San Diego's beloved Sandcastle Man Banned Over Political Message in Art
A beloved sandcastle sculptor, known as the Sandcastle Man, has been banned from working outside a luxury beachfront hotel in San Diego due to a political message in his artwork. Bill Pavlacka, a former construction worker, has been creating sandcastles near the historic Hotel del Coronado for nearly 20 years, using a bucket, paintbrush, and a plastic fork. However, his career took a turn when he was told to leave his spot after 20 years for using a Mark Twain quote in one of his pieces.
The quote, which reads, "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please," was deemed "political or controversial" by the hotel management. Pavlacka claims the hotel accused him of drinking on the job and even asked to inspect his cooler while he worked, but he insists it was the Twain quote that was the "last straw."
The hotel's letter to San Diego Ville (https://www.sandiegoville.com/2026/02/san-diegos-historic-hotel-del-coronado.html) outlined several alleged offenses, including no physical contact with guests, neutral and family-friendly sandcastle content, and courteous interactions. It also prohibited the consumption of alcohol on the property.
Pavlacka, who has become a popular figure among locals, is devastated by the ban. He told the Coronado Times (https://coronadotimes.com/news/2026/02/07/outpouring-of-support-after-hotel-del-orders-sandcastle-man-to-leave-beach/): "I couldn’t believe it. I love doing my art. This is what I do. It’s fun and people appreciate it."
The Sandcastle Man's supporters are furious at the hotel's decision, with Kimberly Weed stating, "Bill is hardworking and quiet and never have we ever seen him drinking. 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."
Despite the ban, Pavlacka remains determined, stating, "I won’t give up, I’ll still build sandcastles. It may not be here, it will be somewhere."
The Hotel del Coronado did not directly address his claims, only confirming that they had parted ways with the Sandcastle Man on February 5th.
