Zebras on the Carousel
Each winter our carousel horses get a fresh coat of paint, but did you know that a few of our horses were once painted like zebras? Pretty wild, eh?! Shout
Cocoanut Grove, 1948
The Cocoanut Grove became a California Historical Landmark in 1987. During the 1940s all the important bands stopped to perform here as they traveled between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Taking The Plunge
The huge indoor saltwater swimming pool was a popular Boardwalk attraction for nearly 60 years!
Boardwalk Fans
We’re truly thankful for our amazing guests. Thank you for sharing so many family memories and fun times with us over the years.
Boardwalk’s Fun House, 1925
The Boardwalk’s Fun House was a wild and crazy place for kids from 1925 to 1971. Highlights included a large wooden slide, a turning barrel, a spinning disk, and rocking
The Wild Mouse
The Wild Mouse absolutely terrified an entire generation of riders! There’s no date on this archival photo, but it ran from 1958 to 1975.
Relics of World War II
Life along the Boardwalk looks pretty sweet in this archival photo from the 1950s. See the curtains along the Boardwalk’s seawall? They are blackout curtains, left over from World War
Aqua Archery, 1926
Free summer entertainment is a fun tradition at the Boardwalk and this 1926 photo of “Aqua Archery” is a fine example of something new and exciting!
Romeo & Juliet on the Giant Dipper
Strange but true: A serious, feline production of Romeo & Juliet included a scene on the Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper. This photo from our archives shows Boardwalk Mechanic, Brian W. assisting
Boardwalk Laser Theatre
Pull up a bean-bag chair and experience Pink Floyd inside the Laser Dome! Ah, the 80s.
The Sun Tan Special
The Sun Tan Special brought summer visitors from the Bay Area to the Boardwalk for more than 30 years.
Pleasure Pier and the Wharf
The Boardwalk’s Pleasure Pier once jutted out towards the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, featuring speedboat rides and pleasant strolling.
Walt Disney at the Boardwalk, 1963
Walt Disney visited the Boardwalk in 1963 to study one of our rides. Can you recognize Walt? It was a BIG day in Boardwalk history.
The Cave Train
The Cave Train almost closed in the 1990s, but today it’s one of our most popular family rides.
Fascinating Fascination
What’s so fascinating about Fascination? Played like bingo, the game mesmerized visitors from 1944-2008! A rubber handball was rolled down a wooden table, as the ball dropped into a hole,
Changing Bandstands
Our beach bandstand sure has changed a lot over the years!
