Doubling up on gateway monuments

In addition to a Gateway Monument sign on the south side of Hwy 203 coming into the Town of Mammoth, local citizens are now also pressing to have a sign on the north side of the road as well.

“We need to do the north and the south together,” said Mammoth Lakes Tourism Executive Director John Urdi to the Town Council on Wednesday night. “Graceland doesn’t have one post on the side of the gate. It would make a nice bookend entrance.”

Elizabeth Tenney has been leading the charge on the south sign, and Jim Smith, VP of Real Estate for MMSA jumped in on Wednesday night and committed to fundraising until both signs can be built.

“The Town doesn’t have to pay anything, just throw in some staff time,” Smith pressed. “The north and the south are one in the same and are part of all the placemaking we’re trying to shoot for.

“Plus, Elizabeth has been an absolute bulldog about this project. Just help us out so she’ll stop calling,” he added, jokingly.

The north side sign would be on Forest Service land, so Council directed staff to file for a special use permit with the agency to get the ball rolling.

Since the design for the north sign is similar to the south, and the south side design has been completed, Wardlaw did not believe much staff time would be necessary to support the project. Council came to consensus to move forward with both sides.