"Boardwalk Fun Facts" Boardwalk Memories

Snow often falls a few times a year in the Santa Cruz Mountains as seen in this 1993 photo. But in 1988 it actually snowed right on the beach!

The Plunge (indoor pool inside Neptune’s Kingdom many years ago) employed many talented swimmers/athletes for exciting shows. This 1939 photo shows Plunge performer and “aquatic comedian” Norman “Count” Hanley demonstrating

In the 1950s a local model named Marilyn Matthews appeared on this billboard which was seen all over California. Marilyn’s image can also be seen on a mural in the

Remember Dangerous Dan the Dinosaur? He came up from the bottom of the Cave Train pond every five minutes. This photo was taken back in 1965 when apparently they let

Beach fashion has changed a lot over the years. A modest wool bathing suit was very popular in the 1920s. (Can you imagine trying to swim in wet wool?)

At the eastern end of the Boardwalk near the Drive-A-Boat ride, freewheeling Auto Speedway drivers raced around the wide oval track, 1947. From 1928 to 1932, the structure had been

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