Volunteers Revitalize Iconic Ben Lomond Sign

by Blake Holiday

In November, the town of Ben Lomond witnessed the culmination of a heartfelt community effort as the newly-refurbished “Welcome to Ben Lomond” sign was unveiled and reinstalled on Highway 9, near the entrance of Highlands Park. This cherished marker, originally erected in the 1960s has long been a symbol of local pride and nostalgia. Thanks to the vision of Ben Lomond resident Ronnie Trubek, the sign now stands as a renewed beacon of community spirit and tradition.

Volunteers setting the new Welcome sign in place: (l to r) Alex Payne,Tru Hatch and Mattias Payne.

Trubek, who settled in Ben Lomond in 1978, has always felt a deep connection to the San Lorenzo Valley. “I became interested in SLV history in the 1980s while working full time as a Realtor,” Trubek shared. “During that time, I started collecting local ephemera and attending various history lectures and meetings. As a budding historian, the Welcome signs always intrigued me.”

Over the ensuing decades, refurbishing the Welcome signs were always on Trubek’s mind but just when she decided to take action, the pandemic hit and the project got delayed. It wasn’t until the newly formed Ben Lomond Village Alliance (BLVA) held its first community meeting last April that the idea gained enough momentum to move forward as the initiative aligned with the BLVA’s mission to enhance the town’s infrastructure and community projects. With the sign high on the list of suggested improvements generated at that meeting, interested residents signed up and a ‘sign’ committee was formed to get the project underway.

Ben Lomond’s North End Welcome Sign in the 1960s

The history of the Welcome signs is steeped in Ben Lomond’s mid-century push to attract more visitors, and two signs were installed, this one at the entrance to Highlands Park and the other on Highway 9 at California Drive. The signs were part of an ambitious 1960s effort to reshape the town as a Scottish Village. This development of a reinterpreted village theme sought to draw tourists to the area, embedding a sense of identity that resonated with locals for decades. Some old-timers might remember, the Hwy 9 sign at the north end of town originally named Ben Lomond as a “Bonnie Bit ‘O Scotland.” 

The refurbishment of the south sign began this past July and was truly a community endeavor. The team of local volunteers, including Trubek, Alex Payne, Brett Hatch, Sally Munro, Sarah Steiger, and Marianne Wyllie, started by stripping away the old paint and repairing the structure after extensive research. Alex Payne took the lead on repairing and replacing the deteriorated wood, while artist Sarah Steiger lent her expertise to mimic the sign’s original colors despite years of wear and fading. 

Brett Hatch served as the project’s “engineer” meaning he orchestrated the sign removal, transportation, and reinstalling the surprisingly heavy wooden sign with the help of numerous sons, friends and husbands including Tru Hatch, Mattias Payne, Brian Jensen, and Dan Hatch who expertly wielded a Bobcat to raise and bolt the sign back into place. The Santa Cruz County Parks Department was very supportive of the project and generous with their assistance.  

Contrary to popular belief, the figure near the top of the sign isn’t a golfer, but a hiker with a walking stick and wearing a kilt, commemorating the many outdoor activities in Ben Lomond. The “Wee Man,” or “Little Ben,” as he came to be known during the renovation, was reattached to the top of the sign, an exact copy of the original brilliantly recreated by artist Sally Munro and jigsaw master Tom Howard. Underneath the “Welcome” lettering, “Est. 1887” was added by Marianne Wyllie, reflecting the year when the village was officially renamed Ben Lomond from Pacific Mills. 

The unveiling at Highlands Park was more than just a celebration; it was a reminder of the importance of preserving local history and the stories that connect generations. The lovingly restored sign now stands as both a landmark and a message—one of resilience, pride, and the power of community. 

Reflecting on the future, Trubek expressed her wish for the project’s outcome: “I hope it lasts another 60 years and continues to welcome travelers and locals to our wonderful little village with a smile.”

Volunteers in the featured photo: (l to r) Mattias Payne, Alex Payne, Tru Hatch, Sally Munro, Ronnie Trubek, Sarah Steiger, Brett Hatch, Brian Jansen

Photos contributed.

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