With a major remodel mostly in the rear-view, a revitalized Belmont Park is looking forward to showing its patrons just what a Mission Beach destination spot is all about.
The nearly century-old amusement park on Ocean Front at Surfrider Square is renowned for its iconic Giant Dipper roller coaster, which turns 97 this year, and the historic and recently rebuilt indoor pool, The Plunge, attractions that remain from the original 1925 park. The Giant Dipper is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with The Plunge, which was originally the world’s largest saltwater pool called the Natatorium. It now contains freshwater.
“The Plunge was the catalyst for us to move the rest of the park into redevelopment,” said general manager Steve Thomas. “We’re just making it a safer, cleaner, and better beach amusement park.”
Featuring amusement rides and games, high-end and casual dining, a new skate park, bike rentals, and more, Belmont Park’s modern-nostalgic offerings allow for year-round entertainment.
Management is encouraging guests to visit the park for an all-day experience this year that could include day-to-night dining, a rock climbing wall and zipline, carnival games, mini-golf, a mini-bowling experience at Belmont Lanes, and workout classes at Fit Athletic Club. Evening attractions and events at the park also include trivia, movie nights, and concerts.
After being open on a limited basis during the pandemic, Thomas said Belmont Park was able to fully reopen in April 2021. “We had a fantastic year overall, though it was really tough to get people back to work,” he said.
Thomas talked about this year’s goal.
“It’s getting things back on track, improving the safety of our buildings and our entire facility,” he said.
Toward that end, Thomas said Belmont Park has worked to “invest in increasing our security, patrolling the park, and providing all-new lighting in our parking lot.”
Thomas said the amusement park is opening up two new rides along its boardwalk midway, a Crazy Submarine ride, along with Wave Jumper, a bouncy kiddie boat ride.
“We’re bringing back our music series kicking off in March and carrying through to November that’s going to be a mix of musical genres on Saturdays and Sundays,” noted Thomas.
Belmont Park has three full-service restaurants – Cannonball serves sushi on the rooftop overlooking the ocean, the Beach House Grill on the lower level overlooking the boardwalk, and Draft sports bar, with an outdoor patio on the boardwalk.
Belmont Park’s general manager noted the beauty of the place is that it offers something for everyone from “fitness in a wonderful gym at The Plunge, to rooftop restaurants, and rides and attractions for kids. It’s really a great place to just hang out and spend all day.”
Thomas said the skate park has done well since opening last year noting “it adds some eye candy to the rest of the park, is just a fun thing to have in the background. It also embodies the culture and vibe of San Diego where people have grown up skateboarding, and San Diego has produced some of the most famous skaters in the world.”
The park has other advantages too. “We’re completely outdoors,” noted Thomas. “And there are no entry or parking fees.”
Another new attraction this year, according to Thomas, is a “Belmont In Bloom Spring Festival” kicking off in April. “We’re going to have beautiful flowers, giant once-in-a-lifetime photo ops, and different things all around the park,” he said, adding he’s working “to have fresh new additions to the park every year for the next five years.”
Belmont Park was developed by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels and opened on July 4, 1925, as the Mission Beach Amusement Center. In addition to providing recreation and amusement, it also was intended as a way to help Spreckels sell land in Mission Beach.
In 2002, businessman/surfer Tom Lochtefeld bought the master lease for the property and started the development of the Wave House. In November 2012, Pacifica Enterprises LLC. acquired the park leasehold in a bankruptcy trustee sale. Pacifica Enterprises, along with Eat.Drink.Sleep assumed operations and started a restoration and revitalization of the park.
