History

Steeped in history, Ben Lomond was originally a logging community, known as Pacific Mills. John Burns, a native of Scotland and one of the town's forefathers, named the surrounding mountain after his homeland area and the town eventually assumed the name. Burns passed in 1880. He had a son, Thomas, and 10 grandchildren, some of whom are still living.

In the early 1900s Ben Lomond gained fame as a popular resort, and considered itself the "gem of the Santa Cruz Mountains." Wealthy families from San Francisco and elsewhere came by carriage and train to stay for the summer. The nearby Brookdale Lodge hosted Presidents, royalty, and movie stars.

About the San Lorenzo Valley
The San Lorenzo Valley is a beautiful valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, just north of Santa Cruz and west of San Jose and Silicon Valley. The San Lorenzo River runs the length of the valley as it tumbles down 2000 feet from its headwaters to Santa Cruz, where it joins Monterey Bay.

SLV includes several communities, three state parks (including Big Basin Redwoods State Park), many historical sites, resorts and tourist attractions. The valley was originally settled to help provide goods for the burgeoning Gold Rush cities in the greater region, but soon became an area of summer homes and fishing under the redwoods. Several large stands of old growth redwoods survive to this day and the majority of the valley is covered with towering second growth trees just turning the century mark.

Bounded by the bustle of Silicon Valley and Scotts Valley to the north and east, and Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay to the south, the valley is home to roughly 30,000 people. Many valley residents work in the nearby computer industries and come home to relax amidst the trees. Perhaps this helps explain why the region has the highest number of internet providers per capita of any region in the world.

Courtesy Santa Cruz Mountains Guide, Gary Starkweather