Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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Location	Santa Cruz, California, United States
Coordinates	36°57′51″N 122°01′04″W / 36.96417°N 122.01778°W / 36.96417; -122.01778
Status	Operating
Opened	1907; 118 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
California Historical Landmark
Reference #:	983

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a fun amusement park right by the ocean in Santa Cruz, California. It first opened in 1907. This makes it California's oldest amusement park that is still open today. It is also one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.

Exploring the Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The Boardwalk stretches along the beautiful Monterey Bay. It goes from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to the San Lorenzo River. At one end of the park is a big building called Neptune's Kingdom. This building used to be known as The Plunge.

Fun and Games at Neptune's Kingdom

Neptune's Kingdom is a pirate-themed place. It has a huge video arcade where you can play many games. There is also an indoor miniature golf course. Next to this building is the Casino Fun Center. Here you can play laser tag. You might even spot a famous old character called Laffing Sal near the mini-golf course.

The Beach and Famous Rides

East of the casino, the main part of the boardwalk runs along a wide, sandy Main Beach. Visitors can easily walk from the park right onto the beach. The eastern end of the boardwalk is home to the Giant Dipper. This is a huge wooden roller coaster and a famous landmark in Santa Cruz.

The Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel are very special. The carousel still has its original 342-pipe organ from 1894. Both rides are listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. In 1987, they were named a National Historic Landmark. The park itself is also a California Historical Landmark.

Park Features and Location

All around the park's 24-acre (9.7-hectare) area, you will find classic carnival games. There are also many snack booths where you can grab a treat. The park is located at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz. You can find it south of the Ocean Street exit of California State Route 1.

History of the Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Swimming Baths at the Boardwalk, around 1910.

The idea for the Boardwalk started in 1903. That's when Fred W. Swanton created a company to build it. In 1904, the city of Santa Cruz allowed buildings to be built there. On June 14, 1904, the Neptune Casino opened. It had an arcade, a restaurant, and a theater.

Travel to the Boardwalk

People have been coming to this beach by train and trolley since 1875. From 1927 to 1959, the Southern Pacific Railroad ran special Suntan Special excursion trains. These trains brought people to the beach every summer Sunday and holiday from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Today, you can still take a short passenger train ride. The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway stops right in front of the park.

Modern Times and Awards

As of 2011, Charles Canfield leads the park. His father, Laurence Canfield, was president from the 1950s to the early 1980s. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has won many awards. Amusement Today magazine has named it the "Best Seaside Amusement Park" almost every year since 2007.

You don't need to pay to enter the park, and the beach is open to everyone. However, there is a parking fee when the rides are open. You can buy season passes, day passes, or tickets for individual rides. Each ride costs a certain number of tickets.

Recent Changes and Reopening

The park had to close in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened briefly in November 2020. However, it closed again soon after. The park then started to reopen some rides to California residents on April 1, 2021.

The Cocoanut Grove

The Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove is a large conference center. It has banquet rooms and a place for performances. Food, drinks, and shows have always been a big part of the resort. In the early days, people could even take boats from the pier to a ship in the harbor to play games.

A Name Change During Prohibition

During Prohibition (1920-1933), serving alcohol was against the law. So, the casino changed its name to Cocoanut Grove. The name uses an old spelling of "coconut." It was also used by many popular nightclubs back then.

Famous Performers

In the 1930s and 1940s, Cocoanut Grove was a very popular place. Many famous big bands played there. These included Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and Tommy Dorsey.

Today, Cocoanut Grove is mostly used for events. It hosts weddings, banquets, school dances, and company meetings. The Grand Ballroom and Sun Room have over 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) of space.

Rides at the Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has many exciting rides for all ages.

Roller Coasters

Here are the roller coasters you can ride:

Thrill Rides

If you like excitement, check out these thrill rides:

Family-Friendly Rides

These rides are great for the whole family:

Rides for Younger Kids

Even the littlest visitors have rides just for them:

Past Rides at the Boardwalk

Over the years, some rides have left the Boardwalk to make way for new ones. Here are some of the rides that used to be here:

• Hurricane (closed 2012, replaced by Undertow)
• Videostorm (replaced by Tsunami)
• Whirlwind
• The Red Baron (opened 1970s)
• Chaos (closed 2002, replaced by Fireball)
• The Flying Cages (opened 1960s)
• Dante’s Inferno (replaced by Haunted Castle, opened 1935)
• Paratrooper (closed 1985, replaced by Wave Jammer)
• Starfish (closed 2012)
• Wave Jammer (closed 2001, replaced by Rock & Roll)
• The Airplane (opened 1950)
• Auto Scooter (opened 1933)
• Jet Star (closed 1991)
• Treasure Island (replaced by Haunted Castle)
• Roll-O-Plane (opened 1940s, where Logger’s Revenge is now)
• Drive-A-Boat (replaced by Arctic Flyer)
• The Super Round-Up (closed 1991, replaced by the former Typhoon)
• Pirate’s Cove (replaced by Haunted Castle)
• The Trabant (by the former 1961 Ferris Wheel)
• Bermuda Triangle (Scrambler) (replaced by Cliff Hanger)
• Spider
• Autorama (closed 1998)
• Spin Out (Tea Cups) (closed 2003, replaced by Cyclone)
• The Octopus (opened 1950s)
• Arctic Flyer (opened 1973, replaced by Videostorm)
• Wild Mouse (closed 1975, replaced by Logger's Revenge)
• Crazy Surf (KMG X-Factory) (sold in 2018)
• Cliff Hanger (closed 2023, replaced by Surge in 2024)
• Rock & Roll (closed 2023, replaced by Dream Wheel in 2024)

Images for kids

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  A wide view of the Boardwalk from the pier.