Iconic Santa Monica Pier sign is heading to Las Vegas for refurbishment

The landmark Santa Monica Pier sign began coming down Tuesday for restoration in Las Vegas as part of a project to replace the aging bridge connecting Ocean Avenue to the pier.

The blue neon sign, which has greeted visitors since 1941, will be dismantled over several days and transported to a facility in Nevada for repairs and refurbishment.

The sign is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources and is expected to return to the pier entrance when construction of the new bridge is completed in 2028, according to the city.

“Few sights are as instantly recognizable as the Santa Monica Pier sign, and generations of residents and visitors have memories tied to seeing it at the entrance to the Pier,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said in a statement. “This careful refurbishment will preserve the sign’s history while ensuring this beloved landmark can continue welcoming people to the Pier for decades to come. And in the meantime, the temporary sign will continue to offer visitors the opportunity to capture that quintessential Santa Monica Pier moment.”

The removal and restoration will be handled by YESCO, a company known for maintaining and restoring neon signs, including the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, city officials said.

Workers will use a crane and temporary support structures to dismantle the Santa Monica Pier sign in sections. Preparation, equipment setup and removal of the sign’s neon tubing are scheduled for Tuesday.

Crews plan to remove the sign’s upper crown Wednesday, followed by the main portion of the sign Thursday.

City officials said the schedule could change because of weather conditions, although work is expected to continue during forecast rain Wednesday and Thursday unless lightning or significantly reduced visibility makes the operation unsafe.

The sign will be wrapped and loaded onto transport vehicles before departing for YESCO’s Las Vegas facility, with transportation expected to begin Monday, Oct. 26.

Removal work is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with one lane of Ocean Avenue near the pier entrance closed during work hours.

The public will be able to watch the removal from two designated viewing areas: the southern edge of Palisades Park and the northeast side of the pier entrance at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue.

Restoration work will include repairing neon tubing, removing rust, repainting the sign and its supporting components, and completing structural repairs while preserving its historic features, officials said.

The sign will remain in storage at the Las Vegas facility while construction of the replacement bridge continues.

Once the bridge is completed, the restored sign will be reinstalled at a slightly higher elevation to improve visibility and provide additional clearance for vehicles, according to city officials.

In the meantime, a half-scale replica has been installed on the pier to provide visitors with a photo opportunity while the original sign is away. The temporary sign is located on the left side of the pier just before Pier Burger, with views of the Pacific Park roller coaster and the Santa Monica shoreline.

The Pier Bridge Replacement Project is intended to improve safety, accessibility and the long-term reliability of the bridge connecting Ocean Avenue to the pier while maintaining access to businesses and attractions.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2028, in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Additional information about the project is available at santamonica.gov/pierbridge.