"Boardwalk Fun Facts" Boardwalk Memories

How fun does this kiddie boat ride look? Shown here in 1945, the ride was built 10 years earlier. A sign for the ride advertised “Drive a Boat.”

Norris and Rowe Circus playing in the surf, 1907. In the background is the Santa Cruz Beach Company’s glistening white pleasure ship, the Balboa, anchored a thousand feet offshore. The

During the 1930s, tourists from the San Francisco Bay Area could take the Southern Pacific Railroad’s Sun Tan Special right to the Boardwalk. Except for the years 1941 to 1947,

This 1904 Neptune Casino photo shows the onion-domed bandstand ♫. The bandstand, when not in use for concerts, was an excellent spot from which to watch happy social activities on

In 1934, Ed Reicher replaced Dante’s Inferno with Laff-Land, or the Laff in the Dark ride, in which visitors rode through tunnels decorated with clown figures. The Sun Tan Jr.

Remember the “Arctic Flyer”? This photo was taken in 1973. Two other similar rides ran in that location: Video Storm and Tsunami which is there now.

Guessing mid 1970s for the date of this photo. Quite a few changes in the park since then!

In the 1920s, Barney Goldstein made ice cream deliveries from Oakland to the family ice cream fountain here at the Boardwalk. What a trip! Makes me want a chocolate dipped

This 1904 photo shows the first Neptune’s Casino which burned down just three years after it was built. Sitting on the beach in heavy clothes must have been a little

Whoa… a 1904 photograph in front of the first casino building shows the National Guard on horseback.

This photo shows Clair Leibbrandt and family in front of the Boardwalk in 1919. The Leibbrandts opened one of the first public bath houses in California right here in 1868.

Kids haven’t really changed much since 1936! Boardwalk signs in the background promote Miller’s Hot Dogs and Salt Water Baths.

Some of our Friday Night Bands would really like this setup…. walk to the stage without touching the sand! This photo was probably taken around 1950.

Our Giant Dipper is GLEAMING!! Thanks to painting contractor Baynum Painting, headquartered in Kentucky, they specialize in painting roller coasters and amusement park rides. Fun Facts: • The Dipper turns

We’ve had some crazy-fun characters here at the Boardwalk but, I’m not sure any of them beat out the Abominable SunMan. Who remembers this hairy beach beast?

In 1967, Marini’s Hat Stand was a cute little concession near the Ferris Wheel. Does anybody recognize the building?