Belmont Park

View of the entrance to Belmont Park with the Giant Dipper roller coaster in the background.

Belmont Park is a historic oceanfront amusement park located in the Mission Bay area of San Diego, California. The park was developed by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels and opened on July 4, 1925 as the Mission Beach Amusement Center.^[1] In addition to providing recreation and amusement it also was intended as a way to help Spreckels sell land in Mission Beach. Located on the beach, it attracts millions of people each year.

The attractions and rides that remain from the original 1925 park include the Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another historic facility is The Plunge, an indoor swimming pool.^[2]. The Plunge was originally a salt water pool; it now contains fresh water and features a "Whaling Wall" painting by artist Wyland titled Orcas off Point Loma.

Other amusements include a Tilt-A-Whirl, a three-story drop tower (the "Vertical Plunge"), the Liberty Carousel, and the Wave House Athletic Club. The Wave House Bar and Grill overlooks the ocean and features two artificial waves. The larger wave is a FlowBarrel called "Bruticus Maximus" (or "bmax") and features an 8-foot barreling wave. The other wave is a smaller sheet wave known as a FlowRider. Newer attractions for 2010 include a SkyRopes obstacle course, a Moser Gyro Loop dubbed "Control Freak" and a Chance Unicoaster dubbed "Octotron." The park's rides including the Giant Dipper, are operated by the San Diego Coaster Company.

In 2002, businessman/surfer Tom Lochtefeld bought the master lease for the property and started development of the Wave House. In Spring 2006, the Wave House hosted MTV's Total Request Live.

Current Attractions

• Giant Dipper
• Vertical Plunge
• Control Freak
• Liberty Carousel
• Tilt-A-Whirl
• Crazy Submarine
• Speedway Bumper Cars
• Beach Blaster
• Thunder Boats
• Krazy Kars
• Octotron
• Sky Ropes
• The Wavehouse
• Rush Lazer tag and arcade
• Lazer maze

Former Attractions

• Sea Serpent - Relocated to Belmont's sister park, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 2003 to make room for Chaos.
• Baja Buggies - Traded in 2004 for the Beach Blaster.
• Chaos - Traded in October 2010 to Chance Rides for Octotron.
• Pirates Cove - Closed down in 2004.
• Fat Boyz Family Fun Arcade - Converted into Pirates Of Belmont Mini Golf and Arcade.
• Pirates of belmont-Converted into Rush Lazer tag and arcade
• magic mirror maze-closed in 2012

Controversy

On November 3, 2010 Wave House Belmont Park LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in US Bankruptcy Court (Bankruptcy Petition #: 10-19663-11) citing a 700% increase in rent owed to the City of San Diego as the reason. Tom Lochtefeld, Belmont Park Manager Member, alleges the city has breached its lease agreement.^[3]

References

1. ^ San Diego Historical Society timeline
2. ^ http://www.wavehouseathleticclub.com/mission_beach_Plunge_history.html
3. ^ sandiegonewsroom.com

External links

• Belmont Park's web site
• Wave House San Diego, home of the bmax and FlowRider
• Wave House Athletic Club, home of the Plunge
• "S.D. businessman betting on the beach," March 2, 2007 - Union Tribune

32°46′17″N 117°15′8″W / 32.77139°N 117.25222°W / 32.77139; -117.25222