My Humble Beginnings
Hey there! I’m the Santa Monica Pier, and I’ve got some tales to share. My story started on September 9, 1909, and let me tell you, things were a little different back then. Picture me as a long, skinny municipal pier—nothing too fancy. I wasn’t here for fun, just utility (boring, right?), carrying sewer pipes far into the ocean. But then in 1916, everything changed when my neighbor, Newcomb Pier, came along. Let’s just say I got a major glow-up!
Together, we became Pleasure Pier—and the fun truly began. Forget the sewer pipes—now we had roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, and a whole lot of excitement. Imagine people zooming by on the Blue Streak Racer, screaming in delight while the ocean breeze ruffled their hair. I was loving my new life!
Lights, Camera, 1920s!
The 1920s were my golden years. Picture it: a shimmering ocean, endless laughter, and La Monica Ballroom, the belle of the ball. She strutted into my life on July 23, 1924, and boy, was she something. She could fit 5,000 dancers on her glamorous floor! You could hear the jazz from a mile away as people twirled and swayed beneath the stars. Celebrities? Oh, they were here too—Jack Benny, Spade Cooley, you name it!
I wasn’t just an ocean-view hangout anymore; I was a celebrity in my own right, hosting radio shows, TV broadcasts, and even Hollywood Autocades with hundred fancy cars cruising along my boardwalk. Yeah, I was that cool.
The Rollercoaster of the 1930s (and Not the Fun Kind)
And then… the Great Depression hit. My once-bustling attractions slowed to a halt. The Blue Streak Racer? Torn down. La Monica? Closed, her vibrant parties now just echoes in the salty air. I watched the world change, holding onto the memories of joy and laughter. The waves whispered, "What next?" but I had no answer.
Mother Nature: My Frenemy
Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Mother Nature decided to pay a visit. The storms of the 1930s? Brutal. High tides smashed into me, taking parts of my pier with them. But, hey, I’m nothing if not resilient. The folks of Santa Monica rallied to keep me standing, patching me up here and there. It wasn’t glamorous, but I survived.
1970s: My Comeback Era
I limped through the decades, but by the 1970s, the city was ready to tear me down for good. I was this close to becoming a memory. But guess what? The people of Santa Monica weren’t having it. They launched the “Save Our Pier Forever” campaign, and just like that, I was back in business, baby!
Movies, TV shows, and music videos flooded my boardwalk once again, and I felt alive! Remember the movie The Sting? Yep, they filmed it right here. My old pal, the Hippodrome, became a Hollywood star, and I was loving the attention!
Riding the Waves of the 1980s
The 1980s were no picnic, though. Storms swept in with waves that could rival the wildest roller coasters, and a crane—yes, a whole crane—fell into the ocean and smacked right into my pilings. A third of me was destroyed. But once again, the amazing Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation came to my rescue. I may have been beaten up, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
And Then Came Pacific Park: 1996
Fast forward to May 25, 1996—my life changed again. I became an amusement pier once more, welcoming Pacific Park with open arms! And this time? We’ve got a Ferris wheel, baby! Watching kids and adults alike ride the wheel, with the sun setting over the Pacific—it’s like the 1920s all over again, but with way better hair and clothes.
Now, over a million people visit me every year. Yeah, I said a million. The laughter, the sounds of arcade games, the ocean waves—it’s everything I ever dreamed of.
Best Races 5k
As I have shared, my boardwalk has hosted many events. But my favorite types were those that were held to benefit others.
On March 4, 2024, one of these events was a 5K run hosted by Best Races for the fight against breast cancer. Among the runners were representatives from Smart Self Storage / Chino Hills Self Storage. It was a beautiful morning the birds and squirrels were also out to cheer them along. Did I forget to tell you that not only humans grace my Pier, but many types of wildlife made their home here as well, it’s truly a wonderful life here.
Through the years, I have experienced laughter, joy, trials and triumphs, and now that I’m over one hundred years old I still proudly stand thanks to so many who made it possible. I invite you to come and stroll along my boardwalk, you can take in the incredible views of the Santa Monica coastline, Catalina Island, Malibu and Palos Verdes and I must not forget my friend and at times foe, the magnificent Pacific Ocean.
Chino Hills Self Storage
As I began my research for my blog, I quickly became absorbed in the history of this amazing boardwalk. Little did I know just how Iconic it is. It is no surprise to me that it has become a historical landmark for southern California, a landmark that needs to be respected and treasured so it will continue to survive.
I participated in the Best Race 5K as one of the representatives for Chino Hills Self Storage. It was a gorgeous clear day, I could see across the Pacific Ocean, it truly was breathtaking and as I looked down upon the boardwalk, I could visualize its history unfolding before my eyes, I truly felt like I could hear the boardwalk speaking out to me, sharing the life it has lived.
This 5k seemed to be so easy, the sound of the waves seemed to be keeping in step with me, the serenity of the ocean, the squirrels running alongside, and the singing birds above created a sense of peace so much that the run was not a challenge but more of a pleasure along the pier reminding me that this boardwalk once was called Pleasure Pier. It was an amazing experience that day at the historic Santa Monica Pier.
Our History
As I said earlier, I represent Chino Hills Self Storage. Our facility was built on historical land, the land that was farmed for many generations and was well known by the community, I often get to hear stories from our customers who grew up in this area and knew this farmland well. I have heard stories about the big red barn and little red farmhouse that still exist right next to our facility, I often imagine what life was like for the big red barn and little red farmhouse and how it benefitted the lives of this community.
Today, our facility proudly exists to benefit the needs of others as well. Our staff works extremely hard to provide excellent customer service. We do our best to listen to your specific needs and we meet those needs to the best of our ability. I invite you to check out our reviews on Yelp and Google so that you can learn more about our facility and our hard-working staff.
