Short description of the origins of Ben Lomond. In 1888, an announcement was made that the mill, located on what was to become the Rowardennen Resort, was shutting down. This was mainly due to the move to the use of steel, plastics and aluminum instead of wood. At one time the lumber from this mill was shipped to Santa Clara to be made into all sorts of things. James Pierce laid out the town of Pacific Mills to take its place which was later changed to Ben Lomond.