"Blog Post" Boardwalk Memories

Speedboat rides around the bay departed from the end of the Pleasure Pier in the 1940s. “Hi-de-ho and away we go!” was how the Speedboat rides where announced over a

Check out the blackout curtains in this 1957 photo. During World War II they were most likely used to prevent enemy submarines from spotting the Boardwalk. After the war, they

The Boardwalk used many professional models in publicity photos from the 1920s through the 1960s. 1942 image of Betty Lou Alexo.

This thrilling ride called the Super Round-Up ride opened on the Boardwalk in 1972, it’s last day of operation was March 31, 1992. A similar “round up” ride called the

Roll-O-Plane looks pretty wild in this 1946 photo. Would you give it a twirl?

In 1917 you could take a seaplane ride from the Boardwalk’s Pleasure Pier. Now THAT’S a thrill ride!

The municipal lifeguards got their first motorized equipment in 1946 – a World War II Jeep. Bill Lidderdale, at the wheel with Princess in his lap, trained many Santa Cruz

Grueling races have been a part of the beach activities for many years here in Santa Cruz. This 1936 Santa Cruz Sentinel photo shows the second annual Santa Cruz Ocean

Anybody remember Leo the Lion from the 70s, 80s, and 90s? Leo would say “Hey kids! It’s feeding time. I’m Leo the paper-eating lion!” and kids would run around picking

Construction of the Giant Dipper in 1924 took just forty-seven days and cost $50,000. Workers used 327,000 board feet of lumber and 743,000 galvanized nails. They built coaster thrills for

Kewpie Dolls were popular prizes in the early 1900s. This photo of Lillie and Tony Teshara was taken in front of a Kewipie Doll concession at the Boardwalk in 1919.

The Cocoanut Grove became a California Historical Landmark in 1987. During the 1940s all the important bands stopped here as they traveled between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This 1946

During World War II, the Casa del Rey Hotel (across the street from the Boardwalk) served as a Navy hospital. The Plunge (indoor pool once located in Neptune’s Kingdom) was

Moore’s Mess of Mutts performed on the Beach Bandstand in the Summer of 1981. Notice the Ferris Wheel’s location? Where the Pirate Ship sits today!

This fabulous 1971 photo of Barbara Wetzel was taken in front of her family’s food concession. A Kepup was a hot dog cut into pieces, battered and deep fried on

Body building contests were big in the 80s. In 1986 this “Muscle Beach Party” was captured by local photographer Dan Coyro. The Jet Star can be seen in the background.