Opened to the public in 1936, the Beach House was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to provide accommodation for changing rooms on the ground floor for Lake Temescal visitors and office space (in what is now the event space) on the upper floor that served as the original headquarters for the park district. The Temescal Beach House is perfect for intimate weddings, celebrations, workshops, and retreats with two separate rooms and a large flagstone patio to spread out in. Our approved caterers and preferred vendors can help you flawlessly execute your event from start to finish. We also offer a DIY non-catered option for reservations that end by 7pm. Located on Lake Temescal, a turn of the century privately built reservoir in Oakland, this WPA era building was seismically upgraded, made ADA accessible and remodeled to become a social, meeting, and event facility for the East Bay Regional Parks (EBRP). Because the structure is a State Historic Building, its exterior could not be altered, so the elaborate seismic work was performed primarily from the interior and on the roof. In addition, the upper level was reconfigured to more closely meet its new programmatic requirements, and new finishes in keeping with the spirit of the original building were incorporated. The upper level opens onto a the original flagstone patio and terraced rose garden (also built in the 1930’s), reinforcing the building’s strong indoor/outdoor relationship.
