Twin Inns

Twin Inns. . This Victorian structure was built in 1887 for Gerhard Schutte, whose role in the development of the town led to his being called the "Father of Carlsbad." Schutte and partners Samuel Church Smith and D.D. Wadsworth founded the Carlsbad Land and Mineral Water Company and had as their vision "a town of small farms and gracious homes." To that end they bought 400 prime acres at $40 per acre for development as a community. They laid out a townsite, lined roads with eucalyptus seedlings and named the streets. This property was converted to the Twin Inns Restaurant circa 1917 by Whiting and Reed and was purchased by Ed and Neva Kenner in 1919. It was named the Twin Inns since the building was identical to the nearby Wadsworth home, also used as an inn. The building was extensively remodeled with a large octagonal dining room added in 1922. The Twin Inns was a popular summer dining area, frequented by many of the Hollywood set after a day at the races and later figured prominently in Carlsbad's history serving as the site of the first city council meeting and deliberations on the city's incorporation. The building was also famous for its fried chicken dinners which were promoted by large plaster chickens out front. After 60 years as a family business, the Twin Inns was sold in 1984 and became part of the Village Fair Shopping Center.