The Hollywood Sign: Nature and Technology Collide on Mount Lee

At the summit of Mount Lee in Los Angeles, the atmosphere is surprisingly calm. Two red-tailed hawks glide effortlessly above, riding the warm currents of air much like surfers do on rolling waves. Here, next to the iconic Hollywood sign, the city below feels serene. On particularly clear days, you can see rows of homes stretching beneath, with views extending all the way to Catalina Island, which lies about 10 miles across the Pacific.

This, of course, is the beauty that the Hollywood sign embodies.

Perched on a hillside within Griffith Park, which is impressively about five times the size of Central Park, the sign has become an international emblem of dreams, ambition, and the film industry. Yet, it’s also a testament to the region’s ecological richness.

Because this area is restricted from public access, it’s turned into a refuge for wildlife escaping the city bustle. Various species have found a home here—birds nesting in the sign itself, snakes sunbathing at its base, and bobcats wandering near the letters. The famous mountain lion P-22 famously became a symbol of LA when a stunning nighttime photograph captured him prowling with the illuminated Hollywood sign looming in the background.

Currently, a team of scientists is working on equipping the sign with cameras aimed at detecting fires in the region. A collaboration withTorch Systems, a tech company utilizing solar-powered sensors, is in the works for an AI fire-detection service capable of detecting smoke from afar. Fire hazards are a major concern for the area, particularly with the risk of visitors bringing lit cigarettes into the park.

On a recent Wednesday, a group hiked up the mountain alongside the team, taking in the environment around the sign. As gloves were put on and a steep path navigated, it was hard not to notice mounds of coyote scat, a sign of the wildlife that frequents this area.

“Los Angeles is right next to nature,” comments Diana Wright, the Hollywood Sign Trust’s official caretaker, as she gestures to the surrounding landscape which is part of the 4,310 acres underneath the sign. “We’re enveloped by this vast natural park—much larger than Central Park—and it’s filled with native species. Then, of course, there’s this man-made sign that has to withstand rockslides, landslides, and strong winds.”

Griffith Park is a habitat for numerous creatures, and the Educational Research Center at UCLA has classified it as a Significant Ecological Area, particularly due to its vital role as a corridor for wildlife movement across the Santa Monica, San Gabriel, and Verdugo Mountains. Researchers have identified roughly 200 bird species, 50 butterfly species, and around 40 species of mammals in the park.

Interestingly, the sign’s history is rooted in a publicity stunt—it was initially erected as a temporary measure in 1923 to promote a housing development called “Hollywoodland.” Eventually, the “land” part faded away. Over time, the materials deteriorated, leading Hugh Hefner to spearhead an initiative in 1978 to replace the letters with sturdy steel beams anchored in concrete.

Throughout the years, the sign has become a true landmark within the city. Wright notes how streetlights in downtown LA mimic New York architecture and many areas feature scenes often associated with Paris, emphasizing how much of the city’s makeup has been influenced by its cinematic heritage.

“A lot of the city is styled to reflect other locations because of our filming history,” she explains. “The sign provides a sense of locale that many parts of the city lack, which might be why it’s so frequently showcased in films or photographed during rare events like a once-in-a-decade snowstorm.”

Although the letters are now more secure, they face their own set of challenges. Mount Lee’s steep slopes, along with the animal habitats, are vulnerable to risks from earthquakes, climate change, and variations in rainfall such as those brought by El Niño. The caretakers continually work to manage brush to minimize fire danger while also considering erosion control and the need for unobstructed views of the sign.

Wright and her team are also devising a plan with the city to introduce more native flora, potentially creating a native flower super bloom near the sign. “The Hollywood sign is such a celebration of California,” she reflects. “It ought to be magnificent and vibrant in its natural setting.”

Looking ahead, one has to wonder whether the letters will still stand a century from now, and what the surrounding wildlife might look like then. Wright suggests it ultimately hinges on the land that supports it. “The fate of the hillside will shape the future of the sign,” she notes. “A major event, like an earthquake, could drastically change the entire city. That’s a metaphor for Los Angeles as a whole, I think.”

But on that particular day, all that could be seen were endless blue skies and lizards darting away from the sounds of our approach, all beneath the imposing shadow of the giant letters.