Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk facts for kids
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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 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Owner | Santa Cruz Seaside Company |
| Operating season | Year-round (limited operation November–early February) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 35 |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 1 |
| Reference #: | 983 |
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a super fun amusement park right by the ocean in Santa Cruz, California. It first opened way back in 1907, making it California's oldest amusement park that's still running! It's also one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.
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What Makes the Boardwalk Special?
The boardwalk stretches along the beautiful Monterey Bay. On one side, you'll find a big building called Neptune's Kingdom. It used to be known as The Plunge. Now, it's a pirate-themed fun center with a video arcade and an indoor miniature golf course. Right next to it is the Casino Fun Center, which has a laser tag arena. There's also the Cocoanut Grove, a large room used for parties and events. You might even spot a funny old character called Laffing Sal near the mini-golf!
As you walk further, the boardwalk runs along a wide, sandy beach. You can easily get to the beach from the park. The most famous part of the boardwalk is the Giant Dipper. This huge wooden roller coaster is a well-known landmark in Santa Cruz. Both the Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel are very old and special. The carousel even has its original 342-pipe organ from 1894! These two rides are so important that they are listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. They were even named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The park is also California Historical Landmark number 983.
All around the 24-acre (9.7-hectare) park, you'll find classic and modern carnival games. There are also lots of snack booths where you can grab a treat. The park is located at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz.
A Look Back at the Boardwalk's History
The idea for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk started in 1903 with a person named Fred W. Swanton. In 1904, the city allowed buildings to be constructed. On June 14, 1904, the Neptune Casino opened. It had an arcade, a restaurant, and a theater.
People have been coming to this beach by train and trolley since 1875. For many years, from 1927 to 1959, special "Suntan Special" excursion trains brought visitors from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer. Today, you can still take a short passenger train ride to Roaring Camp from in front of the park.
The park is currently led by Charles Canfield. His father, Laurence Canfield, was the park's president from the 1950s to the early 1980s. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has won the "Best Seaside Amusement Park Award" from Amusement Today 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 passes for the day or season, or pay for individual rides.
The park had to close for a while in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened for a short time in November 2020, then closed again. It started to reopen select rides for California residents on April 1, 2021.
The Cocoanut Grove
The Cocoanut Grove is a large conference center at the Boardwalk. It has big rooms for banquets and events. It also hosts performing arts shows. Food, drinks, and theater have always been a big part of the resort since it first opened in 1904. During a time called Prohibition (from 1920 to 1933), it was against the law to serve alcohol. That's when the casino changed its name to Cocoanut Grove. The name was popular for many nightclubs back then.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Cocoanut Grove was a famous place for big music groups, like Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman, to perform.
Today, the Cocoanut Grove is mostly used for weddings, school dances, reunions, and company events. It has over 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of space, including large ballrooms and sunrooms.
Exciting Rides at the Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has many different rides for everyone to enjoy!
Roller Coasters
| Coaster | Opened | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Dipper | 1924 | A classic wooden roller coaster that's super famous! |
| Sea Serpent | 2000 | A fun roller coaster for the whole family. |
| Undertow | 2013 | A spinning coaster that twists and turns you around. |
Thrill Rides
These rides are for those who love a bit of a scare and a lot of excitement!
| Ride | Opened | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Crazy Surf | 1998 | A ride that makes you feel like you're surfing big waves. |
| Cyclone | 2004 | Spins you around and around, pushing you against the wall. |
| Double Shot | 2005 | Shoots you straight up into the air and then drops you down! |
| Fireball | 2003 | A giant pendulum that swings you high into the sky. |
| Rock-O-Plane | 1954 | You sit in a cage that flips you upside down. |
| Shockwave | 2017 | A big spinning disc that slides back and forth on a track. |
| Surge | 2024 | A new ride that spins and lifts you in exciting ways. |
| Typhoon | 2017 | Spins you around very fast, creating a strong force. |
| WipeOut | 1998 | A ride with cars that spin and move in different directions. |
Family Rides
These rides are great for everyone to enjoy together!
| Ride | Opened | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Cave Train | 1961 | A gentle train ride through a mysterious cave. |
| Dream Wheel | 2024 | A classic Ferris wheel with great views of the ocean. |
| Freefall | 2002 | A smaller drop tower that gives you a quick thrill. |
| Ghost Blasters | 2001 | A dark ride where you shoot at targets to blast ghosts. |
| Haunted Castle | 2010 | A spooky dark ride through a haunted castle. |
| Lighthouse Lift-Off | 2021 | A tower ride that lifts you up for a nice view. |
| Logger’s Revenge | 1977 | A log flume ride with a big splash at the end! |
| Looff Carousel | 1911 | A beautiful, historic carousel with hand-carved animals. |
| Pirate Ship | 1984 | A large ship that swings back and forth, almost upside down. |
| Riptide | 1993 | A classic ride that spins and tilts in all directions. |
| Sea Swings | 2008 | A swing ride that lifts you high and spins you around. |
| Sky Glider | 1967 | A chairlift that takes you high above the boardwalk for views. |
| Space Race | 2000 | A fun ride where you race in spinning cars. |
| Speed Bumps | 1996 | Bumper cars where you can crash into your friends! |
| Tornado | 2000 | A ride that spins and tilts, making you feel like you're in a tornado. |
| Tsunami | 1999 | A fast-paced ride with music and lots of spinning. |
| Twirlin Teacups | 2019 | Spin your own teacup as it goes around a track. |
| Wave Rider | 2021 | A fun slide that lets you race down. |
Kiddie Rides
These rides are perfect for younger visitors!
| Ride | Opened | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Beach Swing | 2013 | A gentle swing ride for little ones. |
| Bouncin’ Buggies | 2016 | Little buggies that bounce up and down. |
| Bulgy the Whale | 1960 | A classic ride where you sit inside a friendly whale. |
| Convoy | 2000 | A mini-truck ride for kids to drive. |
| Jet Copters | 1990 | Little helicopters that go up and down. |
| Sea Dragons | 1976 | A gentle ride on colorful sea dragons. |
| Speed Boats | 1960 | Kids can pretend to drive their own speed boats. |
| Speedway | 2002 | A fun race track for small cars. |
Former Rides
Over the years, some rides have left the Boardwalk to make way for new ones. Here are a few that used to be here:
- Hurricane (closed 2012, replaced by Undertow)
- Dante’s Inferno (closed 1935, replaced by Haunted Castle)
- Paratrooper (closed 1985, replaced by Wave Jammer)
- Wild Mouse (closed 1975, replaced by Logger's Revenge)
- Cliff Hanger (closed 2023, replaced by Surge)
- Rock & Roll (closed 2023, replaced by Dream Wheel)
See also
