Will Rogers State Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Will Rogers State Beach |
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 Will Rogers State Beach
Location in California
Will Rogers State Beach
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pacific Palisades, California |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
| www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=625 | |
Will Rogers State Beach is a beautiful beach park located on Santa Monica Bay in Southern California. It sits right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The beach is in a place called Pacific Palisades.
The state of California owns this beach. However, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors helps manage and take care of it.
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About Will Rogers State Beach
This amazing beach stretches for almost two miles along the coast. It has lots of cool things to do for visitors. You can find volleyball courts, gymnastic equipment, and even a playground for younger kids. There are also restrooms available.
Fun Activities at the Beach
One popular feature is the bike path. This path is part of the longer South Bay Bicycle Trail. It goes for over 19 miles (about 30 kilometers) along the shore. This makes it perfect for a long bike ride! The beach is also a great spot for surfing, with waves that many surfers enjoy.
Filming Location
You might have seen this beach before and not even known it! Many movies and TV shows have been filmed here. Some of the films include Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Kiss, and Summer Children. The famous TV show Baywatch was also filmed at Will Rogers State Beach for a while before it moved to Hawaii.
Under the Ocean
Near the beach, in the sea off Sunset Boulevard, there's a special cable. It's called the grounding electrode of the Pacific DC Intertie. This is a big power line that helps send electricity across long distances.
History of the Beach
The beach is named after a famous actor named Will Rogers. He was very popular in the 1920s.
Will Rogers' Ranch
Will Rogers bought this land in the 1920s. He built a large ranch right along the coast. He owned about 186 acres (which is about 0.75 square kilometers) of land in what is now Pacific Palisades.
Becoming a State Park
Sadly, Will Rogers died in a plane crash in 1935. His wife, Betty, passed away in 1944. After her death, the ranch became a state park. This means it became a public place for everyone to enjoy.
Historic Lifeguard Headquarters
The building where the Will Rogers State Beach lifeguards work is a very historic spot. It used to be the location of the Port of Los Angeles Long Wharf. This old wharf was a huge pier that stretched out into the ocean. It is now recognized as a California Historical Landmark, site number 881.
Images for kids
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A view of Will Rogers State Beach.
