The History of Coronado Stone Products®

The Foundation: 1950s & 1960s

The story began in 1959 when Mel Bacon, a California aluminum siding installer, sought a cost-effective alternative to natural stone. He successfully created a stone look-alike veneer on his garage floor, planting the seeds of what would become a revolution in the building industry.

Throughout the 1960s, Coronado refined its process, introducing mass-production mold technology that dramatically increased efficiency. Recognizing the industry-changing potential, Coronado began licensing its production technology to various startups across the U.S. These early licensees formed the foundation of today’s manufactured stone veneer market. This era also saw the introduction of two foundational product lines: the Ledgestone Series and the Irregular Shaped Series.

Expansion and Partnerships: 1970s & 1980s

The 1970s marked a decade of significant expansion. Coronado opened its first major manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, CA, and broadened its reach internationally, distributing products across Canada and the Pacific Rim. A major focus was placed on collaborating with the Architectural Design Community, resulting in the engineering of manufactured stone corners and the introduction of some of the industry's first Thin Brick products.

By the 1980s, Coronado's franchise model was flourishing nationwide. Driving innovation, the company introduced the creation of a panelized stone veneer profile. This innovation saved installers time and money, and Coronado cleverly engineered a solution to successfully hide the unsightly seams associated with earlier panelized products.

Manufacturing Footprint and Massive Growth: 1990s & 2000s

To keep pace with demand, Coronado strategically increased its manufacturing capacity in the 1990s, relocating its Southern California hub to Fontana, CA, and opening its crucial Eastern manufacturing facility in Simpsonville, SC.

The early 2000s housing boom sparked massive growth for the entire industry, and Coronado met this challenge by opening new production facilities in Lewisville, TX, and Lodi, CA. The product catalog continued to expand with the introduction of the popular Villa Stone Series.

The Decade of Innovation: 2010s

The 2010s were dedicated to cutting-edge product development, seeing nearly one-third of Coronado’s current product line launched. This included the highly successful Classic Series, Designer Series, and WoodStone Series. The company's commitment to quality earned it multiple industry awards for Innovation and several consecutive titles as Brand of Choice.

This growth was supported by further geographic expansion with new manufacturing plants in Pueblo, CO, Phoenix, AZ, and the relocation of the Texas plant to Carrollton, TX.

Looking Forward: The 2020s

Coronado Stone continues to optimize its operations, relocating its corporate office and Southern California manufacturing to a new state-of-the-art facility in Perris, CA. This move, along with the expansion of the Simpsonville, SC facility, incorporates expanded automation and new mold technology to ensure efficiency.

Today, Coronado operates six strategically located manufacturing facilities across California (2), Texas, South Carolina, Colorado, and Arizona, ensuring it efficiently and affordably serves customers across the United States.