What is the white castle-like temple off I-5 in La Jolla, and can you visit it?
It's the San Diego California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dedicated in 1993 and rededicated Aug. 23, 2026 after renovation. Only members may enter, but anyone can walk the grounds Tuesday to Saturday.
- Address
- 7474 Charmant Dr.
- Dedicated
- 1993
- Grounds
- Open to all
- Site
- 7.2 acres
San Diego 92122
Rededicated Aug. 23, 2026
Tue–Sat, operating hours
The short version
- The temple sits on a 7.2-acre site at 7474 Charmant Drive, beside I-5 near Nobel Drive in La Jolla's Golden Triangle area.
- It was dedicated April 25–30, 1993; about 720,000 people toured it during the 1993 open house.
- After a multiyear renovation, a public open house ran June 18 to July 11, 2026, and it was rededicated Aug. 23, 2026.
- Inside is for church members with a temple recommend; the grounds are open to everyone during operating hours.
- It was designed by Dennis and Shelly Hyndman, a Roman Catholic couple, with design architect William S. Lewis Jr.
Drivers on I-5 through La Jolla know it as the "Mormon temple," the "crystal palace" or the Disney-castle building: twin white spires above the freeway near Nobel Drive. Its official name is the San Diego California Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's the church's third temple in California, after Los Angeles and Oakland.
The temple's history
- April 1984
Announced
- Feb. 1988
Groundbreaking
By church president Ezra Taft Benson
- Feb.–April 1993
Open house and dedication
~720,000 visitors; dedicated April 25–30 by Gordon B. Hinckley
- June–July 2026
Renovation open house
First public tours in 33 years
- Aug. 23, 2026
Rededicated
- April 1984
Announced
- Feb. 1988
Groundbreaking
By church president Ezra Taft Benson
- Feb.–April 1993
Open house and dedication
~720,000 visitors; dedicated April 25–30 by Gordon B. Hinckley
- June–July 2026
Renovation open house
First public tours in 33 years
- Aug. 23, 2026
Rededicated
Wikipedia, Church News and Deseret News, checked Nov. 8, 2026.
Can you visit?
Who can go where
| Temple interior | Grounds and gardens | |
|---|---|---|
| Open to | Church members with a temple recommend | Everyone |
| When | Operating hours | During operating hours, Tuesday to Saturday |
| Photos | Not inside | Welcome outside |
| Cost | — | Free |
Temple interior
- Open to
- Church members with a temple recommend
- When
- Operating hours
- Photos
- Not inside
- Cost
- —
Grounds and gardens
- Open to
- Everyone
- When
- During operating hours, Tuesday to Saturday
- Photos
- Welcome outside
- Cost
- Free
The public got inside only during open houses before dedication: in 1993 and again in summer 2026, when free reserved tours ran for about three and a half weeks. A temple worker told FOX 5 that many visitors approach the open gates looking unsure, and that they're welcome to walk in.
720,000
1993 open-house visitors
Above the 600,000–650,000 expected
~300,000
2026 open-house visitors
33 years
Between public open houses
Its look, with two main spires each ringed by smaller spires, was designed by Dennis and Shelly Hyndman, a Roman Catholic couple, working with architect William S. Lewis Jr. At night it's lit from below, which is when it's most visible from the freeway.
Temple
History
Census geocoder, Nov. 8, 2026.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 8, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- BackgroundSan Diego California Temple
Wikipedia
1993 open house (~720,000), dedication dates, site, designers, no visitors' center
Deseret News · Aug. 23, 2026
Rededication; address 7474 Charmant Drive
Church News · Aug. 23, 2026
2026 open house June 18–July 11, ~300,000 visitors
FOX 5 San Diego
Grounds open to the public Tuesday through Saturday
- BackgroundSan Diego California Temple
ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org
Announcement April 7, 1984; groundbreaking Feb. 27, 1988
NBC 7 San Diego · 2026
First public access in 33 years