Beach BoardWalk in Santa Cruz is one
of the great amusement and theme parks in the United States and one of the
top visitor theme park attractions in California.
Unveiled during the Golden
Days in which people around the world began to enjoy electricity and all the
sizzling, scintillating thrills it could provide, Santa Cruz was one of many
seaside theme parks in the United States that made use of electricity in
electrifying ways. In California, amusements were built in various cities
along the coast from Northern California to the Mexico border. This was the
era in which land developers needed a hook to get folks to go to the beach
with the hope that they would eventually buy property nearby. As America
entered the 20th Century, prohibition became cause for an underground of
activities to create a steady supply of liquor for thirsty imbibers.
The offshore boats sometimes offered gambling along with bootleg alcoholic
drinks, plus pleasure. Rum runners along the coast brought their illegal
bootie to shore in the dark of night, often near the great pleasure piers
and amusements.
Only two of the great amusement parks
from those early days remain--Santa Cruz Beach BoardWalk and Belmont Park in
San Diego.
