Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a coastal amusement park along Monterey Bay in California, combining roller coasters, carousels and arcade halls directly on the sandy beach. The complex runs along a wooden promenade that lies between the rides and the open ocean.

The park opened in 1907 and remained at its original location throughout the coastal development of the twentieth century. The wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster and the Looff Carousel were inaugurated in 1924 and later registered as national historic landmarks.

The name reflects the Spanish colonial past, while today the park draws families from Silicon Valley and visitors from across the Pacific region. On summer days crowds gather around the arcade halls and the beachside promenade, where local musicians perform on open stages.

The grounds are accessible year-round, with entry to the promenade free and each ride paid separately. The best time to visit is weekdays outside summer vacation, when the waiting lines are shorter.

The mechanical pipe organ from 1894 still plays daily inside the carousel and is one of the oldest working instruments of its kind in North America. The park is among the few remaining West Coast amusement facilities that still rest on historic wooden structures.