Zuma Beach facts for kids
Zuma Beach is a very popular beach located in Malibu, California. It's one of the biggest and most famous beaches in Los Angeles County, California. People love Zuma for its long, wide sandy shores and great waves for surfing. It's also known for having really clean water. The name "Zuma" might come from nearby Point Dume. This point was named in 1793 after Padre Francisco Dumetz. The name was misspelled as "Dume" on a map and was never changed.
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What Can You Do at Zuma Beach?
Zuma Beach is kept safe by lifeguards from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. There are 14 lifeguard towers along the sand. Like all beaches with good waves, Zuma can have strong currents called rip currents. Lifeguards suggest not swimming or surfing right in front of the Lifeguard Headquarters, between Towers 8 and 9. This area often has rip currents.
Zuma Beach is a great place for surfing events every year. The wind conditions are often perfect in the late afternoon. This makes it a popular spot for kitesurfing on the northern part of the beach.
You can get to Zuma Beach directly from the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). There's a large parking lot where you pay to park. You can also find more parking along the PCH.
Next to Zuma Beach, on its southeast side, is Westward Beach. Westward Beach is located on Point Dume. It has a road right by the sand where you can park. Westward Beach has different waves than Zuma. The waves here are stronger and break faster. Because of this, Westward Beach is best for strong swimmers.
Beach Fun and Facilities
Zuma Beach offers many fun activities and helpful facilities:
- Beach Volleyball courts
- Bodyboarding
- Bodysurfing
- Fishing
- Food stands (open during certain seasons)
- Kiteboarding
- Outdoor showers (cold water)
- Large parking lot
- Restrooms
- Surfing
- Swimming (lifeguards are on duty during the day)
- Walkway (easy for wheelchairs)
The parking lot has over 2000 spaces, including spots for people with disabilities and electric vehicles.
Zuma Beach in Emergencies
Zuma Beach is an important place during emergencies like fires, mudslides, or earthquakes. It's used as a safe spot for people to go. Its flat ground, open parking lot, and wide sandy areas make it a good place for a first-response shelter.
The beach also has a special area for helicopters to land. This is used for medical emergencies to fly people to hospitals.
Zuma Beach in Movies and TV
Because it's close to the film industry in Los Angeles, Zuma Beach has been a popular spot for filming movies, TV shows, and commercials.
Films
- Planet of the Apes (1968) – The famous last scene was filmed near Westward Beach, on the cliffs of Point Dume.
- Zuma Beach (1978) – This was a TV movie.
- Barton Fink (1991) – The final beach scene was shot here.
Television Shows
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970) – In the first episode, Zuma Beach was used to look like a "deserted island."
- Baywatch (1989–2001) – This beach was often used for the TV series.
- America's Next Top Model (2003–2015) – A commercial challenge was filmed here in 2015.
- Scorpion (2014–2018) – A scene in Season 1 was filmed at Zuma Beach.
Events at Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach hosts the annual Malibu Nautica Triathlon. This event helps raise money for Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The triathlon starts with swimming at Zuma Beach. Then, competitors bike along the beach and finish with a run. Many people from all over the world compete. It's also famous for Hollywood celebrities and Olympic athletes who join in. Stars like David Duchovny, Jennifer Lopez, and Matthew McConaughey have competed. In 2008, athletes raised almost $980,000 for the hospital.
