Pacific Park facts for kids
The original look of the Pacific Park entrance.
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| Location | Santa Monica, California, United States |
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| Coordinates | 34°00′30″N 118°29′53″W / 34.00833°N 118.49806°W |
| Status | open |
| Opened | May 25, 1996 |
| Owner | EPR Properties |
| Operated by | Premier Parks, LLC |
| Slogan | "The Family Amusement Park on the Santa Monica Pier" "LA's only admission-free amusement park" |
| Operating season | Year-round Limited operation in off season |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 12 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
Pacific Park is a super fun amusement park right on the ocean in Santa Monica, California. It sits on the famous Santa Monica Pier, looking out at the big Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
This park is special because it's the only amusement park on a pier along the West Coast of the United States. Plus, it's the only park in Los Angeles where you don't have to pay to get in! You just pay for the rides you want to go on.
Pacific Park has twelve awesome rides, including the world's first and only solar-powered Ferris wheel. Imagine riding it and seeing the whole Pacific Ocean! There's also a cool roller coaster that zooms around most of the park.
You might have already seen Pacific Park! It has been in over 500 movies and TV shows. Some popular ones include Fat Albert, Hannah Montana, 90210, and even the video game Grand Theft Auto V. It's operated by a company called Premier Parks LLC.
Contents
The Story of Pacific Park
How the Santa Monica Pier Began
The Santa Monica Pier first opened way back in 1909. It wasn't for fun rides at first. It was mainly built to carry sewer pipes out into the ocean.
In 1916, a man named Charles I. D. Looff started building another pier next to it. He was famous for building the first carousel at Coney Island. This new pier was called the Pleasure Pier, and it was made for amusement!
Fun Times and Tough Times
The two piers are now considered one big Santa Monica Pier. The Pleasure Pier quickly became a popular spot. It had the historic Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome building, which still has a carousel today. There was also a wooden roller coaster called the Blue Streak Racer, a ride called the Whip, and other fun attractions.
The 1920s were a great time for the Pleasure Pier. But when the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, things got tough. Most of the pier closed down, and many of its rides were sold.
Saving the Pier
For many years, people in Santa Monica wanted to tear down the old pier. They even planned to build a resort island in its place! But local groups, like "Save Santa Monica Bay," fought to protect it.
In 1973, the city finally decided not to demolish the pier. The city took over ownership in 1974. In the 1980s, big winter storms almost destroyed the pier again. But people worked hard to save it.
Pacific Park Opens!
In 1983, a special group was formed to bring the pier back to life. They started holding summer music concerts there.
By 1989, the plan was to make the pier a busy place all year round. They wanted it to have rides, shops, and restaurants, just like in its old glory days of the 1920s and 1930s. Finally, in 1996, the current Pacific Park opened its doors as a full-scale family amusement park!
Rides and Fun at the Park
Pacific Park is a "non-gated" park, which means you don't pay to enter. You just pay for each ride you want to go on. Besides the rides, there are fun midway games, places to eat, and shops.
Roller Coasters
- West Coaster – This is a steel roller coaster that goes around the edge of Pacific Park. It reaches a height of 55 feet (17 m) and speeds up to 35 miles per hour!
Thrill Rides
- Inkie's Scrambler – This ride spins you around in 12 cars, giving you a fun, dizzy feeling. It was updated in 2013.
- Sea Dragon – Get ready to swing high on this pirate ship ride! It swings back and forth up to 180 degrees.
- Pacific Plunge – This is a 45-foot (14 m) drop tower. It lifts 10 people high up, then drops them down quickly for a thrilling rush!
Family Rides
- Pacific Wheel – This is the famous Ferris wheel! The original Pacific Wheel was even in the movie 1941. The current Pacific Wheel is 85 feet (26 m) tall, and from the top, you're more than 130 feet (40 m) above the pier! Pacific Park says it's the only solar-powered Ferris wheel in the world.
- Sig Alert EV – Get ready to bump and crash in this fun bumper car hall! Its name comes from a special traffic alert in California.
Rides for Younger Kids
- Inkie's Frog Hopper – A smaller "bouncing" drop tower that reaches 18 feet (5.5 m).
- Inkie's Wave Jumper
- Shark Frenzy
- Inkie's Sea Planes
- Inkie's Air Lift
- Seaside Swing
Extra Fun (Additional Fee)
- Gyro Loop - On this ride, you use a joystick to control how fast you spin and rotate.
- Rock Climber
- Bungee Jumper
Images for kids
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A close-up view of Pacific Park from the southwest.
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Pacific Park seen from the south side.
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The solar-powered Ferris wheel in 2009.
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The solar panels that power the Ferris wheel.
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Pacific Park as seen from the very end of the Santa Monica Pier.
