January 13, 2022 Lompoc, CA ~
A historic Vandenberg Village landmark, near Vandenberg Village off Highway 1, was purchased by Realty Center Management Inc., or RCMI, for $3.1 million on October 17, 2019. Work began in earnest two years ago, almost to the day, and this month, Pat Dacy, Co-Owner of 3V Signs in Torrance, CA, put the finishing touches on the property’s beautiful, retro, illuminated sign. It was a project that thrilled everyone involved!
Bringing Back the Sixties
The hotel initially opened in the late 1960s and, at its height, housed a restaurant and bar, as well as a pool and recreation fields on its 6.8 acres. Realty Center Management, Inc., confirmed the vision, “…to bring it back to what it used to be back in the 1960s and ’70s,” said Wally Kane, an RCMI representative. “We’re going to do as close to a midcentury renovation [as we can] on it. … We want to bring everything back up to speed like it was in its heyday.”
Adam Montoya, Custom Signage Consultant at 3V Signs began working through the process to become the source for the very large, tightly-specified sign for the face of the building. His years of expertise were fully brought into play, and ultimately closed the sale for $289,000. Dacy says, “He took the ball and ran with it, he worked his tail off!”
To tackle the enormous task of recreating a landmark icon, Pat Dacy had to begin the design using a postcard from the historical society, and a hand drawn diagram shown below, which was found in the county archives. The project was more than simply a signage undertaking. It was more like a calling: A weighty honor bestowed on the 3V Signs team to bring back the memories of this truly iconic venue, and place that was THE epicenter of excitement for the region. It was restoration of an era. Pat explains, “The Village Inn was the place to be in it’s heyday. We spoke with folks in the community when we went out to dinner and everyone was excited about the transformation that is taking place. They all had stories of their experiences and time at the VI from their youth.”
Fast Forward Two Years
Renovations have been ongoing at The Village Inn in Lompoc and on Wednesday, January 12th, the hotel unveiled its new sign! Vandenberg Village’s future boutique resort was buzzing with excitement that afternoon as construction crews hoisted the 1,000-pound “Village Inn” sign onto a 34-foot steel “V” located at the front of this historic hotel property.
The sign, a replica of its midcentury modern predecessor, is reminiscent of the 1950-60s architectural design style which evolved from the post-World War II era: sleek lines, functional and simplistic in composition. The idea is to make the hotel look and feel as it was back in the 1960s, and it does, indeed. The sign is a replica of the very first sign at the original hotel.
When asked how it felt to be there installing this beauty, and to be present for the lighting, Dacy said, “There is such a feeling of accomplishment. Adam worked hard on this, and I made darn sure I matched his effort. Really proud of this project! This is why I love what I do. Watching a 1000-lb sign be installed, especially one that is so iconic, is quite a thrill!”
The very long commute meant that Pat would stay in Lompoc overnight, keeping the project on track, despite some permitting hiccups.
“This was quite a project, it started two years ago. As for hurdles, when the permit process was underway, we discovered that the key county permit fellow had quit. Though he had signed off on our permit, it never left his desk! Because of my contacts and history with the permit department, they moved my hard copy permit to the front of the line. And with only minutes to spare, they pushed it through.”
“Forge Ahead, our catch-phrase for this year, fits perfectly. With that spirit, 3V Signs has hit the $1Million Milestone most comfortably. Persistence—combined with planning and faith—is still the best formula for long-term success.”
~ Teresa M. Young President/CEO Sign Biz ® Inc.
Pat adds that he was so fired up after the finishing touches on the sign, he headed for the 160-mile drive home, he stopped along the way to install this post and panel sign in Torrance!
“This is only phase one of three,” adds Pat. “I certainly expect things to go smoothly through the coming projects.”
This seven-acre resort property is slated to open in June this year.
About 3V Signs and Graphics
3V Signs & Graphics has an experienced team of in-house designers, consultants, installers, and specialized equipment to deliver virtually any visual communications product. Licensed electrical sign contractor and dynamic digital signage experts complete a robust suite of services. Visit or call:
3V Signs & Graphics
2808 Oregon Ct, L3, Torrance CA 90503
For a Vibrant, Visual Voice for your business and our community
310-372-0888
