Santa Cruz County Parks Reviews

Santa Cruz County Parks

Santa Cruz, CA

4.8 out of 5 rating, 46 reviews

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4.8 out of 5 rating

4.8

Excellent

46 reviews

Recommended by 96% of couples

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4.9 out of 5 rating
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User5039497 Sent on 01/19/2020

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Excellent value, beautiful space

We rented Highlands House in Ben Lomond for an indoor winter wedding and were completely happy with our decision. This is an excellent value—none of the ridiculous mark-ups that private venues charge when they find out your event is a wedding. Highlands House is beautiful and spacious, with a number of interior rooms that allow for flexibility in set-up (including a kitchen for food prep, a storage room for tables/chairs so you don't need to provide those, and two rooms upstairs for the wedding party to chill in). Everyone I worked with at the SC County Parks office and onsite at the venue was really kind and accommodating. If your event takes place during better weather than mine, the surrounding grounds are also lovely and add a ton of space. Highly recommend!
Marissa Sent on 08/02/2019

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Amazing Experience!

I fell in love with this venue! Everything about it was perfect! I love the private country setting/environment. Very clean and plenty of parking:) Also, Parks and Rec was great to work with, they helped me every step of the way. Very professional people:) Thank you Brenda!
Lisa Sent on 03/26/2019

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SC parks: Harvey west

Great value, flexible venue... We love being able to bring in our own catering etc. thank you!

Heather Sent on 07/11/2018

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We had a beautiful 50th wedding anniversary party for my parents at the Valencia Hall. The facility was clean, the staff was easy to communicate with, and the protocol for set up and clean up and all the other details we're easy to follow. A gorgeous space for any occasion! - Heather Houston
Mel Sent on 06/21/2018

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We loved this venue, and so did our guests! Open house was incredibly helpful and we loved Patti, Sandra, and Pamela! Thank you for making our day such a success and pleasure!!
Sara Sent on 03/13/2018

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We had our venue fall through 2 weeks before our wedding date and, by some miracle, Aptos Village Park was available on our wedding date! They were incredibly easy to work with and the venue was gorgeous. The Parks staff member present was also incredibly helpful. I would absolutely recommend Aptos Village Park (or any other Santa Cruz County Park) to anyone looking for a beautiful outdoor space with endless potential.
Paula Sent on 11/15/2017

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It's a charming venue. We got married recently this month in November so we had the ceremony and reception indoors. I had my friends with muscle help pull down the chairs and tables and put them away. I hired a musician who set up inside and a taco bar to set up out on the patio (they have a tarp in case of rain). I rented the hall the day before the ceremony for a couple of hours so we could have it all set up and with very little to do on the day of the wedding.
Robin Sent on 08/18/2017

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I had my daughters bridal shower at the hall. I did a High Tea for the ladies and Valencia hall fit the bill. They have kept the hall in beautiful condition with the hardwood floors and very clean. All the ladies complimented me on this hall and how did I find it. The staff was fantastic to deal with. Very thorough with explaining about the facility and answering all my questions. I also felt the price was very reasonable.
Rachael Sent on 06/02/2017

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We just had our wedding there last weekend! It was such a beautiful and perfect spot for us :) Everyone loved it. And so affordable! Definitely a place that you DIY (your own food, drinks, decorations, etc.), which is what we were looking for. Amazing! There are some rules as it is a county park, just to be aware of- no rice throwing (we did bubbles), only beer and wine, 5 hour event time, no open flames, etc.). <3
Lindsay Sent on 05/03/2017

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I think if you are looking for a space that is more casual and affordable, this is a great option! We did a day-time wedding here and it was fabulous. Having the option to do indoor/outdoor was great and I was surprised by how natural the flow felt going in and out. The SC folks are wonderful to work with and although there are some limitations with what you can do with the inside (I think it is a historic space so they are really careful to preserve and not damage anything ie - tape on walls, nails, scuffs) you can still do some cute things in there.
Colleen Sent on 12/13/2016

