Belmont Park

Amusement park in the United States
Belmont Park
Belmont.png
Location
San Diego, California, USA
Status Operating
Opened July 4, 1925
Owner Tom Lochtefeld
Website https://belmontpark.com

Belmont Park is a historic oceanfront amusement park located in the Mission Bay area of San Diego, California, USA. 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.

Attractions

The attractions and rides that remain from the original 1925 park include 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]

Other amusements include a Tilt-A-Whirl, a three-story drop tower called Vertical Plunge, 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 in Belmont Park include a pendulum ride called The Beach Blaster and another ride called Chaos.

History

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.

On November 3, 2010, Wave House Belmont Park LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court 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]

Roller coasters

Present

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Status
Giant Dipper Frank Prior, Fredrick Church Wooden 1925 Operating

Past

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Kiddie Coaster Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. Wooden 1955 Unknown Scrapped
Wild Mouse Unknown Wooden 1974 1976 Relocated to J's Amusement Park

Attractions

Present

Name Manufacturer Type Opened
Beach Blaster Chance Rides Frisbee 2004
Control Freak Moser Rides Gyro Loop 2010
Liberty Carousel Morgan Gallopers 1989
Mic Drop Moser Rides Junior Drop Tower 2002 or earlier
Octotron Chance Rides Looper/Rock 'n' Roll 2011
Overdrive Bumper Cars Majestic Manufacturing Dodgems 2004
Tilt-A-Whirl Sellner Manufacturing Tilt-A-Whirl 1995

Closed

This list is incomplete, please expand it if you can.
Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Chaos Chance Rides Chaos 2003 2010 Part-exchange with Chance Rides
Bumps Majestic Manufacturing Dodgems 1991 Unknown Sold to Majestic Manufacturing

References

External links