100-year-old cedar tree to be removed from SLO County downtown center
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- Atascadero will remove a 100-year-old cedar from Sunken Gardens this week.
- Tree poses safety risks due to declining health; East Mall will close during work.
- Deadwood Revival Design will sell wood to residents starting fall 2025.
A century-old cedar tree will be removed from downtown Atascadero on Tuesday.
The heritage Deodar Cedar tree is one of four in the town’s Sunken Gardens, imagined by town founder Edward Gardner Lewis to provide shade and natural landscaping to the historic downtown center that sits in front of the City Hall, the city said in a news release.
Unfortunately, this cedar tree in question is past its prime.
The tree, which is approximately 100 years old, has become a safety risk for park users due to its age and declining health, which has been unsteady for years, the city said in the release.
However, the tree will not go to waste. Residents who want to preserve a piece of Atascadero will be able to buy wood from the tree following its removal.
The other cedar trees may need to be removed in the future as they age, the city said.
When will Atascadero cedar tree be removed?
The tree in need of removal sits on the East side of the Sunken Gardens closer to El Camino Real.
It will be removed from the Gardens by a local tree contractor sometime on Tuesday, city spokesperson Terrie Banish told The Tribune.
The removal will take a full day, shutting down East Mall during the work, the city said.
Businesses along the street will remain open and parking will be available in the City Hall parking lot on the corner of East Mall and Lewis Avenue or along El Camino Real.
The tree to be removed mirrors a counterpart cedar removed in 2017.
The removal of this cedar will balance the appearance of the park until a new cedar is replanted in the same spot sometime in the near future, the city said.
How can I buy wood from the cedar?
Though the cedar will be removed from the Sunken Gardens, it won’t be leaving Atascadero forever.
The wood from the removed cedar will be given to Deadwood Revival Design, a local mill and furniture company, and be made available to purchase for Atascadero residents who want to take home a piece of the city’s history.
Raw, unprocessed wood will be available by fall, while kiln-dried processed wood will be available for purchase next summer.
Atascadero residents interested in purchasing wood from the cedar should contact Deadwood Revival Design at 805-552-5897 or visit deadwoodrevivaldesign.com.
This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM.
