The Mountain Mermaid

Clicking this link will take you to a form that allows you to tell friends and family about The Mountain Mermaid.

Topanga Wedding Location
20421 Callon Drive
Topanga, CA 90290
Contact: Owner
Phone: 310/455-3181
www.themountainmermaid.com
Request a proposal for your event from The Mountain Mermaid

if you would mention that you found The Mountain Mermaid on the Here Comes The Guide website.

Click thumbnails to enlarge image

Why We Like This Place

Hidden away in the mountains above Los Angeles, this lovely hacienda basks in the bright afternoon sun, taking an endless, dreamy siesta. Originally built in 1930 as a country club, this serene siren elegantly conceals her varied—and quite colorful—past. In the 40s the site was a casino and brothel operated by gangster Mickey Cohen, who stocked the basement with slot machines, and in the 50s it was a Jewish boy's school and American Legion Hall. It became The Canyon Club in the 60s, a gay dining and dancing establishment, and the following decade it was rechristened The Mermaid Tavern, a popular classical music venue. Although it was a critical success, the Tavern was a financial failure, and after it closed in 1976, the building languished in disrepair until Bill Buerge bought it in 1988. He spent the next five years turning this diamond in the rough into an architectural jewel.

The Mermaid is a knockout inside and out. Designed like a California mission with honey-colored stucco walls and a terra-cotta-tiled roof, the Mermaid embraces you with her lush acreage from the moment you arrive. The highlight of the entry gardens is an Old World fountain splashing water into a square stone pool, embellished with lily pads, bamboo and palm ferns. An abundance of rustic pottery sporting cactus and other succulents makes the front garden an earthy delight.

A series of graceful arches invites you through a covered front porch into the large main hall, where receptions take place. The room exemplifies the concept that less is more: both the sixteen-foot trussed-beam ceiling and maple floors remain free of paint and decoration, allowing the weathered patina of the wood to show; textured walls are punctuated only by French doors, tall arched windows and an enormous fireplace; furnishings consist of a few antiques, chairs and throw rugs. The overall effect is one of rustic elegance.

At one end of the room is a grand staircase where the bride can make her entrance, and at the other is a doorway leading into a smaller room used for cocktails or a buffet setup. Here, too, the decor is simple—wood floor and ceiling, multipaned windows, and a 14-foot antique harvest table, perfect for a long culinary display. French doors open out onto a private patio, where your guests can mingle under the sun or stars. From this scenic vantage point, the artistic-at-heart can appreciate how the rich earth tones of the nearby Santa Monica mountains, particularly striking at sunset, are mirrored in the Mermaid's warm and festive palette.

From the patio it's just a short walk down to a spacious ceremonial garden. Oak, olive and mulberry trees spread their leafy boughs wide, providing dappled shade for guests seated on swaths of lawn, next to a sparkling blue swimming pool. An array of potted plants parade alongside the pool deck, and at the head of the lawn, a wooden lattice archway twined with greenery is a natural spot for the ceremony. Afterwards, guests sip their cocktails and stroll along flagstone paths into cozy clearings, where statuary peeks out from lacy foliage, and blooming vines provide splashes of color.

Although the Mermaid has recently been named a California State Point of Historic Interest, it's been captivating the interest of everyone who sees it for over half a century.

Capacity

Ceremony	Reception/Special Events	Meetings
Max. Seated Indoors: 250 Max. Seated Outdoors: 250	Max. Seated Indoors: 150 Max. Seated Outdoors: 150 Max. Standing Indoors: 250 Max. Standing Outdoors: 200	Max. Seated: 250

Fees & Deposits

$2,500 is required to reserve your date and the balance is due 60 days prior to the event. The rental fee for weddings is $5,000.

Availability

Year-round. Weddings held Friday–Saturday, noon–10pm. Meetings held 8am–9pm on weekdays, 9am–10pm on weekends.

Catering

Choose From List

Alcohol

BYO

Sites Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
On-Site Accommodations

Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors
w/ Restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Access Limited

Site Type

Banquet/Events Facility
Garden
Historic/Landmark Building

Contact: Owner
310/455-3181
www.themountainmermaid.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from The Mountain Mermaid

View Map
Tell a Friend

Share The Mountain Mermaid with others:

Want to search again?

FIND A LOCATION

Search for Locations New Locations Featured Locations Rehearsal Dinners Location Search Tips Key to Terms First Time User

Don’t take chances on your wedding!

Certified By The Guide Northern and Southern California wedding vendors have all been highly recommended by tons of brides and fellow wedding professionals. If we don’t consistently hear raves, we don’t put them on our website.

Enter to win

2010 Southern California Dream Wedding Giveaway

You & your fiancé could win a package that includes rehearsal dinner, ceremony & reception location, music, photography, wedding dress, wedding night accommodations and many more event services worth over $100,000!

Register for your MyGuide account

Wishing you could save a list of the places and services that interest you? You can. Register for MyGuide and:
• save your favorite locations and services
• email several of your favorites at the same time
• share your selections with your family and friends
• make notes to yourself about each location or service

Rehearsal Dinner?

Here Comes The Guide is a great tool to use to find your rehearsal dinner location! And, read more about how to personalize your rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Dresses

We’ve selected the best California bridal salons to help you find your wedding dress. And, get great deals on your wedding dress and see entire wedding dress designer collections at California Trunk Shows.

Central Coast Weddings

We have just opened up a whole new section for Central Coast wedding locations and Central Valley ceremony sites. We think this gorgeous region, full of beach wedding locations and winery reception venues is the “next big thing” in destination weddings.

Santa Barbara Weddings

Santa Barbara is a stunning region for destination weddings. Its sublime weather is perfect for garden or beach wedding ceremonies, and its chic hotels and restaurants will rock your wedding reception. Most of our beautiful Santa Barbara wedding locations have Virtual Tours, so take a sneak peek right now!