World War II changed Del Mar. Young residents enlisted and served in places far from our beaches. The nature of our area changed. A blimp landing area was built just east of the fairgrounds. Airplane parts were being manufactured under the grandstands at the racetrack, the Hotel Del Mar was used to house officers who were stationed at Camp Callan on Torrey Pines Reserve. Some residents, including women, went to work as manufactures for plane parts.
A USO was opened, and Tensia Trejo, now 97, volunteered as a teenager. While some Del Mar servicemen were wounded in combat, all returned forever changed. After the war, Del Mar emerged to embrace an era of growth. A host of changes turned the sleepy village into a city with many new opportunities. Organizations such as the Del Mar Civic Association and the PTA formed to orchestrate this growth period. The racetrack resumed racing in 1945, and the County Fair returned in 1946. Soon Hollywood superstars began to rediscover the beauty of Del Mar.
World War ll altered our landscape, our people, and our hope for the future. A quiet village became a prosperous resort town. Our gratitude to those who sacrificed to bring peace and prosperity to Del Mar.
