The Plunge

Less than a year after fire destroyed the original Casino and Plunge, construction began on new buildings that included an indoor natatorium. The original ceiling arches can still be seen. The main pool measured 144 feet by 64 feet and featured a 40-foot slide. It was one of the largest heated salt water swimming pools on the West Coast, with two tanks holding a combined 408,000 gallons that were replenished daily from the Pacific Ocean. Water heated from fifty degrees to eighty-three degrees made the pool comfortable for swimmers. Thirty thousand people witnessed the Plunge Water Carnival performances each summer, featuring the world record-holding Underwater Natators, flying trapeze artists, fire divers, Stratosphere Plungers, water ballets, and Slide for Life daredevils. In the 1920s and 30s, crowds were enthralled by Duke Kahanamoku’s aquatic prowess, and he proclaimed that the Plunge was his favorite pool. Today, the building houses Neptune’s Kingdom Amusement Center, with a pirate-themed miniature golf course at the center of a modern entertainment complex, along with a Historium showcasing Boardwalk history through photographs and a game deck with pool, air hockey, ping-pong, video games, and a snack bar.

Santa Cruz, California · United States