Santa Cruz Saloon, 1970
They say i wanted my picture taken like that!
First Board”walk”, 2012
Though my son has been to the Boardwalk several times in his short year of life, rarely has there been an opportunity for him to walk around since he is
Miss California Beauty Pageant, 1936
The beach bandstand has changed a lot over the years. This 1936 photo of the Miss California beauty pageant shows a runway for contestants extending out into the crowd.
Popeye, Olive Oil, and Brutus, 1990
Popeye, Olive Oil and Brutus became official Boardwalk mascots in 1986. The characters could be seen around the park through the early 1990s
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
