Highlands House and Park 8500 Highway 9 • Ben Lomond • California 95005

In the early 1900s, Lord and Lady Anderson of England managed to make their way to this beautiful area just outside Felton, whereupon they bought the 43 acres which now make up Highlands Park. Naturally, they built themselves an English-style mansion on the property and named it "The Highlands" in honor of Lord Anderson’s Scottish heritage. In the ‘30s, the Nasser family bought the estate, tore down the aging mansion and built Highlands House, the home you see today. Santa Cruz County purchased the property and then opened it as a park in 1977, and the site has been a favorite of the public ever since.

The park’s grounds have been used for a wide variety of events, and the vast lawn next to the house is where many of them take place. Spread out under the sun and ringed by towering oaks, pines and redwoods, it’s custom-made for a summer wedding. There’s plenty of room for couples to get married in front of a white gazebo at one end of the lawn, and then walk over to tables set up on the other end for their reception. It’s also an ideal spot for a corporate picnic or family reunion, whether you plan to bring in picnic tables, spread blankets right on the grass for a genuine lawn party, or stage a formal affair with linens, silver and market umbrellas. The lawn is actually big enough to have several activities going at once!

The Highlands House is also available for group events. Surrounded by trees and flowers (the camellia bushes and the magnolia tree are gorgeous in bloom), it has several rooms on the first floor which can be used in a multitude of ways. For weddings, set up a buffet in the living room and have your reception in the much larger Lorenzo Room, a pleasant space with a hardwood floor (great for dancing) and multipaned windows overlooking the garden. Decorate the foyer with flowers and use it for a small ceremony or a gift room. The adjacent Garden Room is the coolest in the house, and is considered the best place for the wedding cake. During the week, these same rooms work just as well for meetings or other business functions.

You’ll be pleased to note that if you’re a bride, there’s a sizable changing room upstairs. Your guests will be pleased to know that the park also has tennis courts, a kids’ play area and a nature trail just a short walk from the house. Highlands House & Park spent almost half a century as a family retreat and getaway, and it continues to provide a natural and relaxing environment for everyone who’s lucky enough to spend some time here.