In September 2007, the 100 year-old Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was named the World’s Best Seaside Amusement Park, winning a prestigious Golden Ticket Award at the amusement industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Seaside amusement parks in the United States are becoming increasingly rare due to ongoing pressure from real estate developers. In the 1920s there were more than 1,500 authentic waterfront amusement parks in the United States, today there are just 24. Ten seaside parks have closed since 2004 alone, including iconic Coney Island’s Astroland amusement park is expected to remain open through 2008, pending approval of plans to build casinos and condominiums on the site.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is more than just a summer destination. The Boardwalk’s arcades, open year-round, were named one of the “Coolest Arcades in the Country” by Tips & Tricks Magazine in 2007 and “The Best Arcade in the Country” by Giant Magazine in 2006. Featuring more than 300 arcade games including a Classics Corner plus miniature golf and laser tag. Some Boardwalk rides including the historic Giant Dipper wooden coaster, a National Historic Landmark, operate most weekends and holidays during the winter months. Special weekend events are held throughout the year, including the popular Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Festival, held every February.

New Historic Walking Tour

A new self-guided walking tour is now available to guide visitors through points of interest at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Historic Walking Tour includes many points of interest and fun historical facts about the Boardwalk and Cocoanut Grove. The tour map includes the location of 18 new interpretive signs recently installed around the park. For history buffs looking for more detail, a new book The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, A Century by the Sea was published by Ten Speed Press in 2007, and a DVD Millions of Memories, was also released in 2007.