Yesteryear: Pacific Ocean Park on Santa Monica Pier

September 3, 2014 6:28 PM

"The train would head back into the heart of the mountain, where more volcanic geysers lay in wait, followed by an earthquake – with a disorienting, rotating tunnel. Escaping this, the ride continued over a truly scary trestle, suspended over the ocean below, into the final scene, an indoor tropical thunderstorm, replete with lightning and strong gusts of wind. Exiting into the sunlight again, the farewell touch was the 'Goony Bird' – sitting on a clutch of cartoonish, oversized eggs – who chirped, 'Thank you for riding with us!'"

More at The Underground Website of P.O.P.

An aerial map with links to each individual ride.

There's a also a Facebook page with photos, tied in with the book by Chris Merritt and Domenic Priore.

Wikipedia

posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome (9 comments total)

Looks like it's still there.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:02 PM on September 3, 2014

Yeah, the articles are about mid-century pier rides - from Wikipedia:

"Other than a few underwater pilings and signs warning of them, nothing remains of Pacific Ocean Park today. A few miles north, the original Santa Monica Pier features a newer amusement park, similarly called Pacific Park. Today, the rides and attractions of the Santa Monica Pier include the Carousel that is featured in the 1973 Academy Award-winning film The Sting."

posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:06 PM on September 3, 2014

POP wasn't on the Santa Monica Pier. It was further south. I have some wonderful, though somewhat dim, memories of the place.
posted by rmmcclay at 7:16 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]

Well you've got a life-long West Coaster writing this - thanks for the correction, rmmcclay.

Do you remember the Banana Train?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:23 PM on September 3, 2014

Ack - "Northern Californian" I meant. Geez. I got to Disneyland but not P.O.P. nor the newer place, Pacific Park.

It looks fun, I'd love to hear from people who remember both the old P.O.P. during the 50s and 60s, and the newer "PP" (do they call it that?).
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:31 PM on September 3, 2014

and the newer "PP" (do they call it that?).

Nooooooooo! I grew up in the area (but not until the 70s) and can see the ferris wheel from my house so I wanted to nip that in the bud!

People just refer to it as "the pier". Actually, if you asked me where Pacific Park was it would take me a second to realize what you meant.

I'm going to see if I can find a link to an old local PBS show with Ralph Story called Things That Aren't Here Anymore with a great segment on the old park.

Cool post, as always!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:49 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]

For more about the area's decline (until the renewal began in the 80s), the skateboarding doc Dogtown and Z-Boys is a rich history lesson.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:19 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]

Choo choo choo choo choo choo choo,
Banana train
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:51 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]

Choo choo choo choo choo choo choo,
Banana train

goddamn you
posted by sourwookie at 10:20 PM on September 3, 2014 [3 favorites]