The Pike facts for kids
The Bath House and Board Walk, Long Beach, Ca. (1907)
|
|
| Location | Long Beach, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°45′58″N 118°11′21″W / 33.76611°N 118.18917°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Closed | 1979 |
The Pike was a famous amusement zone in Long Beach, California. It opened in 1902 right by the ocean. The Pike had many fun things to do. There were independent arcades, places to eat, gift shops, and lots of rides. It also had a big bath house for swimming.
The most famous ride was the Cyclone Racer. This was a huge wooden roller coaster built over the water. It operated from 1930 to 1968. The Pike changed its name a few times. It was called "Silver Spray Pier" at first. Later, it became "Nu-Pike" in the 1950s. In the 1960s, it was renamed "Queen's Park". This was to honor the Queen Mary ocean liner, which came to Long Beach. The Pike closed in 1979. Most of its buildings and rides were taken down. You can still visit The Pike museum today. It is located at Looff's Lite-A-Line in Long Beach.
Contents
The Pike's Beginnings: A Beach Resort History
Long Beach became a popular place to visit very early on. People from Southern California came to escape the summer heat. They enjoyed the cool ocean breeze and the Pacific Ocean. In 1902, the amusement zone officially began. It started as a beach and a large bath house resort. This was at the end of the "Red Car" electric train line. The "Red Car" connected Los Angeles to Long Beach. This made it easy for families to visit the beach. The bath house, later called The Plunge, opened on July 4, 1902. This was the same day the first "Red Car" arrived from Los Angeles.
Long Beach Municipal Pier: A Busy Waterfront Hub
The Long Beach Municipal Pier stretched from Pine Avenue into the Pacific Ocean. It had two levels and a building at the end. This public pier was used for many things. It helped with trade and shipping goods. People also used it for fishing and walking. A simple wooden boardwalk connected the pier to the new bathhouse. This boardwalk was built right on the sand.
The Pike: From Boardwalk to Amusement Zone
The name "Pike" first referred to this wooden boardwalk. It connected the pier to The Plunge bath house. Over time, the boardwalk got longer and wider. It was later paved with concrete. Electric lights were added, and it became "The Walk of a Thousand Lights." The name "The Pike" then started to mean the whole amusement area.
The Pike grew from a simple beach path to a lively midway. It had many shops and attractions. These included The Plunge bathhouse and souvenir photo shops. There was also the Looff carousel and salt water taffy stands. You could play games, ride ponies, or visit a fortune teller. Many different rides and amusements were added over the years.
Rainbow Pier: Protecting the Shoreline
For a while, both the Long Beach Pier and Rainbow Pier existed. The Rainbow Pier was shaped like a horseshoe. It was actually a breakwater with a road on top. This connected Pine Street to Linden. In the 1920s, the original Long Beach Municipal Auditorium was built. It was located on land created by filling in the tidal zone. Storms and erosion caused problems for the auditorium. So, the horseshoe-shaped breakwater was built to protect it. Because of its shape, it was called "Rainbow Pier."
In the late 1940s, the city filled in the water inside the Rainbow Pier. This created Rainbow Lagoon and Wilmore Park. More land was filled in during the 1950s and 1960s. This made space for a bigger auditorium.
Nu-Pike: A New Look for Families
By 1954, The Pike had 218 amusements. But it started to face tough competition. Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland were built nearby. The Pike also had a reputation for being a bit rough. This might have kept some families away. In the 1950s, the area got a new look. Ads with coupons started appearing in newspapers to attract families.
A "Kiddieland" section was added. It had carnival rides for children. There was also a miniature train and a petting zoo. New concrete restrooms and a picnic area were built. This gave the park a modern feel after World War II. The park was renamed "Nu-Pike" after a contest.
Queen's Park: Honoring the Queen Mary
In 1969, the name changed again to "Queen's Park." This was to match the opening of the historic ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. The city had bought the Queen Mary to be a tourist attraction and hotel. The park kept this name until it closed in 1979. However, most local people still called it "The Pike."
Attractions: Fun Things to Do at The Pike
The Pike offered many different kinds of entertainment.
Entertainment and Shows
The Plunge: A Grand Indoor Pool
The grand bath-house, "The Plunge," opened on July 4, 1902. It was a big indoor freshwater pool. People paid to use the pool, changing rooms, and waterslide. There were balconies inside and outside for people to relax and watch others. The Plunge later became the Strand Theater.
Lido Ballroom: From Stables to Dance Hall
Before 1902, people came to the beach by horse and buggy. A large stable was built for their animals. When the "Red Car" train line opened, fewer people used horses. The stable closed and became a skating rink in 1906. By 1911, it was a dance hall called "The Majestic." Big bands played there. In the 1950s, it was renamed "The Lido Ballroom."
Theaters: Movies and Live Shows
Long Beach had several theaters downtown. Many were along "The Walk of a Thousand Lights." Lowes showed major new movies. Smaller theaters showed side-shows and independent films. The Virginia theater was later turned into a dark ride called "Whispering River." The Strand Theater showed double features after The Plunge closed.
From 1909 to 1930, The Pike had a "Wall of Death." This was where motorcycle daredevils performed amazing stunts.
Band Shell: Music by the Ocean
The Long Beach Municipal Band often played on Sundays and holidays. The band was led by Herbert L. Clarke. He used to be a member of John Philip Sousa's famous band.
