Under The Boardwalk
Behind—and beneath—the scenes at one of the West Coast's oldest amusement parks
by Kat Lynch
Half a mile from end to end, it was the Coney Island of the West Coast when it opened in 1907. Once sporting daredevil acts, a live shooting gallery and casino, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk has survived the tests of time, Disney, Six Flags and Great America. Now tied as the 44th oldest amusement park in the United States, the park remains a family-oriented, family business.
The Canfield family has owned the Boardwalk since 1915, when the Santa Cruz Seaside Company bought out the original owner. VP of General Services Ted Whiting III is a fourth-generation park employee. “My family owned the concession stand. I earned my first paycheck right over there,” he says, gesturing to a spot to the right of the kiddie ride the Red Baron. According to Whiting, the family business aspect allows the Boardwalk to survive and make plans for the future. “The park reinvests its earnings,” says Whiting. “It allows the company to hold on to the longer view.”
The carousel and the Giant Dipper have some family history too. The renowned carousel woodcarver Charles Looff created the carousel, whose original horses remain in place, and his son Arthur Looff designed the Giant Dipper.
However, the basements beneath the Boardwalk tell a modern version of the park’s old story. Functioning as IT rooms with at least one dismantled computer, the basements are the heart of the park operations. “Our rides are high tech now. We have 10 full-time IT technicians,” says Whiting. “And in case of an emergency, all of the rides stop, except the Giant Dipper—you have to go all the way through to get out.”
The massive basement beneath the Giant Dipper reveals its own secrets. There, stacks of Southern pine lumber are painted and ready to replace whatever is needed for the wooden roller coaster. Four mechanics care for this national landmark.
Those who grew up in the Santa Cruz area fondly recall the time spent at the Boardwalk. “I would go body surfing in the San Lorenzo with friends in the summers,” says one long-time Boardwalk enthusiast. “And then we would always head over to Whiting’s for ice cream afterward.”
Boardwalk aficionados now share the Boardwalk with their families. “Just the other day I took my grand daughter on the Giant Dipper,” Whiting says with a smile. “It was just as much fun as I remember it.”
