The Santa Cruz Boardwalk was founded in 1906 and has been operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915. The boardwalk is home to a number of rides and other attractions, including two that have been named National Historic Landmarks. The entire boardwalk has also been named a California Historic Landmark. The boardwalk has been named the world's "Best Seaside Amusement Park'' and was also recognized by the Public Works Department as a Clean Ocean Business. With free admission, this family-friendly location is still one of the most popular attractions in the country, despite being over 100 years old.
Some of the most popular attractions at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk are those that have been around the longest. Built in 1911, the Looff Carousel is one of the few carousels of its kind to feature brass rings that guests can grab if they ride a horse on the outside and try to throw into the clown's mouth as they drive by. The Looff Carousel costs $3 to ride unless the visitor has an all-day wristband. The other historic ride at the park is called the Giant Dipper. This wooden roller coaster thrilled its first riders in 1924. Since opening, it has had over 50 million riders and has been used in a number of movies that have amusement park scenes. Riders must be at least 50 inches tall to ride the Giant Dipper, which costs $4.50 for riders who don't have an all-day wristband.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk also features a number of other rides for all ages. Some of the most popular include the Sea Swings, the Double Shot, the Haunted Castle, the Pirate Ship, and the Cave Train Adventure. For those who are more adventurous, the park also has Tsunami, a roller coaster that speeds both forward and backward, as well as Wipeout, Tornado, and Hurricane, three fast-paced rides that give riders breath-taking views of the ocean below. The amusement park also has water rides for visitors who want to cool off.
In addition to roller coasters and other rides for older guests, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk has a number of attractions specifically for kids. Some of these rides include the Jet Copters, the Red Baron, the Rugged Buggies, the Kiddie Speed Boats, the Sea Dragons, the Starfish, and the Freefall. Many of these rides have height requirements, and some of them require children to be accompanied by an adult.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk also has a number of other attractions for visitors who don't want to go on rides. At Casino Arcade, kids can play arcade games or participate in laser tag. Neptune's Kingdom has mini-golf, more arcades and places to eat. There's also a laser maze, as well as an interactive Wild West shoot-out, Climb `N Conquer rock wall, bowling lanes, and walk-through haunted house.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is open daily, with hours varying according to the season. The park is free, so guests only have to pay for the rides and attractions that interest them. Alternatively, guests can purchase an all-day wristband to ride whatever they want or an Endless Summer Season Pass, which costs under $70 and is good for the entire summer. Call 831-423-5590 to learn more.
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