Beloved sandcastle sculptor banned by San Diego luxury hotel over ‘political messages’

A beloved sandcastle sculptor has been banned from working outside a luxury beachfront hotel due to “political messages” in his artwork.

Bill Pavlacka claimed he was told to leave his spot outside the historic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County after 20 years for using a Mark Twain quote in one of his pieces.

He previously made other works containing the phrases “I love democracy” and “I love freedom of speech,” which he admitted he was warned about over the last year.

Pavlaka was banned after etching a Mark Twain quote into the sand. KEGT

The artist’s social media page is filled with his creations. Instagram/@thesandcastleman

Pavlacka claimed the hotel also accused him of drinking on the job and even asked to inspect his cooler while he worked, but he insisted it was the Twain quote that was “the last straw.”

The quote read: “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”

Pavlacka said he got a tap on the shoulder from the Del manager Nick, who dragged him to an upstairs office to reprimand him.

He later shared a letter with San Diego Ville, allegedly from the hotel, addressing “conduct that violated policies,” which include “political or controversial messages.”

Pavlacka has been doing his sandcastle art outside the hotel for decades. Instagram/@thesandcastleman

It listed a number of alleged offenses, including: “No physical contact with guests under any circumstances. All sandcastle content must remain neutral, family-friendly and free of political or controversial meaning. All interactions with guests must be courteous. Consumption of alcohol on property is strictly prohibited.”

He told the Coronado Times: “I couldn’t believe it. I was just thinking in my head, what is this about? I love doing my art. This is what I do. It’s fun and people appreciate it.”

Pavlacka continued: “He told me this the final straw. That this message was totally unacceptable.”

Pavlacka said the hotel began warning him about political messages such as “I love democracy” and “I love freedom of speech.” Youtube/NBC 7 San Diego

He added: “I thought Mark Twain was a loved American writer. I actually thought the quote was kind of funny. And they didn’t say that any hotel guests complained.”

The Twain quote is believed to originate from the author’s conversations in Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 work From Sea to Sea: Letters of Travel.

But its meaning today has been twisted for political purposes – to claim that what someone says is the truth may just be them manipulating it to suit their agenda.

Pavlacka shared a letter, allegedly from the hotel, about “conduct that violated policis.” NBC7 San Diego

Pavlacka, a former construction worker known as The Sandcastle Man, has created art in the same place for nearly 20 years -– using a bucket, paintbrush and a plastic fork.

He does not work directly for the Del, but was on the section of beach it owns and has worked with staff on corporate events in the past.

He has become a popular figure, with locals furious at the hotel for banning him. Kimberly Weed told the Coronado Times: “Bill is hardworking and quiet and never have we ever seen him drinking.

Pavlacka, the “Sandlecastle Man,” seen working on one of this creations. Youtube/NBC 7 San Diego

The Hotel del Coronado only confirmed that it had “parted ways” with Pavlacka. Youtube/NBC 7 San Diego

“This is a huge loss for the people of San Diego, and everyone loves the Sandcastle Man. Bring him back and appreciate the joy it brings people from all over the world.”

Ken Fitzgerald added: “There is nothing controversial, much less offensive, about a quote from one of America’s greatest authors about the importance of truth and objective reality in our nation’s civic life.”

Pavlacka admitted he was devastated by the ban, but added: “I won’t give up, I’ll still build sandcastles. It may not be here, it will be somewhere.”