Pacific City was county's amusement park

A large group of investors got together and planned a more elaborate facility that would rival New York's Coney Island. They purchased the Coyote Point land. The property ran from Peninsula Avenue to Burlingame Avenue and from Bayshore Road to the point.

Construction was begun January 16, 1922, with an estimated opening date of May 30, 1922. In February, there was a change in ownership and the syndicate incorporated as Pacific City. Opening day was now slipped to June. A dedication ceremony was held in March.

Plans included a four-acre children's playground. A merry-go-round was installed. A report in April indicated completion of the landscaping and interior streets. Work was in progress on the entrance, bandstand and bath house. Construction had started on a pier, which was to measure 498 feet long by 30 feet wide. Fences, playground equipment, lighting, and bathing suits for rental were contracted.

Additional concessions included a scenic railroad, ferris wheel, cigar stands, hot dog stands, a lunch counter, and ice cream, soda and popcorn stands. A dance pavilion, Japanese tea garden, and other restaurants and games were pending. No mention is made of the indoor swimming pool.

Existing transportation via trains, electric railway, auto bus lines and highway were to be augmented by excursion steamers and launches from San Francisco to the pier. Twelve conventions were booked between June 1 and July 15.

The formal opening took place on July 1, 1922 in a four-day celebration. On July 4, 100,000 people came through the gates. Local celebrities took part in the parades, ceremonies and games. The dance pavilion, with 125 feet by 80 feet of maple flooring, faced on the boardwalk with the back overlooking the Japanese tea garden. On Nov. 12, the park closed for the winter after an estimated one million people had visited it.

The following year saw the addition of a roller coaster called The Comet. It was the second largest in the U.S. and the fastest in the West. It had a straight drop of 80 feet. In August, there was a fire in one of the concessions that destroyed two buildings. Another change in ownership took place. Pacific City closed forever in late 1923 after operating only two seasons.

What happened to Pacific City? One thing was the wind. Although mornings at the beach were very nice, every afternoon in the summer it seemed that an unpleasantly strong wind came up. Also, during the second season, the beach water became contaminated due to sewage disposal from the nearby growing towns. Without swimming, there was little to attract people to the site. The glorious ballroom became a roller skating rink and the rest of the buildings deteriorated. In 1933, the old roller coaster and the remaining structures were demolished because they were attracting vandals.

Rediscovering the Peninsula appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal. For more information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City.<