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Working with the Santa Cruz County Parks was a breeze. They were professional, attentive, straightforward regarding their policies, and a pleasure to work with in securing a location. Patti and Mary made the processing of paperwork so easy--everything was clearly laid out and easy to understand.
We hosted our event at Highlands Park in Ben Lomond. Not only were the grounds stunningly beautiful, but the historic home where we staged our party was perfect. The floorplan was easy to work with in regards to the bar, dining, photo booth, etc. It offers a wonderful and spacious kitchen to use for staging the meal with warming ovens and refrigerator.
There was a gentleman onsite during then entire event from set-up to clean-up. He could not have been nicer to deal with-- a real asset to the County. Gene was capable, friendly, patient, and just a super nice guy. He added to our festivities since he was so helpful and enjoyed seeing the guests have a wonderful time.
I would gladly choose to work with Santa Cruz County Parks for future events. On every level --it was a wonderful experience. AAA++++
Francis Sent on 10/10/2016

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We were very happy with the venue. the staff was very helpful and friendly. I would suggest you book the site as soon as you decide your date.
Les Sent on 09/29/2016

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Make sure you can adjust the volume if you'll have music. It's a cozy dance floor, but ideal for 40-60 folks.
Grant Sent on 09/20/2016

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Valencia Hall AND Aptos Village Park were used for our wedding. Everything was perfect. We had full control over our caterers and alcohol (unlike most places), and in the end, we were giving our money to the parks. We couldn't have asked for more.
Christine Sent on 08/08/2016

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Absolutely recommend this venue for a gathering of 80 people or less. Our 50th Birthday Party event was a blast! We had a live band and dancing and played some fun games. Such a charming location and building. The Santa Cruz County staff member on location for the event was very helpful. I would use this place again :0)
Emily Sent on 08/02/2016

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I had a great experience working with Santa Cruz county parks. Patti Anderson helped me with all the paperwork and guidelines every step of the way, made everything easy. Great communication! She was always there to answer my questions and sent everything I needed via email which was great! We had our reception at the Aptos village park and the person from the county there to open up the venue and be there for the night with us was Gene and he was great! He was so helpful and I was so glad he was there. He literally helped with the set up, moved all the tables to the grass with us and the garbage bins etc so that everything was easily accessible during the reception. After the reception ended he helped clean up, moved all the tables and chairs in with us, basically made everything as simple as possible. I didn't have to worry that I wasn't putting things back correctly, he made sure everything was good. I had the perfect wedding reception and would recommend this park and Santa Cruz county parks.
Joe Sent on 04/07/2016

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this is a great place to have a wedding, everything was perfect there...
Karina Sent on 02/03/2016

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Greetings!

I booked the hall the night before my best friend's wedding as a gift for them in order to help set-up since they had opted out of this great option. I called in to make the reservation since I was nowhere near the venue or their offices. I had the pleasure of speaking with Patti and she was immediately helpful, kind, informative and made this booking so easy and kept my number goal in mind: book the hall for set-up as a gift to the bride and groom for peace of mind the day of their wedding.

The day of the set-up, we were greeted by Jean (I hope I have that right) and he was just a delight. He was informative and communicative with myself as the Maid of Honor and my side-kick bridesmaid. He gave us some ideas for set-up based on what he had seen in the past and even helped brainstorm some logistics for the day of the wedding.

I could not be happier with the entire experience provided by both Patti and Jean, and of course the venue was absolutely perfect and gorgeous!
Ashley Sent on 08/17/2015

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Gorgeous venue if you are on a tight budget. And if your looking for a vintage chic place tou can totally transform this place.
User1850577 Sent on 10/07/2014

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The wedding and dinner were outside. The food, drinks, cake and dancing were inside. Having access to inside and out have our guests the opportunity to do what they wanted. The redwoods are a huge part of our lives so to be able to have a venue with beautiful trees around us was important. Having the playground and river a small walk away was good for our younger guests.
Rose Sent on 07/30/2014

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This place was not only beautiful, but amazingly affordable!
Dave Sent on 07/31/2018

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Lovely location and great venue. Keep in mind that it is a working ranch and public park. It's a place that is rustic and lovely. Don't expect the ritz, expect a 1920's farmhouse that is in the process of restoration.
Karen Sent on 05/15/2018

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Excellent Venue... Park Employee... Debbie was awesome. (I think that was her name)
Lauren Sent on 09/22/2017

