Located just 22 miles away from Los Angeles, (Not 26 as the song might have you believe) Catalina Island has been an island paradise located just a boat ride away from one of the world's largest cities for 100 years. Prior to the 1900's, the island was owned by someone you've heard about before- James Lick. Mr. Lick was seemingly not too interested in developing the island. After he passed away, his estate sold the island to a succession of developers who tried to develop it as a tourist attraction with little success.
Eventually the island attracted the attention of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, who ended up buying most of the island. He was hugely successful at turning the island into a tourist attraction, hosting millions of people each year.
Eventually, the Wrigley family chose to put most of the island's land into a conservancy and runs the public areas as an exciting vacation destination, offering day trips and overnight stays to tourists and locals alike.
