SANTA CRUZ, CA (June 4, 2007) – When the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s first Casino building was destroyed by fire in 1906, few thought the splendid two-year-old landmark could be replaced. But the legendary Fred Swanton wasted no time hiring local architect William Weeks to design something even better. Five hundred local laborers took just seven months to rebuild, overcoming building supply shortages due to the 1906 earthquake and rugged winter storms, to complete the enormous task in record time.
In June 1907, the beautiful new Casino rose from the ashes of the original building. The opening of the bigger and better Casino and Plunge marked the beginning of a spectacular century of seaside entertainment. Thanks to Fred Swanton’s formidable skills in promotion and publicity, tourists flocked to the Boardwalk’s seaside entertainment center in the early 1900s, and they’ve never stopped coming.
The Boardwalk’s remarkable history includes the first Miss California pageants, the greatest of the big bands, and a spectacular collection of daring performers who flew threw the air, sometimes on fire, giving beach-goers the thrill of a lifetime.
Once promoted as the “Coney Island of the West,” the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the only major seaside amusement park remaining on the West Coast. Amusement Business ranks the Boardwalk as the most popular amusement park in Northern California; it has clearly survived the test of time.
One Hundred Years, Millions of Memories
The Boardwalk’s Centennial celebration, “One Hundred Years, Millions of Memories,” features a number of special events throughout 2007, a major exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH), a gala evening at the Cocoanut Grove, free performances by the Moscow Circus, a new book and DVD documenting the Boardwalk’s history, birthday fireworks, and a special outdoor showing of the cult classic movie - Lost Boys, which was filmed at the Boardwalk in the 1980s. Other special events and performances will be announced in the coming months.
To read personal stories and view photographs contributed by the public for the Boardwalk’s Centennial, please visit www.beachboardwalk.com/memories
About the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Celebrates “100 Years and Millions of Memories” in 2007. California’s only major seaside amusement park is admission-free and features thrill rides, restaurants, miniature golf, video game arcades, and family bowling, all located on a mile-long sandy beach.
400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; 831-423-5590; beachboardwalk.com
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