Pacific Beach Online.com -Pacific Beach California

Belmont Park Mission Beach
3146 Mission Blvd.
Mission Beach San Diego, CA 92109
Click Here for Driving Directions
To Belmont Park Amusement Center
in Mission Beach San Diego

Dear San Diego & Mission Beach Locals and Visitors of San Diego:
You have not really visited San Diego until you have visited Belmont Park in Mission Beach. With the beautiful beaches, awesome lifeguards, fresh air, roller coaster, merry-go-round, arcades, cotton candy and lots of happy smiling faces, this is really "being in San Diego". It is about having fun and enjoying the beautiful area we are lucky to live in and taking a moment to enjoy a sunset or an adreneline rush on The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster which has been entertaining beach goers for 80 years now in 2005!

Belmont Park is a very special place and if you have not been there in a while you should come back and enjoy the thrill of one of the new rides, an arcade game, or lunch on the roof of Canes overlooking the ocean.

For visitors put this place on your list of places to visit and take a look at some of the photos and fun we had doing this article.

Opening Day of The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster july 4rth 1925

Come bring your kids, girlfriend, or buddies for an afternoon of sun and smiles in Mission Beach

BELMONT PARK MISSION BEACH

Welcome to Belmont Park, San Diego's only beachfront amusement center and home of the historic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and Plunge. Belmont Park carries on the tradition of old-time family fun featuring The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, Chaos, Vertical Plunge, Krazy Kars, Tilt-A-Whirl, Liberty Carousel, Crazy Submarine, Thunder Boats, and Baja Buggies.

Photo: Here We Go!

This is the drop at the height of The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster looking south at the Belmont Park parking lot, the park area, Mission Bay (on the left) and the coastline stretching down South Mission Beach and Ocean Beach in the far background. This is an awesome roller coaster and will give any thrill seeker a great rush!

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster swings around and points north.
Here is a look north into Mission Beach with the ocean on the left and Mission Bay on the right. Mission Beach is only about a block and a half wide and stretches for three miles with the ocean on one side and the bay on the other. When the bay runs out and turns to land (about 2 1/2 miles from here) it becomes Pacific Beach.

The original "Mission Beach Amusement Center" consisted of a dance hall, casino and "The Plunge" pool & waterhouse and was a popular place at the beach for it's time back in the late 1920's.
Historic Photo above by San Diego Historical Society

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Belmont Park is surrounded by beautiful parks, green grass and a ton of palm trees making it an absolute vacation paradise in Southern California!

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Got Sharks?

The Belmont Park Amusement Center, now Belmont Park still has little gifts and gadgets for kids to play with an win.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

One of the courtyard areas at Belmont Park still being enjoyed by visitors nearly 80 years later.

A look at the same area in the 1920's when it had a small railroad car going through.
Historical Photo by the San Diego Historical Society

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Belmont Park is the first amusement park in the country to have the new Waverunner Ride which allows people to surf on simulated waves year-around.
Make sure you bring some shorts and a change of clothes so you can have some fun surfing.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

A little boy and girl with their Dad enjoy a 80 year tradition of roller coasters and cotton candy.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

The History of The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and Belmont Park

The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster opened to the public on July 4, 1925. It was originally built as a key attraction for the 33-acre Mission Beach Amusement Center, which had opened just a few weeks earlier. The entire project was the idea of sugar magnate, John D. Spreckels, a major force in San Diego's development.

The 2600 ft. long coaster was created by the noted design team of Prior and Church. It was built in less than two months by local suppliers and a crew of between 100 and 150 workers. The original cost to build the coaster was $150,000.00, including the two, 18 passenger trains.

The Mission Beach Amusement Center was popular through the 1930's and 40's and in later years it was renamed, Belmont Park. From all accounts and records, the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster was an extremely popular attraction. By the late 60's and early 70's Belmont Park fell into disrepair and the park and coaster finally closed in December 1976.

Some years earlier, the land on which the coaster stands became the property of the City of San Diego and was designated parkland while the actual structure was still privately owned. In the early 80's the coaster became an eye sore in the heart of Mission Beach. After surviving several fires, peeling paint and becoming the home for local transients, the owner of the coaster was under a lot of pressure to have it torn down and the demolition date was set. A group of concerned citizens called "Save The Coaster Committee," had the coaster designated as a National Landmark and asked that the ownership be transferred to them. By doing so, they saved the coaster and are responsible for ensuring that the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster exists today for future generations to enjoy. The committee was given a preservation grant, raised funds locally, and donated their time to work on the coaster, however they were not able to raise the amount needed to restore the coaster to an operating condition.

1989 TO PRESENT:
In 1989, the developer of the new Belmont Park retail specialty center contacted the Santa Cruz Seaside Company in Santa Cruz, California to see if they might have some interest in restoring and operating the Belmont Park Roller Coaster in San Diego. The Santa Cruz Seaside Company is the owner and operator of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park.

The President and Executive vice-president were interested and traveled to San Diego to meet with the Belmont Park developer. The parcel of land that contained the roller coaster was not part of the developers project, yet it was situated in the middle of the complex and having the coaster restored and operating would benefit all concerned.

After a year of discussions with the City of San Diego and many others, the City Council of San Diego approved a long-term lease. A new company, The San Diego Seaside Company, now called the San Diego Coaster Company, was officially formed to restore and operate the Giant Dipper.

Over $2,000,000.00 was spent on the restoration of the Giant Dipper and one new train that was built for the ride. The new train had six, 4-person cars.

On August 11, 1990 the newly restored, historic roller coaster was reopened to the public. The response by the public was overwhelming. The restored structure, station house and train were beautiful. Local residents who had ridden the roller coaster years earlier brought their spouses and children to see and experience the ride that they had ridden when they were growing up.

