Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

All Memories

Mural with a History, 1973
Next time you're passing "Bay Brews" (near Logger's Revenge), take a peek inside to check out a mural you may not have noticed before. The 40-foot painting captures the full...
Zebras on the Carousel
Each winter our carousel horses get a fresh coat of paint, but did you know that a few of our horses were once painted like zebras? Pretty wild, eh?! Shout out to Kennolyn Camps in Soquel for bringing...
Clam Chowder Cookoff Minigolf
When our Clam Chowder Cook-Off first began, way back in the '80s, organizers faced some interesting challenges. For starters, the event was held indoors, around the mini-golf course,...
Dante's Inferno - A Trip to Hades, 1932
Our very first haunted ride, "Dante’s Inferno – A Trip to Hades" opened in the same exact location way back in 1932. Over many decades, we've re-used the same spot for...
Cocoanut Grove Then and Now, 1947
The Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove Ballroom maintains its classic charm after more than 100+ years of fashionable dances, popular concerts and must-attend events. Today it's used...
The Willoughby Family, 1931
Alfred and Emily Willoughby often came to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to visit their daughter Esther Willoughby Harris and her husband John Ralph Harris and their precious granddaughter in...
Ice Skateboards on the Boardwalk, 1995
When Olympic ice skaters visited the Boardwalk for a TV special in the summer of 1995, it was definitely a major production. Ted Whiting shares photos and memories from the big event:...
Boardwalk photo
Life on the Boardwalk, 1945
My father was a lifeguard at Cowells Beach for years. He was also in the Water Carnivals in the Plunge. He did a lot of surfing with his friends. My sister and myself grew up at the beach. Then...