Landmark club reopens in Altadena: Life isn't the same, community members say, but it's a start

"Children somersaulted into a pool as adults sipped cocktails and dined on burgers, blue- and orange-striped umbrellas shielding them from the summer sun. Nearby, families squared off on newly redone tennis courts. But it was impossible not to notice, beyond the cool splashing and camaraderie, a charred and empty landscape. The Altadena Town & Country Club - a storied establishment that has been a center of play as well as employment in the foothill town for more than a century - was destroyed in the Eaton fire. On Sunday, it reopened."

"The noise of the crowd that gathered was a marked change from the silence that had reigned over Altadena since January's firestorm. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), whose congressional district includes Altadena, spoke at the reopening and recalled touring the area of the country club two nights after the Jan. 7 disaster. "I could not believe my eyes," Chu said. "I still saw flames around the different parts of the ruins.""

Altadena Town and Country Club, founded in 1910, was destroyed by the Eaton fire and reopened on Sunday. The reopening mixed leisure scenes — children in the pool, adults dining under blue-and-orange umbrellas, and families on renovated tennis courts — with visible charred surroundings. The club hosted community events such as fundraisers, municipal meetings, proms and Rotary gatherings, and provided amenities including a pool, multiple tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, dining options and ballrooms. Los Angeles County suffered extensive losses in the January fires, with at least 31 deaths and more than 9,000 structures destroyed. Membership cost was $465 a month.

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