Amusements: Games and Fun for Everyone
Walking along "The Walk of a Thousand Lights" was exciting. You could play games like ball-pitch and shooting galleries. There were also coin-operated machines. These included pinball, skill games, and nickelodeon viewers. You could find love and strength testers, and fortune tellers. The House of Mirrors was also a popular spot. Redemption games like skee-ball, which gave out tickets, were very popular.
Tattoo Parlors: A Unique Part of The Pike
The Pike was close to naval shipyards. Many sailors visited, which led to many tattoo shops opening. Famous artists worked there, like Bert Grimm. His shop, "Outer Limits Tattoo," is the oldest in the US. It is still open today and is the last original business from The Pike.
Dining: Tasty Treats and Meals
The Pike had many places to eat. You could grab snacks like corn-dogs, cotton candy, and popcorn. There were also soda fountains and counter service restaurants. Lee's Barbecue served chicken, ribs, and fish. You could also find fancier places with table service.
Rides: Thrills and Family Fun
The Pike had a wide variety of rides for all ages.
- Laff in the Dark: A Dark ride with funny characters.
- River Ride: Another dark ride with cars.
- Round Up: A spinning ride that tilted.
- Rotor: A spinning ride where you stuck to the wall.
- Alpine
- Wilde Maus (also called Wild Bobs)
- Loop-O-Plane (also called Hammer)
- Roll-O-Plane
- Loop Trainer (also called Looper)
- Scrambler
- Looff Hippodrome with Carousel (1911–1943)
- Carousel (1944–1979): A new outdoor carousel.
- Niagara Barrel: A wooden spiral slide.
- Horse Race: A rocking style carousel.
- Space Capsule: An observation crane.
- Octopus: A ride with spinning arms.
- Crazie Maize: A storefront House of mirrors.
- Skooter: Indoor Bumper cars.
- Dodgem: Another bumper car ride.
- Fun House: A walk-through attraction with tricky paths.
- Tilt-A-Whirl (later renamed Tilt)
- Super Trooper: An umbrella ride.
- Sharks Alive: A diving bell to view a shark tank.
- Sky Ride: A chairlift for views.
- Snowmobile.
- Kiddie Land: A section with rides for younger children.
- Giant Slide.
- Go Karts: Small race cars.
- Miniature Train: A small train ride.
- Wheel of Fun: A small Ferris wheel.
- Sky Wheel: A unique double Ferris wheel. It had two wheels that could spin separately and together for extra thrills.
- Davy Jones Locker: A dark ride with cars.
The Looff Carousel Hippodrome: A Historic Ride
Charles I. D. Looff was a famous carousel maker. In 1911, he installed a carousel at The Pike. He and his family lived in the building above the carousel. The original carousel horses were destroyed by fire in 1943. A new outdoor carousel was built nearby. The building then became a gaming hall for "Lite-A-Line." This building was the last original structure from The Pike to survive for many years. Its roof and cupola were saved and are now part of The Pike museum collection.
Roller Coasters: Thrills on the Tracks
The Pike was famous for its exciting roller coasters.
Bisby’s Spiral Airship: A Unique Suspended Ride
Built in 1902, Bisby's Spiral Airship was very unique. Its cars hung below a steel track. They would go up a tall spiral tower. As they came down, they swung outwards. This is known as one of the first suspended roller coaster rides. This tall tower was a key feature in early pictures of Long Beach Pier.
Important Note: Many old photos are mislabeled. If you see a tall, thin steel structure with a spiral, it's Bisby's Spiral Airship. If it's a thick wooden spiral slide, it's the "Niagara Barrel."
Figure 8: The Pike's First Coaster
The Pike's first traditional wooden roller coaster opened in June 1907. It was called the Figure 8 because of its track shape. It was built on tall poles over the water. Sadly, a rider was injured on this ride because they stood up, even though there were signs telling riders not to. The Figure 8 closed in 1914 to make way for new attractions.
Jack Rabbit Racer: A Fast and Exciting Ride
In 1914, The Pike added new attractions, including the Jack Rabbit Racer. This roller coaster opened in May 1915. It was one of the largest racing coasters in the country. It was also built over the water. You could look down and see the water through the tracks. In the 1920s, the ride was updated. Its dips were made taller and steeper. A band shell was even built into the coaster, with the track running right over it. The Jack Rabbit Racer was removed in 1930.
Cyclone Racer: The Iconic Dual-Track Coaster
The Cyclone Racer was built in 1930. It replaced the Jack Rabbit Racer. This was one of the most famous historic coasters. It was a dual-track wooden roller coaster. This meant two trains could race side-by-side at the same time!
To make it even more thrilling, the coaster was built on poles far out over the ocean. Over time, sand built up, and the pier ended up over sand, not water. More than 30 million people rode the Cyclone Racer before it closed in 1968. It was taken down to make space for a new road. People were promised it would be rebuilt elsewhere, but it never was.
Some fans are trying to recreate this roller coaster. They have made a 3D model. The last remaining Cyclone Racer car is at The Pike Museum in Long Beach.
Images for kids
-
Long Beach pier, 1905
-
Looking towards the shore from the pier; a horse-drawn carriage sits on the beach. Circa 1895-1905
-
1908 view
-
The Rainbow Pier and Ocean Center Building depicted on a postcard
-
The municipal auditorium and Rainbow Pier
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
