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 Interactive map of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | |
| Location | Santa Cruz,California,United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 36°57′51″N122°01′04″W / 36.96417°N 122.01778°W /36.96417; -122.01778 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1907; 119 years ago (1907) |
| Owner | Santa Cruz Seaside Company |
| Operating season | Year-round (limited operation November–early February) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 35 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 1 |
| Website | beachboardwalk |
| Reference no. | 983 |
TheSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfrontamusement park inSanta Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it isCalifornia's oldest surviving amusement park[1] and one of the few seaside parks on theWest Coast of the United States.
The boardwalk extends along the coast of theMonterey Bay, from just east of theSanta Cruz Municipal Wharf to the mouth of theSan Lorenzo River. At the western edge of the park lies a large building originally known as The Plunge, now Neptune's Kingdom, a pirate-themed recreation center which contains avideo arcade and an indoorminiature golf course. Next to this is the Casino Fun Center which includes alaser tag arena and next to that is the Cocoanut Grove banquet room and conference center. ALaffing Sal automated character, fromSan Francisco'sPlayland, is viewable near theminiature golf course.
East of the casino, theboardwalk portion of the park stretches along a wide, sandy MainBeach visitors can access easily from the park. The eastern end of the boardwalk is dominated by theGiant Dipper, awooden roller coaster that is one of the most visible landmarks in Santa Cruz. The Dipper and theLooff Carousel, which still contains its original 342-pipeorgan built in 1894, are both on the USNational Register of Historic Places. They were, together, declared to be aNational Historic Landmark in 1987[2] and the park isCalifornia Historical Landmark number 983.[3]
There are old-fashioned and modern styled carnival games and snack booths throughout the 24-acre (9.7-hectare) park. It is located at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz,36°57′51″N122°01′04″W / 36.96417°N 122.01778°W /36.96417; -122.01778 south of the Ocean Street exit ofCalifornia State Route 1, which is the southern terminus ofCalifornia State Route 17.
Fred W. Swanton formed the Santa Cruz Beach, Cottage, and Tent City Corporation in 1903 and the following year, the City of Santa Cruz granted permission for commercial buildings to be built. On 14 June 1904, the Neptune Casino opened with an arcade, grill and dining room, and a theater.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959,Southern Pacific Railroad ranSuntan Specialexcursion trains to the beach fromSan Francisco,Oakland, andSan Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.[4] A short passenger service toRoaring Camp via the San Lorenzo river canyon inHenry Cowell Redwoods State Park was restored in 1985 by theSanta Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway, which stops in front of the park.[5]
As of 2011[update], the park is headed by Charles Canfield, the son of Laurence Canfield, the president of the park from the 1950s until the early 1980s. It has won the Best Seaside Amusement Park Award fromAmusement Today every year since 2007 except for 2015.[6] Although there is no admission and the beach is public, a parking fee is charged when the rides are open. Season or day passes can be purchased or individual points for $1; each ride costs between 5 and 8 tickets.[7][8]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the park temporarily shut down in mid-March 2020. The park reopened on November 7, 2020.[9] The park then subsequently shut down again on November 10, 2020, due to Santa Cruz County re-entering the Substantial tier of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The park then re-opened select rides to California residents on April 1, 2021.[10]
The Boardwalk's Cocoanut Groveconference center includes banquet rooms and a performing arts venue. Food, drink, and theater were profitable aspects of the resort since theoriginal Casino of Swanton in 1904. Although gambling was never legal, it was generally known that guests could take boats from the "pleasure pier" to a ship in the harbor to play games of chance in the early days. DuringProhibition from 1920 to 1933, serving alcoholic drinks was also outlawed and the casino changed its name to Cocoanut Grove. The name includes an old spelling ofCoconut,Cocos nucifera, which was used in the popularMarx Brothers movieThe Cocoanuts of 1929. The name was also used by a number of popular nightclubs of the era, including one inThe Ambassador Hotel inLos Angeles, California.[11]
In the 1930s and 1940s, Cocoanut Grove was a popular spot for majorbig band acts, includingStan Kenton,Benny Goodman,Lionel Hampton andTommy Dorsey.[12]
Today, Cocoanut Grove rarely hosts musical acts. It is a venue for weddings, banquets, school formal occasions and reunions, and corporate events. The Grand Ballroom and Sun Room complexes include over 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of space and commercial kitchens.[11]
| Coaster | Opened | Manufacturer | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Dipper | 1924 | Designed by Frank Prior & Frederick Church; Built by Arthur Looff | Wooden Roller Coaster |
| Sea Serpent | 2000 | E&F Miler Industries | Family Coaster |
| Undertow | 2013 | Maurer Söhne | Spinning Coaster |
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crazy Surf | 1998 | Wisdom Rides | Genesis |
| Cyclone | 2004 | Hrubetz | Round Up |
| Double Shot | 2005 | S&S Worldwide | Double Shot Tower |
| Fireball | 2003 | KMG | Revolution 20 |
| Rock-O-Plane | 1954 | Eyerly | Rock-O-Plane |
| Shockwave | 2017 | Zamperla | Disk’o |
| Surge | 2024 | Chance Rides | Freestyle |
| Typhoon | 2017 | ARM Rides | Typhoon |
| WipeOut | 1998 | HUSS | Breakdance |
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cave Train | 1961 | Arrow Development[13] | Cave Train |
| Dream Wheel | 2024 | Chance Rides | Century Wheel |
| Freefall | 2002 | Moser’s Rides | Junior Drop Tower |
| Ghost Blasters | 2001 | Sally Corporation | Shooting Dark Ride |
| Haunted Castle | 2010 | Sally Corporation | Dark Ride |
| Lighthouse Lift-Off | 2021 | Sunkid | Lift Tower |
| Logger’s Revenge | 1977 | Arrow Development | Log Flume |
| Looff Carousel | 1911 | Looff | Carousel |
| Pirate Ship | 1984 | Chance Rides | Pirate Ship |
| Riptide | 1993 | Larson International | Tilt-A-Whirl |
| Sea Swings | 2008 | Bertazzon | Swing Carousel |
| Sky Glider | 1967 | Universal Mobility | Chairlift |
| Space Race | 2000 | Space Race Inc. | Space Race |
| Speed Bumps | 1996 | Majestic Manufacturing | Bumper Cars |
| Tornado | 2000 | Wisdom Rides | Tornado |
| Tsunami | 1999 | Moser’s Rides | Musik Express |
| Twirlin Teacups | 2019 | Zamperla | Teacups |
| Wave Rider | 2021 | Battech Enterprises | Permanent Dry Slide |
| Ride | Opened | Manufacturer | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Swing | 2013 | Zamperla | Happy Swing |
| Bouncin’ Buggies | 2016 | Zamperla | Jump Around |
| Bulgy the Whale | 1960 | Eyerly | Bulgy the Whale |
| Convoy | 2000 | Zamperla | Convoy |
| Jet Copters | 1990 | Zamperla | Helicopter ride |
| Sea Dragons | 1976 | Zamperla | Sea Dragon |
| Speed Boats | 1960 | Venture | Speed Boats |
| Speedway | 2002 | Zamperla | Speedway |
Reference:[14]
