Hollywood Bowl Overlook Update: Major Improvements Underway at Jerome C. Daniel Overlook

Jan 6

Many Outpost Estates neighbors are familiar with the Hollywood Bowl Overlook along Mulholland Drive—formally known as the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl. This iconic viewpoint has long been one of the most photographed scenic stops in the Hollywood Hills, offering sweeping views of the Bowl, Downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign, and even the Pacific Ocean on clear days.

The overlook is currently closed for a major renovation project, led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). Below is an overview of the overlook, why it’s closed, what’s being improved, and what neighbors and visitors should expect going forward.

📍 About the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook

Location: 7036 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles
Open Hours: generally open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or sunset, depending on the season), but access can be restricted during major Hollywood Bowl events.
Built: 1984 (in preparation for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics)
What you can see:
- 🎶 Hollywood Bowl Amphitheatre
- 🏙️ Downtown Los Angeles skyline
- 🎬 Hollywood Sign & Griffith Observatory
- 🌊 Pacific Ocean & Catalina Island (on clear days)

The overlook has historically been free to visit and extremely popular, with hundreds of daily visitors, many arriving by tour buses and personal vehicles.

👤 Who Was Jerome C. Daniel?

The Jerome C. Daniel Overlook is named in honor of Jerome C. Daniel, a civic leader and philanthropist who played a significant role in supporting public spaces and cultural institutions in Los Angeles.

Jerome C. Daniel was known for his involvement in civic affairs, philanthropy, and regional planning efforts, particularly those that enhanced public access to open space, scenic resources, and cultural landmarks. Naming the overlook after him reflects a broader tradition in Los Angeles of recognizing individuals who contributed to the preservation and enjoyment of shared public places.

When the overlook was constructed in 1984, the goal was to create a free, publicly accessible viewpoint that allowed residents and visitors alike to appreciate the Hollywood Bowl, the city skyline, and the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains—values closely aligned with Daniel’s legacy of civic engagement and public benefit.

Today, the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook continues to serve that purpose. The current MRCA-led renovation project builds on that original intent by ensuring the site remains structurally sound, accessible, and safe for future generations, while honoring the spirit of public enjoyment and stewardship that the overlook’s namesake represented. Click this link to access the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook History Pamphlet.

🚧 Why the Overlook Is Closed

The overlook is officially closed due to a large-scale restoration and accessibility project. Construction began in mid-2025 and is expected to continue through Spring 2026.

According to MRCA, the site’s original wood post retaining wall, installed in 1984, has significantly deteriorated over time. Combined with extremely high visitor volume—especially tour bus traffic—the overlook required structural, safety, and ADA upgrades to remain viable long-term.

🛠️ What MRCA Is Building

MRCA’s project includes a comprehensive set of improvements designed to stabilize the hillside, improve safety, and modernize access. Key improvements of the project include:

🧱 Removal of the deteriorated wood retaining wall and construction of a new concrete retaining wall supported by deep concrete piles
🪜 Upgraded staircase and hillside stabilization
♿ ADA-compliant improvements, including:
- New handicap van parking stall
- ADA-accessible path of travel
- Guard rails and curb walls
🚗 Parking lot reconfiguration with angled parking to improve traffic flow
🚰 Drinking fountain and concrete pad for future restroom facilities
🔒 New steel railing replacing older wood fencing for durability

Image of the Overlook Improvement Plans. Click the link here to pull up the full plans.

These plans were prepared by licensed professionals, reviewed by Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, and approved by the MRCA Governing Board.

🚷 What This Means for Visitors (For Now)

🚫 The overlook itself is closed and gated
🚘 Parking inside the overlook lot is unavailable
👀 Some limited roadside views may still be possible from Mulholland Drive, but stopping and access are not officially permitted

For updates, MRCA recommends following: Instagram & Facebook: @lamountains or X (Twitter): @MRCAParks

🚗 Improving Safety on Mulholland Drive Near the Overlook

In addition to improvements within the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook, Los Angeles City Council District 4 is working with MRCA, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), and neighborhood stakeholders to address a long-standing safety issue: illegal parking along Mulholland Drive outside the overlook.

When the overlook parking lot fills up—or after the gates are locked at night—drivers often park illegally along the shoulder of Mulholland Drive. Over time, this has effectively turned portions of the roadway into a de facto parking lot, creating dangerous conditions on a narrow, winding road with blind curves and limited emergency access.

To address this, the City and MRCA are implementing physical safety improvements, recognizing that enforcement alone is not sufficient. Existing plastic bollards already prevent parking in some areas, but gaps remain. The current plan extends protections by installing a low white fence from the end of the existing bollards to the point where the hillside meets the roadway. A 60-foot clear zone for a fire hydrant—required by LAFD—will be maintained, with wheel stops installed within that zone and laid out per LAFD guidance so fire apparatus can safely pull off the road, even on the blind uphill curve.

These improvements are designed to reduce illegal parking, improve traffic safety, protect emergency access, and minimize nighttime activity and vandalism, while remaining visually compatible with the surrounding hillside. ONA will continue coordinating with City partners and sharing updates as this work moves forward.

Map of new fence location along Mulholland Drive near the Hollywood Bowl Overlook.

Approximate location of new fence location along Mulholland Drive near the Hollywood Bowl Overlook.

Example of the white fence that will be installed along Mulholland Drive near the Hollywood Bowl Overlook to prevent illegal parking.

🌱 Looking Ahead

When construction is complete, MRCA expects the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook to reopen as a safer, more accessible, and more durable destination—better equipped to handle the wear and tear of thousands of visitors and daily tour buses while preserving one of the Hollywood Hills’ most iconic views.

Outpost Neighborhood Association will continue to monitor progress and share updates with Outpost Estates neighbors as the project advances.