Articles

In celebration of American Archives Month, Boardwalk Archivist Jessie Durant has been answering your questions on social media and is guest blogging to give you a peek behind-the-scenes of the Boardwalk Archives.

After weathering a long night punctuated by aftershocks, the sun rose on an unseasonably warm Wednesday, October 18, 1989. With the hum of generators in the background and the whoop-whoop-whoop of occasional helicopters circling in the air, damage to Boardwalk facilities was assessed and a plan was made to help Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to rise from the quake’s rubble.   

October 17, 1989, 5:04pm. Everyone who lived in Santa Cruz County thirty years ago, remembers exactly where they were at this moment in time. The 6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake set in motion a sequence of unprecedented events at the Boardwalk that night.

Today's Boardwalk cuisine is surprisingly diverse and the quality is superior to the choices we had in the past.   

Back in my high school years, hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries were the usual fare. But the memories of sizzling onions, fresh buns and turnover pies are still delicious. Here's a snapshot of what I remember. 

The Boardwalk Bowl has a new display chronicling the history of bowling at Santa Cruz Beach. Locals probably remember the Surf Bowl, but the first bowling alley was a four-lane "duckpin" alley located at what is now the Haunted Castle. 

After opening the second Casino and Natatorium in 1907, Boardwalk entrepreneur Fred Swanton commissioned a Scenic Railway, a unique gravity coaster the likes of which enjoyed rising popularity throughout the country. Unfortunately the ride never fulfilled the vision of Swanton or its builder. Read on to learn the saga of this lack-luster addition to the Boardwalk.