Historic Ambassador Hotel Building In Lake Elsinore Headed For Demolition

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A historic building in downtown Lake Elsinore that has stood vacant for decades is headed toward demolition by the city.

The four-story structure at 164 S. Main St. was once known as the Ambassador Hotel. According to Riverside County assessor records, the 15,485-square-foot building (in its current state) was constructed in 1947.

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However, the site carries a much deeper history, according to Dream Center Lake Elsinore, a local nonprofit that has worked for years to preserve the property.

The location originally featured a two-story brick building erected in 1887 by city founder Franklin Heald. It initially housed Consolidated Bank on the ground level and community meeting rooms upstairs, later serving as the site for early City Council meetings and the first Lake Elsinore High School graduating class in 1907, according to the organization.

The property was eventually converted into a hotel, taking on the Ambassador Hotel moniker by 1947.

The building shuttered long ago, sitting vacant since the early 1990s and becoming an ongoing safety concern for city officials.

Ruth Atkins, a Lake Elsinore community leader who served as head of the local historical society before her death in late 2022 at age 91, once told Patch that the Ambassador building had undergone so many structural renovations over the decades that securing official state or federal historical landmark status was nearly impossible.

After years of the property sitting vacant, the owner sold the building in 2022 to Dream Center Lake Elsinore for $195,000, according to assessor records. The nonprofit sought to transform the structure into a rehabilitation center for individuals in need, according to social media posts from the group.

Patch reached out to Dream Center Lake Elsinore for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

The Ambassador's days are numbered. During the Aug. 11 City Council meeting, council members are poised to approve a $198,000 construction agreement with Ventura-based Precision Works Inc. for the demolition of the building.

"The Ambassador Hotel has long been identified as a blighted property within the City," city staff wrote in meeting documents. "Over the years, it has become a focal point for community complaints and safety concerns. The building poses significant hazards due to its deteriorated structural integrity. In its current state, the building represents potential for many risks and specifically could lead to injury or other public safety issues."

The city actively pursued legal authorization to clear the site. On July 21, officials obtained a court order authorizing the demolition of the Ambassador Hotel due to its severely deteriorated state.

The open session for the Tuesday, Aug. 11, Lake Elsinore City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Cultural Center, 183 N. Main St. Click here to see the full meeting agenda.