CATALINA ISLAND – The official mascot of Catalina Island has a new place to call home, and, locals hope, there will soon be a new park named in his honor, as well.

Photo by: Catalina Island Museum New Home for Old Ben – Avalon’s bronze statue of “Old Ben,” a well-known sea lion who befriended island locals and visitors in the early 1900s (pictured here on a vintage postcard), was cleaned and moved to a more central location across from the Catherine Hotel.

In June, the island’s statue of the sea lion named “Old Ben,” sculpted by Stanley Rosin in 1975, was successfully moved from atop the rocks at Cabrillo Mole to its new location along Crescent Street, adjacent to the Catherine Hotel.

At the turn of the 19th century, a sea lion of great proportion began making a name for itself in Avalon, following fishermen and tourists alike searching for a free meal. Weighing in at an estimated 1,800 pounds, Old Ben was featured in many early Hollywood films, and he became a sort of town pet to the islanders.

His memory lives on in Rosin’s bronze statue – and with the sea lion’s recent move to a more central location, Old Ben commands more attention than ever.

Visitors and locals alike gravitate to the statue as a meeting point, taking pictures and learning the history of this famous big-hearted pinniped. With Old Ben cleaned up and sitting upon his new rock, the Avalon Beautiful Association has plans to begin Phase II of the project: a park to encompass the statue and create a gathering place for all to enjoy Old Ben for years to come.

“The sea lion is really attracting people,” said Rudy Piltch, co-creator of the concept design for Old Ben Park. “We want to continue that, and enhance the scenic location surrounding him.”

The 5,000-square-foot park would include a grassy area, paved sidewalks, bench seating, and three game tables for visitors to enjoy chess, checkers or just a lunch.