The Plunge 1950s The Boardwalk’s roots go back to 1865, when John Leibrandt opened a public bathhouse near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Other bathhouses followed; scores of tourists began visiting Santa Cruz to enjoy this highly touted health benefits of bathing in salt water. Soon more concessions sprang up including restaurants, curio shops, and photo stands. Toward the end of the 1800s, Fred W. Swanton, considered one of the greatest promoters and entrepreneurs of his time, laid plans for a casino and boardwalk — a “Coney Island of the West.” The first Casino opened in 1904 but survived only 22 months; on June 22, 1906, the uninsured building was completely destroyed by fire. Legend has it that Swanton was on the phone before the last wisps of smoke disappeared, lining up financing and ordering materials to rebuild. By summer’s end, famed architect William H. Weeks was drawing up plans, and in October a foundation had been laid for the new Casino. The new Casino included a ballroom, the Plunge indoor swimming pool, a pleasure pier, and boardwalk. Some 500 people worked on the project, and on June 22, 1907, exactly one year after the devastating fire, the new attractions opened. More than 1,200 people attended the opening ball, and thousands more watched outside as the Casino and Boardwalk were illuminated by thousands of white lights.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:04:25 +0000