All Memories

Anybody remember Venturer, a virtual reality ride from the 1990s? The Boardwalk’s first simulation ride! First installed inside the Casino Arcade, it was later moved to this location. Anyone remember

Who remembers any Boardwalk mascots? Sun Man was a short-lived character from the 1980s. Here’s a retired Sun Man with company vice president Tom Canfield in 2007 when we checked

Several of our carousel horses were once painted to look like zebras! Thanks to Kennolyn Camps in Soquel for sharing their photo from the the late 1950s or early 1960s.

WIPEOUT! The original Wipeout ride was located near the Giant Dipper from 1993 – 1996. It was replaced by a ride called CHAOS. Remember this ride?

Dorothy Decker led the Boardwalk’s water ballet team in 1941, performing in the saltwater pool called the Plunge (now Neptune’s Kingdom.)

Lifeguards started using paddleboards for ocean rescues starting around 1950. They had a daily paddle/workout to keep in shape. (Looks like that worked pretty well!)

The Giant Dipper was already 10 years old when this classic car hit the road. Photographer Trent Sherrill shot the 1934 Ford for “Traditional Rod & Kulture” magazine at the

This interesting 1961 photo shows the seawall improvement project near the Giant Dipper. The visionary man in the suit was company president Laurence Canfield. He also expanded the parking lots

The remodeled and redecorated Casino ballroom was renamed the Cocoanut Grove in 1947. Let’s dance!

Bumps, bruises and splinters didn’t prevent the Boardwalk’s Fun House from being a very popular place from 1925-1971. The spinning “barrel” was a dizzy challenge, but many local kids spent

In 1967 the Boardwalk introduced the 1000-foot-long Sky Glider, which gave riders a bird’s-eye view of the beachfront scene.

In 1906 the horse was king, and visitors to the Neptune Casino arrived by horse and buggy right on the beach.

Okay, let’s go WAY back in time. Here’s a photo of beachfront Santa Cruz, 1889. Notice the steam-powered merry-go-round in the upper left, and the passengers awaiting the horse-drawn streetcar.

The Boardwalk has a long history of free beach concerts, although the bandstand has changed over the years from a permanent structure, to the seasonal bandstand we have today. This

Winifred Blaisdell stands behind her counter at Winnie’s Turnover Pies in 1933. Hot chicken pies for 15 cents? I want one!

With the pleasure ship Balboa in the background, Norris and Rowe Circus performers pose in the Santa Cruz surf, 1907.