THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS

• The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the only major seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast and is located on a mile-long beach bordering the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

• The Santa Cruz Boardwalk celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.

• The Santa Cruz Boardwalk was named "Best Seaside Amusement Park" in the industry by "Amusement Today" in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

• The Boardwalk features a variety of rides, including two National Historic Landmarks designated by the U.S. Park Service: the 1911 Looff carousel and the popular Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, built in 1924. The park also offers a variety of children’s rides, games, arcades, laser tag, restaurants, an indoor miniature golf course, bowling, and entertainment for the entire family.

• Admission to the Boardwalk is free; individual ride tickets, all-day rides passes, group discounts, and season passes are available.

• Next to the amusement park, the historic Cocoanut Grove is the site of year-round banquets, wedding receptions, company parties, holiday brunches, and trade shows.

AMUSEMENT RIDES

• In 2010 the Boardwalk features 35 rides. The most popular ride, the 1924 GIANT DIPPER, is still considered one of the world’s top roller coasters and has had more than 55 million riders. The park’s oldest ride is a 1911 LOOFF CAROUSEL, complete with 73 hand-carved wooden horses and two chariots. The newest ride in the park is Sea Swings, a beautiful new "carousel swing" ride, it opened in 2009. A new Haunted Castle will open in 2010.

GAMES & ARCADES

• The Boardwalk Grand Arcades, featuring the Casino Arcade and Neptune’s Kingdom, house more than 300 of the most popular video and pinball games from DDR Super Nova to Ghost Squad, Super Mario Karts, and Need for Speed. The Casino Arcade also includes a laser tag arena. In addition, Classic Corner houses arcade game favorites from as far back as 1910. The Neptune’s Kingdom complex offers pirate-themed miniature golf, a video arcade, game deck, billiards, and historium.

• The Boardwalk features 26 games of skill. Inside the Casino Arcade players who win coupons from games can trade in those coupons for prizes at the Boardwalk Redemption Center.

SHOPPING

• Over 15 beachwear, gift, and specialty shops are located along the Boardwalk. Shoppers can find a variety of items ranging from bathing suits and old-time photos to jewelry and posters.

RESTAURANTS

• Over 30 restaurants and fast-food outlets serve hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, gyro and deli sandwiches, wraps, seafood, chicken, and baked potatoes. Dessert items include giant ice cream cones, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and Marini’s famous salt-water taffy.

THE COCOANUT GROVE

• The Cocoanut Grove has played host to band greats since its gala 1907 opening. A modern banquet and conference center with historic charm, it includes an expanded kitchen capable of preparing meals for up to 1,000 guests at one time. The Sun Room’s movable glass ceiling allows open-air and romantic dining. The Cocoanut Grove is the site of many wedding receptions, corporate banquets, trade shows, conventions, concerts, and dinner dances.
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SCHEDULE

• The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, plus weekends and most holidays throughout the year.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Information Center
Lost Children Center
Bike and Personal Locker Rentals
Lost & Found Area
Group Picnic Area
Automatic Tellers
TDD Communications
Stroller Rentals
Free Wheelchair Rental

Convenient parking in the Boardwalk’s large parking lots and some street parking is also available. Additional street parking is also available. Smoking is now prohibited at the Boardwalk.

LOCATION

• The Boardwalk is located on California’s central coast, 40 miles north of Monterey, 35 miles from San Jose, and 70 miles south of San Francisco. It is within walking distance of world-class surfing, a rustic municipal fishing wharf, and a thriving downtown with great shopping and dining.

OWNERSHIP

• The Boardwalk, Cocoanut Grove, Carousel Motel, La Bahia Apartments, Sea & Sand Inn, and Boardwalk Bowl are owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, a private corporation that is also part owner/manager of the Chardonnay II charter sailing yacht, Subaru of Santa Cruz, and Toyota of Santa Cruz. In addition, the company manages a number of residential units in Santa Cruz County.

The Seaside Company's president and chairman of the board is Charles Canfield. The vice chairman of the board is Dr. Robert Millslagle. Locally owned and operated, the Santa Cruz Seaside Company is a privately owned business not affiliated with the City or County of Santa Cruz.

EMPLOYEES

• The Santa Cruz Seaside Company and its concessionaires employ approximately 750 people in the fall and winter. When the Boardwalk is open daily during the summer, this number increases to over 1,600 to accommodate the additional visitors. Some 80% of the park’s summer employees are students and seniors. The Boardwalk also bestows several local scholarship awards and has an international student-hiring program.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

• The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has received many honors for its environmental standards. These include recycling efforts such as company-wide paper, cardboard, aluminum, and plastic recycling; public aluminum recycling containers on the Boardwalk; and a unique water saving/ reclamation system. The Santa Cruz Seaside Company was honored with a State Ecotourism Award, twelve consecutive California Waste Reduction Awards (WRAP), and local and regional recycling awards.