L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway, 1908
The L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway was the Boardwalk’s first thrill ride. It opened in 1908 and cost ten cents to ride, five cents for kids. Riders traveled at 25mph, which
Never Too Old to Enjoy a Roller Coaster, 2009
87-year old Thelma Dalman says, “You are never too old to enjoy the roller coaster.” In the 1970s Thelma owned The Pie Shop on the Boardwalk. Chris Dalman, her grandson,
Yetta Haber, “Miss Santa Cruz”, 1925
Yetta Haber was crowned “Miss Santa Cruz” in 1925 when she was just 16. Yetta also competed in the state’s second “Miss California” beauty pageant; the popular contest was held
Boardwalk’s Fun House
The Boardwalk’s Fun House was a wild and crazy place for kids from 1925 to 1971. The Fun House included a large wooden slide, a turning barrell, a spinning disk,
Wild Mouse
The Wild Mouse (1958 – 1976) was a popular and scary Boardwalk ride. With really sharp turns and no railings, it felt like you were going to shoot right off
The Salinas Family, 1969
The Salinas family (Pat, Maria, and Ronnie, and niece Jennifer) next to the old bandstand. We moved from San Jose to Santa Cruz two years later.
Jet Star, 1972
Remember the Jet Star? The metal coaster opened in 1972 and closed in 1991, located where the Hurricane roller coaster is now. Seating was pretty cozy, great for dates!
Grandma Van on the Beach, 1906
The back of my great-great grandmother’s photo reads: “Today the 21st of February, 1906, I, Ellen Rand Van Valkenburgh, born in Maiden Lane, New York City, June 14, 1827. Came
Bulgy, 2010
Was this your first ride? Bulgy is a classic ride for small kids. Bulgy opened in 1973 and is still going strong. It used to be in a different Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Boardwalk from Pier, 2003
Santa Cruz Boardwalk from Pier
Flying Cages, 1960
In the 1960s, the Flying Cages gave riders a real work out… you used your weight to rock the cage to make it move. If you were big and strong
Please Pass the Lotion, 1956
This picture was taken in 1956, the girl on the left is my mother. The Boardwalk is still one of my family’s favorite places to go. I have two children
Boardwalk’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, 1947
The Boardwalk’s annual Easter Egg Hunt became a little TOO popular and was eventually discontinued. In this 1947 photo, thousands of kids scramble to find tiny treasures buried in the
Growing Up at the Boardwalk, 1950
My parents, Pep and Hope Mealiffe, fulfilled their long time dream by moving to Santa Cruz in 1947 when I was 2 years old. They purchased the Dolphin Court on
Beach Street Revival, 1983
The Beach Street Revival had street rod outings, car shows, surf music, fifties costume balls, hula hoop contests, and classic car parades. Traffic went both directions in this 1983 photo.
Fireball, 2007
Spring Semester 2007 at San Jose State had just ended and one of my best friends and I wanted to start the summer off right. After driving Highway 17, we
