Depot Hill Pine Marks the End of an Era

Capitola lost one of its historical treasures in December of 2014. Gone is our beloved pine tree which stood for almost 100 years on Depot Hill. It was one of dozens of trees from what was called Lover’s Lane. Since then, it was home to many species of birds and five years ago, a Blue Heron.

The beloved tree lost its battle to the coastal Pine Beetle that has taken so many trees on the central coast. This tree, in particular, displayed a stunning profile and reminded us of years gone by when lovers strolled the coast, enjoying the romantic view. 70 years ago there was a double row of pine trees that created a lover’s lane along the cliff on Grand Avenue. By the 1960s those trees were falling off the edge, but there was still Grand Avenue, a two lane road, in front of the houses.

Located at the end of Livermore Avenue, the distinctive tree that stood more than 120 feet high was regularly visited by many walkers on Depot Hill. The view from Livermore Avenue is regularly enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

Up until 2011, the pine tree was part of the last standing trio threatened by the cliff erosion and continued slumping, caused by water run off. “The bluffs are eroding at a moderate to high rate of 1.5 to 3 feet a year”, said Ed Borttorff, Vice-Mayor of Capitola.

“Those trees were land marks and a sign that cliff erosion is alive and well as it threatens real estate and natural treasures. Coastal land owners are encouraged to manage their use of water on the cliffs to limit water run off from the top of the cliff.”

Taking down a tree of that size took 2 days, a crew of 7 men and a massive crane. Today, we honor that breathtaking Pine and the era that it represented. They will be lovingly missed.