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Santa Monica’s iconic Pacific Park is officially turning 30, marking three decades since amusement rides returned to the famedSanta Monica Pierfor the first time since the 1930s.
The beloved oceanfront attraction celebrated the milestone Tuesday with a birthday-themed light show on its world-famous Pacific Wheel, displaying “Happy Birthday” messages, anniversary graphics, and a glowing birthday cake above thePacific Ocean.
The display lit up the night sky 40 feet above the water as the park commemorated its May 26, 1996, opening, which revived the pier as a bustling destination for entertainment, tourism, and community gatherings.
“Thirty years ago today, Pacific Park brought amusement back to the Santa Monica Pier,” Pacific Park CEO Jeff Klocke said.
Since reopening the pier to thrill rides nearly three decades ago, the park has become one of Southern California’s most recognizableseaside attractions, drawing visitors to a pier that now welcomes more than 12 million people annually from around the globe, noted theSanta Monica Daily Press.
Klocke highlighted several milestones that helped shape the park’s legacy over the years, including the debut of the world’s first solar-poweredFerris wheelin 1998, which established Pacific Park’s identity as both innovative and deeply tied to the California coastline.
A revamped Pacific Wheel featuring a dramatic LED lighting package was unveiled in 2008, transforming the ride into an internationally recognized Los Angeles landmark. In 2012, the Ferris wheel even snagged a Guinness World Record.
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Klocke also pointed to Pacific Park’s longstanding partnerships with organizations including Santa Monica PAL, Special Olympics Southern California, and Make-A-Wish, along with years of local events and family traditions tied to the pier.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
