Redwoods and winding roads define Lompico, on the outskirts of Felton
Lompico is tucked under and between the imposing redwoods that blanket the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 12 miles from the city of Santa Cruz. It sits on the east side of a string of larger towns within commuting distance of the Bay Area. “Lompico is an extension of Felton. It’s more rural and more affordable. It has windy roads, and it’s about 10 to 15 minutes out,” says Heidi Hart, the owner and founder of the California Dreaming brokerage. “There’s a lot of wildlife and a lot of redwoods. It’s very quiet and very relaxing.”
Mountain homes with outdoor living spaces overlook the forest
Sunlight barely penetrates the thick canopy of the redwood trees above Lompico’s winding, hillside roads. Mountain homes often come with multiple decks from which to admire the region’s famous trees, on lots up to an acre in size. Most properties in Lompico were built between the 1920s and the 1980s and fetch between $525,000 and $950,000, and many come with storage sheds and detached workshops. The area is at a relatively high risk of earthquakes, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Boating and fishing on Loch Lomond, and potlucks at Lompico Park
The Loch Lomond Reservoir, a 2.5-mile-long reservoir that provides drinking water to Santa Cruz residents, borders the community on its west side. While swimming is not allowed, the reservoir is often stocked with trout, and boats can be rented on the lakeshore. Due to contamination concerns, private boats are not permitted on the lake either, unless they are stored there. Trails that weave through surrounding redwoods and Douglas firs lead to water views, and picnic tables are scattered throughout the area — some even on a small island in the water.
Lompico Park, within the community, refers to a clearing of trees with picnic benches, a few simple play structures, a basketball court and a small amphitheater by a rocky creek. “They do neighborhood potlucks there,” Hart says. “The neighborhoods work together to do maintenance and keep it nice. You could say it’s a tight-knit community.”
A greenhouse and an Olympic-sized pool at San Lorenzo Valley High
Children living in Lompico may start at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School, which scores a B-plus grade from Niche. They may then enroll in San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, which gets a B, and San Lorenzo Valley High School, which earns an A-minus. Roughly 25% of the high school’s student body takes at least one of the 15 Advanced Placement (AP) courses it offers, which include AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science Principles and AP 3-D Art and Design. The school also has about 10 career technical education (CTE) courses, including aquaculture, aquaponics, construction technology and green engineering. Many of these classes are taught in the school’s new CTE building; San Lorenzo Valley High is also home to a state-of-the-art greenhouse and an Olympic-sized pool.
Local restaurants, an Italian bakery and a grocer nearby in Ben Lomond
Residents can choose from grocery shopping and dining options in Ben Lomond, Felton, Brookdale and Boulder Creek. Ben Lomond is closest, and several local eateries flank California state Route 9, which cuts through the heart of the community. Spanky’s Cafe is a breakfast joint housed in a vibrant teal bungalow with hot pink exterior accents, a retro black-and-white tile floor and nostalgic barstool seats. La Placa Family Bakery is known for its Sicilian-inspired pastries and desserts, though it also serves coffee, gelato and thin-crust pizza. Ben Lomond Market, a local grocer, is nearby. Closer to Lompico, the Zayante Creek Market & Deli — a convenient place to grab snacks, cold beer and fishing supplies before a trip to the Loch Lomond Reservoir — has been around since the 1940s.
Connections to Santa Cruz, San Jose and its international airport
Lompico Road is the main southern entrance to the community. It merges with East Zayante Road and leads part of the way to downtown Santa Cruz, about 12 miles away. California state Route 17 winds along the east side of Lompico, and it travels toward downtown San Jose and San Jose Mineta International Airport, both roughly 40 miles north.
