50 years of marriage, 2024
This is a story of two teenagers falling in love going to Santa Cruz just about every weekend as teenagers. We loved riding the roller coaster and all the other
100 Years ago, 1922
Found this photo in an album of my grandfather’s. Other pictures were dated 1920-23.
My grandma and grandpa, 1959
This is a picture of my grandma and grandpa (Ken and Nancy) approx. in 1959, when they were first dating. They got married in 1961 they had 4 children and
High School Graduation & Giant Dipper, 1979
I graduated high school on the Saturday before Memorial Day 1979. We lived in San Jose, but my graduation party was at a beach house in Aptos. Family and a
First ride on the Big Dipper, 1949
In 1949 there were no age or size restrictions on the Giant Dipper, so my father carried me on that ride when I was an infant in diapers. I don’t
My first Santa Cruz photo, 1958
My parents took me to Santa Cruz when I was 6 months old. My dad’s parents would stay in a little cottage close to the Boardwalk for a month’s vacation,
Building of the Dipper, 2024
I have been told all of my life that my great grandfather was part of the crew that built the Big Dipper in Santa Cruz. His name was carved on
Old Family Photo, 1915
This is a picture of a great-great aunt of mine and other members of the family enjoying the day at Santa Cruz! Fun to see how they used to dress
Rollercoaster Scare, 1964
My friends mom took my friend and I on the roller coaster when you didn’t have to have a height requirement. I remember going up in the air when we
First Ride on the Giant Dipper, 1975
The summer of 1975 was a milestone for my friend Traci and me. We had just grown tall enough to ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster at the Santa Cruz
Beach Love, 1950
My maternal grandparents, Sherwood and Christine Beckman, of Lodi, relax on the main beach, in the 1940’s. They enjoyed their day trips to Santa Cruz so much that in the
Cured by the Giant Dipper, 2020
I have a friend whose husband died in an industrial accident leaving her with three children. She fell into a deep depression. Wouldn’t leave the house. Watched TV all day.
We don’t have time, 2008
My daughter had just recently found the courage to ride the Giant Dipper. We did a quick trip to the Boardwalk before we had to pick up her brother from
Grandma riding rides in Santa Cruz, 1948
Grandma moved over to California, Santa Clara in 1940’s from Lansing Michigan. She had never seen or had nice beaches or weather before so while as a teen growing up
Once a day, 1986
There were 6 parking meter spaces on the main road right in front of the Giant Dipper. On my way home from work I’d drive by and if one of
Wedding Fest ’97, 1997
For years while dating we would meet up with friends on Monday nights in the summer at 8 pm under the Giant Dipper sign to ride the roller coaster together.
