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Enjoy fun stories and helpful tips of the Boardwalk’s past, present, and future.

Ezra Fleishman

Boardwalk Midway Games Receive Brass Ring Award!

Its an exciting time at the Boardwalk! On March 3rd, the Boardwalk was publicly recognized at IAAPA (The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) in Las Vegas with the Brass Ring Award for Best Midway Games. This prestigious award is given out once a year to one amusement park, and holds an honor of great esteem that the Boardwalk Games Department has worked hard to achieve. We interviewed a handful of Games Department members to learn more about them and explore the factors that led to this achievement.

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Winter at the Boardwalk | A Peek Behind-the-Scenes

You might be wondering, what happens at the Boardwalk during the wintertime? After the holidays, when rides are closed during the week, it may seem like there’s not much going on here. To the untrained eye it may look quiet along the ‘walk, but behind the scenes, there’s much more to the story. 

Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove: Then and Now

As we reflect back on 2023 we are grateful for another wonderful season at the Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove. With organizations, companies, and local artists returning to in-person events, the venue once again provided a vibrant hub for unforgettable gatherings. Boardwalk guests may be familiar with the Casino Arcade, but did you know that private and public events have taken place in the beautiful venue spaces upstairs since its grand opening in 1907?

Beverly and Jay 1944 and Beverly 2023

A Dive into History: Water Carnival Performer Beverly Graham Forson

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk stands as an icon of seaside entertainment; history and nostalgia intertwined to create stories that endure the test of time. Recently, Ted Whiting and myself had the extraordinary privilege of sitting down with Beverly Graham Forson, to dive into the captivating tale of her awe-inspiring performance during the famous Plunge Water Carnivals at the Boardwalk back in the 1940s when she was just a child.

Archival Boxes and Boardwalk Panorama

Sharing Our Story

For this month’s blog, with a nod to American Archives month, we would specifically like to highlight the various history resources we provide on-site and online. Take a look and you may just learn something new!

Summer Dreamin’: International Students Enjoy Summer Jobs at the Boardwalk

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to live or work in another country? For more than two decades, the Boardwalk’s Work & Travel program has offered the unique experience for college students around the world to live and work in Santa Cruz during the Boardwalk’s busy season. Students hoping to spend their summer in sunny Santa Cruz apply and interview for jobs at the Boardwalk, spanning across all guest-facing roles, from Rides, to Foodservice, to Guest Services. These students augment our robust local hiring efforts and provide a unique cultural experience for our employees.

Clint Eastwood

Movies Filmed at the Boardwalk

As one of the most historic and well-known attractions in California, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk represents the easygoing nature and beach town spirit of Santa Cruz like no other. For many West Coasters the bright red and white wooden tracks of the Giant Dipper are instantly recognizable, bringing back fond memories with friends and family. As a result of its recognizability, symbolism, and charm, the Boardwalk has starred in over 24 movies, from box office hits to campy cult classics. Here we remember the most well-known movies filmed at the Boardwalk.
 

Emily and Jessie Foodservice

A Day in the Life of Foodservice

A trip to the Boardwalk just isn’t complete without a fresh Texas donut or a turkey leg the size of your head. With over 42 restaurants across the park operated by concessionaires and the Boardwalk, frontline food staff work hard to keep millions of hungry guests full and satisfied year after year. In an effort to support their co-workers during a busy time of year and learn how the Boardwalk’s Foodservice Department makes their magic, blog contributors, Jessie and Emily, covered a behind-the-counter shift at two of the park’s most popular restaurants. Read on as they pull back the curtain and discover what a day in the life of Foodservice at the Boardwalk really looks like.

hand-dipped cone and the Whiting siblings

Whiting’s Foods – Celebrating 70 Years!

With our latest post we continue to honor our concessionaire families, this time commemorating Whiting’s Foods who are celebrating 70 years! To tell the story of this multi-generational family business we have a guest author, Jenny Whiting Gump. Jenny Whiting Gump is 5th generation working at Whiting’s Foods. As the Director of Marketing, she leads communication efforts to promote fun foods and job opportunities at Whiting’s Foods. Combining her love for ice cream and writing, she enjoys telling stories about her family’s legacy and we are happy to showcase her storytelling with this amazing history of the family business.

Celebrate with us and read on to learn about the 70-year history of Whiting’s Foods–You may have your own special Whiting’s Food memory to share as well…

Hot Dog on a Stick and Charles Fitzsimmons

Twisselman Enterprises Celebrates 90 Years at the Boardwalk

This year a key Boardwalk family celebrates their 90th year at the amusement park. As we salute the legacy of Twisselman Enterprises we recall the decades long journey of their operations at the beach. The story begins in 1934 when current concession owner Matt Twisselman’s grandfather, Charles J. Fitzsimmons began operating games at the Boardwalk. Read on to discover the evolution of one of the longest operating Boardwalk concessionaires.

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