The public response to the ride was so strong that the San Diego Coaster Company ordered a second train and it was ready by the following spring. Annual ridership on the Giant Dipper in the first year was three times the original projections.

The nostalgic look of yesterday and the strict safety standards of today are combined in Belmont Park's Giant Dipper, along with a strong sense of historical and business integrity.

Photo courtesy of The Mission Beach Roller Coaster Museum.

Belmont Park has tons of little shops offering all kinds of little gifts for those not being able to visit.

There are also a lot of good places to eat and snack including an ice cream shop, exresso cafe, pizza restaurant, surf shops and more.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

One of the outdoor patio areas.

Visitors watch the people surfing on The Waverunner ride while eating lunch.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Belmont Park Media Center -Upcoming Events click here

Belmont Park General Info

The Flowrider Wave Ride

Belmont Park Upcoming Events

THE CHAOS - Belmont's New Ride
Remember the thrill of spinning around in circles to make yourself dizzy when you were a kid? Chaos does that one time better! Experience a random three-dimensional rocking, rolling and rotating motion. No two rides are the same! Rider must be 50 inches or taller.

This ride got a lot of good screams and was not one we were brave enough to ride:-)).

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Dads talking to their kids as the final ascent is made on the Giant Dipper. We were all thinking the same thing...this thing looks much BIGGER from up here than down there......WHAT THE HECK WERE WE THINKING?.......Here we go!!!!!!!!!!

Take a virtual ride on the Giant Dipper at the bottom of this page.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Things have not changed in 8o Years!

Belmont Park and The Giant Dipper have been creating smiles for over 75 years.

The Giant Dipper riders... Before and Now...Photo courtesy of The Mission Beach Roller Coaster Museum in Belmont Park

One of the many arcades getting ready for another busy day of smiling faces to visit the beach and amusement park area.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

One of the many fun rides for those too little for the roller coaster is The Crazy Submarine ride. Belmont Park has a ton of things to do for kids of all sizes!

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Skeetball is always fun especially when you get tickets which can be redeemed for prizes. The arcade center is loaded with air hockey, pinball, and a host of the most popular video games.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

A Mom and her kids on this ride were having a blast!

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

What would an amusement park be without bumper cars?

Here a group of youg riders enjoy a "bumpy" driving experience.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

One of the many beautifully landscaped walkways at the park along Mission Blvd.

There is plenty of parking available on weekdays and weekends before 11:00 AM. (* exclusing Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend)

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

Belmont Park Mission Beach
3146 Mission Blvd.
Mission Beach San Diego, CA 92109

Click Here for Driving Directions
To Belmont Park Amusement Center
in Mission Beach San Diego

DIRECTIONS TO BELMONT PARK

Located at Mission Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive.
From the North: Take I-5 South to Sea World Drive. Follow the signs to West Mission Bay Drive.

From the South: Take I-5 North to Hwy. 8 West. Follow the signs to West Mission Bay Drive.

Belmont Park & Amusement Center
3146 Mission Blvd,
Mission Beach San Diego, CA. 92109

Photo: A look at the entrance of the park along Mission Blvd.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

The classic ride is enjoyed by those of all ages as kids smile and parents gather memorable moments. Belmont Park is an affordable place to take the kids with plenty of rides and beaches to play on.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

A look over the North corner of Belmont Park.

The Mission Beach main lifeguard tower and Hamels Surf Shop. There are shops, restaurants and beach bars in this area making it the "hub" of the Mission beach area.

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com

WAVE HOUSE ATHLETIC CLUB

Wave House Athletic Club at the Plunge in Mission Beach offers one of the most unique and exciting environments and workout facilities anywhere. Whether relieving stress through one of a variety of yoga classes featured in our world class yoga studio or ripping a session on the endless wave of the FlowRider, there is something for everyone.
� Membership Options
� Personal Training
� Massage
� Physical Therapy
� The FlowRider
� Yoga
� Group Exercise Classes
� Swim Lessons
Located at Belmont Park in Mission Beach at 3115 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109

General Park information Steps away from the Pacific Ocean, Belmont Park offers the most in family fun and entertainment, whether it's making the drop on the Vertical Plunge or experiencing the ups and downs on the Historic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, we've got it all. Belmont Park also features the historic Plunge, built in 1925, it's the largest indoor public swimming pool in Southern California. New this season, Belmont Park will be the nation's first amusement park to feature the FlowRider, a ridable simulated wave attraction. Other new rides including the Speedway Bumper Cars, Combat Flight Simulators, and The Chaos, a 3-D rocking, spinning, thrill ride that will make even the strong- weak, can also be found this year. And don't forget you can still enjoy the thrilling Tilt-a-Whirl, Krazy Kars, and many other exciting rides. Surf like the pros on the FlowRider or relax and enjoy our waterfront restaurants, casual dining, and great shops. Whether you're with friends or family, young or old, Belmont Park located on San Diego's #1 beach, Mission Beach is the beachfront amusement center where the fun and the waves never end.

Contact Belmont Park at 858-228-9283 for additional information.

BELMONT PARK HOURS OF OPERATION

PARK OPENS DAILY AT 11AM

SPRING Hours (Feb 27-May 27) Days Park Close
Monday - Thursday 8 PM
Saturday 11 PM
Friday & Sunday 10 PM

SUMMER Hours (May 25-June 10) Days Park Close
Sunday - Thursday 10 PM
Friday 11 PM
Saturday Midnight

SUMMER Hours (June 11-Sept 6) Days Park Close
Sunday - Thursday 11 PM
Friday & Saturday Midnight

Photo by Mission Beach Online.com