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My husband and I had a post-elopement reception at Highlands Park last weekend and couldn't have been happier with our choice to celebrate there. The venue itself is beautiful, with so many options for how to use the space. We were primarily outside and received many compliments on the setting. The attendant from the county (Susan) and Patti were both amazing to work with. This venue includes tables and chairs which makes it an even better deal. I looked for months for a space that was beautiful, affordable, and could accommodate our guest size while also having real bathrooms. Highlands was the only place I found that fit that bill and I wish I had an excuse to have another party there.
Dona Sent on 12/07/2018

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Co-Ed Baby Shower

Valencia Hall was the perfect space for hosting a baby shower for a larger guest count. My favorite aspects of the site is the vintage flair throughout the location, beautiful greenery in front, and the amazing windows that run the length of the building on both sides! It was a beautiful spot for an event, and SC county parks was very easy to book our event through. Definitely recommend!
Scott Sent on 11/08/2018

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Amazing value and location!

Amazing location, spacious and well maintained facilities. The value can not be matched. Working with Patti and others from the county was a great experience.
Darren Sent on 10/18/2018

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Beautiful rustic setting

We just had our wedding here last weekend. It was a magical setting. Including -- and I am not making this up -- the fawn that wandered back and forth behind the altar while the guests were waiting for the wedding party to make their entrance.

The location feels very private and off the beaten path, which is what we were looking for. Our reception dinner under the huge oak tree was absolutely perfect.

As a county park, it's a bit of a self-service project to arrange a big event here. Do keep in mind that if you're doing an event here after dark, you'll want to plan ahead on lighting. But the staff was helpful & accommodating and great at getting back to us on any questions (thanks, Patti!)

Plus, we love that we'll be coming back for years to hike and enjoy our memories of that special day.
Barbara Sent on 09/08/2017

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The venue was wonderful, and the service that Patt at Santa Cruz Parks provided was very helpful and very professional.

Would rent this venue again.
Nicole Sent on 03/24/2017

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Beautiful setting, especially if you are able to use the outside patio as well! Very friendly and helpful staff!
Meredith Sent on 08/06/2016

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Take advantage of the lawn – people love hanging out there! If you want to use string lights, LEDs are best because you can use more strands without risking tripping the circuit breaker.
Kate Sent on 05/18/2018

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Highlands Park was the perfect venue for our son's wedding! Excellent staging with the house and gardens so that our party of 60 was completely comfortable and moved around without any issues. The park employee that was present for the event was considerate and helped us 'reserve' the parking area, and clean up. The day was busy, but everything was so well organized so went very smoothly. I highly recommend Highlands Park!
Jennifer Sent on 01/18/2018

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These guys were great to work with! I’ll use them again!
Diana Sent on 08/08/2016

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The only recommendation I'd make is to try and see the inside of the space before the event - it's bigger than it looks in the pictures! :) We LOVED Valencia Hall, and all of our guests were raving about how sweet it was, too.
Renee Sent on 03/11/2020

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Beautiful, clean and nestled in nature

We were pleasantly surprised by the help that was offered to organize the chairs and tables after the wedding, thank you! The venue was beautiful and clean.
Jake Sent on 10/05/2017

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This place is a hidden gem. It's gorgeous, set back from any roads, surrounded by a nature preserve, centered on a historic and charming house, and as reasonably priced as a public park can be. We looked at a lot of places in Santa Cruz, and this was by far the best for the price and overall, too. Lovely surroundings, helpful staff, and clear communication. Don't think the paperwork is too much, because in the end it just makes the plan clear and day-of everything goes off without a hitch because you've laid out the timeline and key contacts. Highly recommend a 3-8pm event, because a standard wedding is 5 hours, and music has to be inside-only after 8pm. Use the whole grounds and don't just center around the house, there's room to spread out. Lack of liquor is no big deal given how much great wine and beer there is. Just enjoy it, it's an amazing place!
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Amanda Sent on 08/30/2017

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Wonderful venue for a great price! They were responsive and clear about the rules. This is the most affordable venue in the area by far. Super cute outdoor/indoor dual event space with great dance floor and bar. Lots of beautiful scenery for pictures. Highly recommend!
Mia Sent on 10/12/2016

