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Resources for journalists covering the Ambassador Hotel and Dream Center Lake Elsinore.
Dream Center Lake Elsinore
About the Organization
Dream Center Lake Elsinore is a nonprofit that has served the city since 2014. Its mission is to love God, love people, and make disciples, and to that end to restore and rebuild the people and property of Lake Elsinore. It runs Adopt-A-Block, a food pantry, youth programs, parenting workshops, a community coffeehouse, and annual outreach events, and is one of 84 Dream Centers in 29 states and 8 countries.
The Ambassador Hotel stands at 164 S. Main Street, at the corner of Main and Prospect. The building dates to 1887 and operated as the Ambassador Hotel from 1916. It was ordered closed in 1992 and has been boarded up since. Dream Center volunteers have maintained the property since 2015 and acquired it in January 2022.
Dream Center Lake Elsinore’s plan is to restore the building as a residential training center with public amenities including a 50’s diner, meeting rooms, and guided tours.
Founded
2014
Property
164 S. Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Building dates to
1887
Acquired
January 2022
Network
One of 84 Dream Centers in 29 states and 8 countries
Latest Updates
See all updates
The Whole Story of the Ambassador Project
Aubrey and Brett Masters on why we bought the Ambassador, what we have done since, how the permit process changed, and what we are asking for now.
A Remarkable Development: The Court of Appeal Halts Demolition
The Court of Appeal granted our emergency writ, halting demolition at the Ambassador. What it means, what it doesn’t, and what to pray for now.
An Urgent Update: Demolition Work Begins at the Ambassador
Demolition work began at the Ambassador while our appeal was being filed. What happened, what we asked the court for, and how to pray.
The record
Timeline
Background
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1887 | The building at Main and Prospect is constructed by Franklin Heald, founder of Lake Elsinore, and houses the Exchange Bank. | Images of America—Lake Elsinore, p. 34 |
| 1916 | The building becomes the Ambassador Hotel. | Images of America—Lake Elsinore, p. 34 |
| 1947 | A remodel subdivides the two upper floors into four and overhauls the exterior. | DCLE record |
| 1992 | The building is ordered closed following code enforcement violations. It has been boarded up since. | DCLE record |
| 2015 | Dream Center volunteers begin maintaining the property, seven years before acquiring it. The first work day is part of a citywide cleanup conducted with the City of Lake Elsinore. | DCLE volunteer work log |
Acquisition
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2021 | The Orange County Probate Court approves Dream Center Lake Elsinore’s bid to purchase the property, the previous owner having died without a will or trust. | Court record |
| December 2021 | Escrow closes. To close, Dream Center Lake Elsinore was required to enter an existing legal action the City had filed against the previous owner. Dream Center Lake Elsinore states it has remained in compliance with that agreement. | DCLE published statement, 2023 |
Entitlement process
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2022 | Pre-application submitted for a conditional use permit. | City record |
| October 7, 2022 | Conditional use permit application submitted. | City record |
| November 4, 2022 | The City issues a letter of incompleteness on the application. | City record |
| July 10, 2023 | Complete conditional use permit application submitted. | City record |
| August 18, 2023 | The City deems the application complete and determines the project CEQA exempt. | City record |
| January 16, 2024 | First Planning Commission hearing. The matter is continued with a request that Dream Center Lake Elsinore demonstrate commercial benefit to downtown. | Public hearing record |
| February 6, 2024 | Second Planning Commission hearing. The conditional use permit is denied. | Public hearing record |
| February 19, 2024 | Dream Center Lake Elsinore files an appeal of the denial. | City record |
| March 26, 2024 | City Council appeal hearing. The Council overturns the CEQA exemption determination and requires additional studies before further review. | Public hearing record |
| April 17, 2024 | Follow-up meeting with the City Planner at the Council’s direction, to identify what in the project description required clarification. | DCLE record |
| May 16, 2024 | Dream Center Lake Elsinore emails the City requesting specific direction on what to update in the project description. | DCLE record |
| July 17, 2024 | The City replies with the items it considers unclear and the additional detail it wants added. | DCLE record |
| February 13, 2025 | Dream Center Lake Elsinore submits an updated project description, adding a paragraph listing other potential retail spaces. | DCLE record |
| April 9, 2025 | The City acknowledges the updated project description and directs Dream Center Lake Elsinore to begin the CEQA process. | DCLE record |
2026
