues to this day. Once on SOHO’s Most Endangered List, the cottage’s rebirth comes to us thanks to efforts by hospitality/destination developer Jeremy Cohen of S.D. Malkin Properties.
But before that, movie fans, history buffs, and tourists who came to see the “Top Gun House” found a sadly vacant and deteriorating cottage. Despite its historical importance, demolition became a possibility. For years, the City of Oceanside, the Oceanside Historical Society and SOHO talked with resort developers about restoring the cottage. Jeremy Cohen had the vision to see the cottage’s architectural and cultural radiance and its commercial potential.
The cottage needed to be moved one block, still facing the ocean, so it retained its historic significance as a seaside cottage. When Heritage Architecture & Planning assessed the vacant home’s condition, most of the exterior needed attention. Much of the wood siding had been replaced. The ornate brackets and ridge cresting that had embellished the eaves, roof, and porch were lost or damaged, and the rear porch and stairs had vanished.
Heritage began to restore all of the original features, using historic photographs and documentation of existing elements. Photos helped Heritage with details large and small, such as the reconstruction of the side porch and the profile of the 1887 wood siding. One challenge: The reproduction chimney cresting, with proportions derived from photos, had to properly align with the roof slope and ridges. And the original brick chimney was carefully deconstructed and documented before moving the house, then meticulously rebuilt upon its relocation.
That relocation—with the unrestored cottage on wheels—took place with fanfare in Oceanside in 2020. Helping to realize Heritage’s restoration plan were contractors Spectra Company and DPR Construction, with Spectra handling the historic elements.
The cottage began its new life as a sparkling showpiece of the contemporary Mission Pacific Hotel, which opened in 2021 and was designed by Delawie, represented by Marc Mitterando. Still called the Top Gun House, the hotel describes the home’s interior transformation into “a decadent homemade dessert bar.” Now 135 years old, the historic Graves House shines as a unique and lasting beach hotel attraction that appeals to all ages and “tastes.”
SOHO commends Jeremy Cohen of S.D. Malkin Properties with the Commercial Restoration/Adaptive Reuse Award. He explored the restoration and adaptive reuse potential of the Graves House for many years, awaiting the right Oceanside project for it. His commitment was instrumental in saving a precious example of charming seaside Victorian cottage architecture that was an early catalyst for Oceanside’s development as a vacation town. That Jeremy ultimately found a meaningful new oceanfront spot for it in a contemporary hotel continues its sweet legacy in style.
(From the left) Michael Stephens, Jeremy Cohen, and Marc Mitterando. Photo by Sandé Lollis