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Quail Hollow is an amazing value for your money for venues in Santa Cruz - while most private venues run upwards of 5k, QH is approximately $1,500 to rent for the entire day and includes tables and chairs. The park is absolutely beautiful, there are many options for where to hold the ceremony. So many people commented at our wedding of what a beautiful venue we had chosen - it is spacious, beautiful outdoor space, with the casual rustic vibe we wanted for our day. Working with Patti from the County Parks office was great - she's very responsive to emails and answered every question I had over the 18-month period of our wedding planning. The only downside of going with a county-owned property is that they are less flexible on some of the rules and will not let you go over the 5-hour event time limit. Otherwise, it was great and I highly recommend looking into it.
Vaidehi Sent on 10/27/2014

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This was a great venue to host my wedding!! My guests loved it! From my young friends who love outdoors to my older relatives who appreciated the classic style of the house. Parking was easy for guests. The weather was perfect; warm and sunny. The staff were helpful before and during the wedding. The house had everything we needed to heat and serve out the food as well as get myself, the bride and the bridesmaids ready. There was lots of space for kids to play and people to wander around. Almost everywhere you look there is a great backdrop for a photo shoot. I feel really good about our decision to have our wedding here.
Candice Sent on 08/30/2010

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This was a great Venue, Highlands park has a massive kitchen with refrigerator, oven, ect. Every thing was extremely accessible and simple! Beautiful outdoor, or indoor setting.
Tina Sent on 10/26/2017

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We hosted my daughter's wedding at Quail Hollow Ranch Park in Felton, and every interaction with SCCP was so pleasant, and informative. This venue was perfect for an outdoor wedding, and our guests enjoyed being in the Santa Cruz mountains on a beautiful Fall afternoon. I would encourage any wedding coordinator or bride/groom to go to the Open Houses offered at Quail Hollow and use your imagination to make your perfect day a reality. We did!
Ava Sent on 06/08/2015

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Highlands Park in Ben Lomond was an absolutely beautiful venue for our wedding! The park is surrounded by picturesque redwoods, parking is ample, and the indoor/outdoor space was perfect for the party.

The venue is very affordable, but comes with MANY restrictions. No hard alcohol is allowed onsite, beer and wine only. The sound restrictions are incredibly strict - the venue host walked the grounds with a noise meter throughout the entire daytime event and was constantly hassling the DJ (who was playing very moderate background music). And the event had to end by 8pm, which makes for a very short party - 5 hours total for the ceremony and reception.

If you are flexible with those restrictions the space is a dream and I was very pleased with the outcome.
David Sent on 12/01/2018

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Great experience with Santa Cruz County Parks

This is a cozy little hall in the Aptos forest, great for an intimate event like a small wedding or ceremony like a milestone birthday party. We held a party for my Mom's birthday, and it went off great! The Santa Cruz County Parks staff was helpful and professional. High marks to Valencia Hall for future events.
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Beautiful venue at a great price. There are definitely some limitations on what you can do there since it's a county park, and I wish that there hadn't been such strict limits on the time and noise permit. But overall, it was a perfectly lovely place to get married, with all the needed amenities. A real value.
User2542546 Sent on 02/25/2016

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Parks and Rec contact was amazing. She was SO helpful. The person who stayed at the event to monitor was extremely involved!
User1059735 Sent on 01/04/2013

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I really loved our venue because of the natural beauty that surrounded us. The site itself was lovely and made for some amazing photos. Because they have a huge kitchen we actually prepared our own food and we were able to use the ovens to heat up the food. They also let us bring our own alcohol and bartender which really helped us keep costs low.

I wish the time limit on how long the event could be was longer because at times we felt a little rushed, but it was an amazing day and I am very happy we got married at Highlands Park.
Hubbard Sent on 04/12/2018

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- Flexibility
  4 out of 5 rating
Venue is beautiful and comes with chairs and tables aplenty, guests had a great time and loved the area, and the price is very reasonable - which is extremely rare in this area. Ended up playing a lot of phone tag on multiple occasions even during times when staff was explicitly supposed to be available, but we didn't have many questions so it wasn't much of a problem. On the day of the wedding the staff wasn't there early to prepare at all or talk with us before setup, which also ended up being fine but just felt a bit unprofessional too. No real complaints and we would definitely recommend the venue to others, but a more relaxed yet professional customer service experience would certainly improve things.

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