The Chapman Estate, a fixture on the bluffs of Shell Beach overlooking the Pacific since 1930, is home to a koi pond, a colorful begonia house, a windmill, and the Tudor-style abode.
“This is what we’re working to preserve. It’s worth saving, and it’s worth opening the doors to let people see,” volunteer Lillian Jewell said.
Join the festivities
The Swingin’ by the Sea fundraiser will be held on Sept. 20 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Chapman Estate. To buy tickets online and view a full list of participating restaurants and wineries, visit chapmanestatefoundation.org.
As the president of the Chapman Estate Foundation, Jewell spends most of the year preparing for Swingin’ by the Sea, the nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser.
On Sept. 20, the foundation’s volunteers will host a party on the estate grounds with hundreds of guests. Around 20 vendors will offer food and beverages at booths on the lawn, and a professional auctioneer will officiate the live auction toward the end of the afternoon.
“It will be a beautiful evening for people to come out and enjoy a garden party at the estate and to feel a part of contributing to saving this treasure for the community,” Jewell said.
Rose and Clifford Chapman bought the property in the 1960s from the original builders. After his death, Chapman left the estate to the city of Pismo Beach in 2013.
At the heart of the 10th annual Swingin’ by the Sea fundraiser are numerous local businesses donating food and drinks to support restoration efforts at the estate. Some have been longtime supporters of the event, but for others, like Avila Wine and Roasting Company, this is their first year participating.
Manny Luiz, the owner of Avila Wine and Roasting, remembers spending holidays and summers at his grandparents’ house just up the street from the Chapman Estate.
“I used to walk by that house every day thinking, ‘One day I’m going to step foot on this property,’” Luiz said.
Now he is excited to be part of the fundraiser, which he discovered through one of his wine club members.
Luiz will be pouring Austin Hope cabernet sauvignon, Rombauer chardonnay, and Belle Glos pinot noir. The three wines are highly rated, Luiz added, which he enjoys serving to his visitors.
He’ll also be offering two beers from Russian River Brewery: Pliny the Elder and Blind Pig IPA.
For the live auction, Luiz donated beer and wine with collectors’ labels from the LA Dodgers’ World Series win last year.
“I just like being part of an event that raises money for important causes,” Luiz said.
For bubbly selections, guests can visit Laetitia Vineyard and Winery’s booth. Kasey Helt, the direct-to-consumer director for Laetitia, said the winery will be pouring a refreshing sparkling rosé.
Laetitia is also auctioning off its reserve pinot noir and sparkling Cuvée M, the winemaker’s favorite, Helt noted.
“We really love to support the community and just be a part of what’s going on,” Helt said. “We’re always looking for ways to support local charities.”
Like Laetitia, Lido at Dolphin Bay has been a long-standing donor for Swingin’ by the Sea. Food and Beverage Director Robin Puricelli said Lido is honored to help the effort to preserve the estate. The restaurant plans to serve ceviche with mango, avocado, papaya, and coconut at its booth.
“It’s our neighborhood,” Puricelli said. “We want to support the locals and the community.”
One of the big-ticket auction items is Lido’s dinner party in the dining room of the Chapman Estate. Chef Chris Shackelford will prepare a multi-course meal for the winner inspired by the historic parties Clifford Chapman threw. Diners will even eat off Chapman’s china.
The dinner is so popular that in a previous year, three parties matched each other’s bids and Shackelford agreed to host three dinners, tripling donations.
“We’re going to do whatever we can for them to succeed because it is historic, and it’s this really special, unique place in this tiny, precious town of Shell Beach,” Puricelli said.
Guests can end their evening with a sweet treat provided by Arroyo Grande’s Hubbalicious Sweet Shoppe.
David Hubbell, the chief operating officer of Hubbalicious, has lived in the area for more than 20 years. His shop is family operated, often supporting schools, nonprofits, and other businesses in the area, Hubbell explained. The Hubbalicious slogan is “bringing the community together, one scoop at a time.”
If guests have room for dessert, Hubbalicious is bringing its vintage ice cream cart and auctioning off fudge platters, the store’s signature product. Of the 18 fudge flavors, Hubbel thinks dark chocolate will be a hit when paired with the wine served at the fundraiser.
“Giving back and being part of a community is just what the candy store is about,” Hubbell said. “It’s the reason why we are here.”
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
Correction, September 15, 2025 4:34 pm: Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the marital status of Clifford Chapman.
This article appears in Sep 11 – Sep 18, 2025.