Chateau La Jolla, an independent-living senior apartment community, was built in 1971 at 233 Prospect St., at the intersection of Coast Boulevard in The Village, a half-block from the beach.
Managing Director Kaity Rudolph, a licensed nursing home administrator and assisted-living director, said “I appreciate the chance to combine leadership with day-to-day connection. I enjoy tackling challenges, but what I value most is seeing the impact we make — whether that’s through the quality of our services or simply the relationships built with residents and staff.
“Chateau is a place where people feel at home, and so is La Jolla. Being part of that is very meaningful to me.”
Rudolph answered the following questions to share more about Chateau.
Q. Can you tell us about the history of Chateau La Jolla?
A. Chateau La Jolla Chateau was a joint venture of Paul Ellingsen and MJ Brock & sons. Chateau was purchased by the Fee and Collins families in 1979. These two families still own and operate the community today.
Chateau is made up of three buildings, each four to five stories high. The architecture is often described as the French Normandy style.
Chateau has been operating for over 50 years as senior housing, primarily as a 55+ independent living community. Over the years we’ve really found our niche to serve active retirees who want coastal living with amenities, rather than just housing.
Q. What are some of the amenities offered at Chateau La Jolla?
A. We offer everything you need to make life easy and enjoyable. Our residents love the variety of social activities and exercise classes, plus fun outings to local plays, concerts and events. We provide chauffeur and transportation services, weekly housekeeping and an onsite maintenance team to take care of the details. Meal plans are included, along with Wi-Fi, cable, covered utilities and secure garage parking.
We also have a unique partnership with a local caregiving agency where residents can hire for private care as they age in place, in increments as small as 15 minutes. It’s all about making life simple so you can spend your time doing what you love in the heart of beautiful La Jolla.
Q. What are some of the scheduled social activities you offer?
A. We offer a wide variety of activities designed to keep our residents engaged, active and connected. Favorites include our walking club, yoga, bingo, poker and mahjong. We host weekly happy hours, movie nights and book clubs, wine tastings, plus shopping trips and outings around town. We also bring in guest speakers to cover everything from health and wellness to technology tips.
Wine tastings are among the activities available at Chateau La Jolla. (Provided by Kaity Rudolph)
There’s always something happening, and we love seeing our residents try new things and build friendships along the way. … You can be as busy as you want to be.
Q. What makes dining at Chateau La Jolla unique?
A. We work with a range of vendors to bring in the freshest ingredients, with deliveries seven days a week.
Dining at Chateau La Jolla is all about comfort, connection and the joy of gathering. Meals here are meant to be shared — long, conversational experiences where the atmosphere is just as important as the food. Our menu features classic French and Mediterranean cuisine with daily specials, a robust always-available menu and a light-fare menu that’s updated regularly.
Chef Damaso Lee brings a wealth of experience and passion to our kitchen. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of Napa Valley, he’s worked at world-class restaurants like The French Laundry in Napa Valley and Trattoria Acqua here in La Jolla and trained in Tuscany and Burgundy. He was even awarded a Medal d’Or by Julia Child.
Chef Damaso and his team love creating dishes that feel special and personal, making every meal something to look forward to.
Q. How many options are available with your different floor plans?
A. We offer a variety of options to fit different needs, including studios, one-, two- and even three-bedroom apartments. Each size comes with several floor plan choices, so you can pick the exact layout that works best for you.
Every apartment includes at least a kitchenette, complete with essentials like a stove and oven or convection oven, so you have everything you need to feel right at home. Many of our apartments feature modern, newly designed finishes that add both comfort and style.
Q. You have won the La Jolla Light’s Best of La Jolla readers poll for senior living the past six years. Why do you think voters have selected you?
A. I think it comes down to the fact that we’re local and family-owned, with a team that’s been here for many years. We treat our staff with respect and generosity, and they’re happy to come to work each day. We focus on doing what’s right, having fun and creating a true sense of community.
Moving from a longtime home can be an incredibly difficult transition, and we never take that lightly. Every day, we work to make sure our residents feel welcomed, cared for and confident that they made the right choice in calling Chateau home.
For more information about Chateau La Jolla, visit chateaulajolla.com or call (858) 459-4451.
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