Remembering Outpost Estates being Featured on the PBS SoCal Series “Visiting… with Huell Howser”
In 2003, “Visiting… with Huell Howser” aired an episode titled “Outpost”, shining a spotlight on a forgotten hillside landmark: the giant neon sign that once spelled Outpost above Runyon Canyon.
👉 Watch the full episode here
🔎 What Huell Found
The Outpost sign, built in the 1920s to rival the Hollywoodland sign, was at one time the largest neon sign in the world.
By the time Huell visited in 2003, the sign had long since fallen into ruin — its remnants buried under weeds and dirt, more memory than monument.
The episode captures this mix of history and mystery, retracing the story of how the sign once defined part of the Hollywood Hills skyline.
The original Outpost sign from the 1920s close up.
The original Outpost sign from the 1920s looking below from Outpost Drive.
🏡 Why It Matters to Our Neighborhood
Outpost Estates takes its name from that same era of hillside development in the 1920s, when exclusivity, dramatic views, and bold marketing symbols like the sign defined the community.
Even today, fragments of the sign’s foundation remain. You can read more about the sign it on the Outpost Estates website here.
A picture of the old Outpost metal sign frame from 2023. It can still be seen on the Runyon Canyon Park trail today located here.
🎥 Why Watch
Huell’s storytelling is a reminder that our neighborhood has layers of history hidden in plain sight. The “Outpost” episode is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand not only the sign, but also the legacy and identity of our hillside community.
A man standing on the “U” in the original OUTPOST neon sign for scale.
A man standing on the “P” in the original OUTPOST neon sign for scale.
