Carlsbad Gets Its Arch Back

Last night (December 29, 2014) the official welcome gate to the Village of Carlsbad went back up in front of the Twin Inns, Neiman’s, Ocean House, whatever is in there now at the corner of Elm St. Carlsbad Village Drive and Carlsbad Blvd. We are so glad there are no dolphins on the sign. Looks great just the way it is. For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.

Carlsbad Sign Installed

A recreation of the historic Carlsbad archway sign was installed Monday evening on Carlsbad Boulevard between Carlsbad Village Drive and Grand Avenue. See photos. The design of the marker was modeled after a sign that was built near the site in the 1930s to direct traffic from Coast Highway to what was then Carlsbad’s central business district.

Watch a video of the installation.

“This is a historic day for Carlsbad,” said Carlton Lund, immediate past chairman of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce board of directors, who spearheaded the project. “It’s a wonderful tribute to our past and the important role business has played in making Carlsbad the extraordinary place it is today.”

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce managed the design and construction of the sign. Upon completion of the installation, the sign will be donated to the City of Carlsbad. The cost of the sign, structures and installation was approximately $225,000. TaylorMade Golf Company funded the design, fabrication and installation of the sign.

The sign, which features the city’s name on both sides in bold, white letters on a blue background with thin beige and black border accents, stretches nearly 82 feet across Carlsbad Boulevard. Located in the middle of a truss system, the sign portion is nearly 31 feet long and 5 feet 5 inches tall. Support beams raise the sign more than 29 feet from the ground, and the clearance is about 20 feet at its highest point.

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce will hold a brief ceremony to dedicate the sign and light it for the first time from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8. Carpooling, biking, walking and taking public transit to the event are encouraged.