"Boardwalk Fun Facts" Boardwalk Memories

A popular train called the “Suntan Special” once ran from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Boardwalk; service ended in 1959. Today Roaring Camp Railroads runs a tourist train

During World War II, the Pleasure Pier was renamed the United Nations Pier after thirty U.N. flags were hoisted on the pier during a 1943 Memorial Day program. This photo

Until the early 1950s, the Drive-A-Boat ride sat near the east end of the Giant Dipper, where the Boardwalk curves toward the river trestle. The freshwater tank was placed on

You know Google. Ever heard of Googie? It’s an architectural style named after a 1950s L.A. restaurant. You can see an example of Googie style on the building next to

This pretty Boardwalk ride (lower right) was called The Trabant. (1971 Photo) Anyone have memories to share about the Trabant in the early ’70s?

Remember the Auto Scooter bumper cars? Retired in the early 1990s, they date back to 1948 here at the Boardwalk. Vrooom!!!

In 1947, most visitors from San Francisco arrived at the Boardwalk on the Sun Tan Special train. You can see the Beach Band on the stairs to the right, welcoming

Rhonda Burchell Liebig shared this amazing 1912 photograph of her great-grandmother, Coila Carter Burchell and grandfather Bruce Burchell.at the Boardwalk. They’re standing on the old Pleasure Pier. Thanks Rhonda! That

When Neptune’s Kingdom was an indoor pool, water carnival shows starring local swimmers and divers were a big attraction. Highlights on this 1938 poster include “the Human Submarine” and the

Music lovers enjoyed free beach concerts at the Boardwalk in the 1940s too! Santa Cruz was one of four Northern California cities holding regular Sunday concerts for the public. The

A typical Sunday afternoon concert might include “The Postillion,” a waltz from the William Tell Overture; the Sousa march “El Capitan”; a selection from the Wall Street Girl, a popular

Free entertainment has a long history at the Boardwalk. This 1926 photo of “Aqua Archery” is a fine example of the wild things that went on at the beach. (How

The Marini family has been making their famous saltwater taffy at the Boardwalk since 1915! You can still watch them make more than a dozen flavors of taffy in their

The Giant Dipper was featured in a Vitalis hair spray commercial in the 1970s, (Unfortunately they called our ride the BIG Dipper.) Nice hair dude!

Remember Dirty Harry? Here’s Clint Eastwood at the Boardwalk when he directed and starred in the 1983 movie Sudden Impact, filmed in Santa Cruz and San Francisco.

In August 1976, performers Steve “Unique” McPeak and Stephen Wallenda walked the thousand-foot length of the Boardwalk’s Sky Glider cable!