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Dream Center Lake Elsinore receives notice of litigation from the City. | DCLE record |
| May 5, 2026 | First hearing at the Riverside County Superior Court on the City’s demolition complaint. The court continues the matter 60 days. | Court record |
| July 21, 2026 | Second hearing. The court grants the City’s demolition request. | Court record |
| August 6, 2026 | Demolition activity begins at the property. | DCLE record |
| August 7, 2026 | The Court of Appeal grants Dream Center Lake Elsinore’s emergency writ, ordering demolition halted. | Court record |
| Before the order takes effect | Essentially all of the building’s roof tiles are removed, leaving the structure exposed. | DCLE published statement, August 13, 2026 |
| August 13, 2026 | Dream Center Lake Elsinore publishes a video statement confirming the writ and the roof removal, and states its intent to pursue protection and waterproofing of the exposed structure. | DCLE published statement |
At a glance
Fact Sheet
The Organization
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Mission | To love God, love people, and make disciples, and to that end to restore and rebuild the people and property of Lake Elsinore — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The mission is drawn from Matthew 22:37–39 and Matthew 28:19–20. |
| Programs | Adopt-A-Block, DC Pantry, Youth Programs, Raising Highly Capable Kids, La Taza Community Coffeehouse, Annual Outreach Events |
| Network | One of 84 Dream Centers in 29 states and 8 countries |
| Governance and financials | Annual impact reports · Leadership |
The Project
| Program | DC Discipleship — a residential program running longer than six months up to two years, provided free to participants |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 64 total, including on-site staff |
| Public amenities | Diner, meeting rooms, guided tours, and other possible shared spaces |
| Resident amenities | Rooftop patio, pool, outdoor recreation — for program participants and staff, not open to the public |
| What it is not | Not a homeless shelter, not a soup kitchen, not closed to the public |
Network figures published by Dream Center, 2026. Program details from documents submitted to the City of Lake Elsinore, 2022–2024.
The Building
| Address | 164 S. Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 |
|---|---|
| Constructed | 1887, by Franklin Heald, founder of Lake Elsinore |
| Original use | Exchange Bank of Lake Elsinore, with Heald as president |
| Other early uses | First Elsinore High School class, 1907; early City Council meetings |
| Became the Ambassador Hotel | 1916 |
| Major remodel | 1947 — two upper floors subdivided into four, exterior overhauled |
| Closed | 1992 |
| Structure | Approximately 40-foot walls and the original foundation remain |
Source for the bank and hotel lineage: Images of America—Lake Elsinore by Edythe J. Greene, Elizabeth Helper, and Mary Louise Rowden, p. 34.
Since 2015
Stewardship Record
Dream Center volunteers have worked at the Ambassador on 28 documented work days between 2015 and 2026 — including seven years before the organization acquired the property in January 2022.
The work is documented by date in an internal volunteer log and includes exterior painting, weatherproofing, removal of accumulated bird waste and bee hives, boarding and re-boarding of windows and doors, palm and weed clearance, graffiti removal, removal of approximately twelve rusted vehicles, and installation of security lighting and cameras. Roughly twelve forty-yard roll-off dumpsters of debris have been removed from the property. This work represents 2,242 worker hours from volunteers in the community.
Much of this work occurred through recurring service events: Clean Extreme, Convergint Day, and City Serve. The 2015 Clean Extreme event was a citywide cleanup conducted in partnership with the City of Lake Elsinore.
Dream Center Lake Elsinore states that it has remained willing and prepared to continue cleaning up and restoring the property throughout this period, and that it has been prevented from carrying out that work.
By the Numbers
documented work days, 2015–2026
volunteer worker hours
forty-yard dumpsters of debris removed
years of upkeep before acquiring the property
Media assets
Downloads
Historical photographs on this page were shared publicly by the Lake Elsinore Historical Society. Press and media may use images from this page in coverage of the Ambassador, credited “Courtesy of Dream Center Lake Elsinore” except where another source is noted.
Historical photographs
The building in its earlier years, including images from 1927 and the following decade.
Architectural drawings
Plans from the 1947 remodel.
Renderings
Proposed exterior and interior of the restored building.
Current photography
The building as it stands today.
Logo
Dream Center Lake Elsinore marks in print and web formats.
Get in touch
Press Contact
For interviews, additional facts, or image requests:
press@dreamcenterle.org
(951) 376-3703
We aim to respond within two to three business days. If you are working to a deadline, say so in your first message and we will prioritize accordingly.