by Debbie L. Sklar / Times of San Diego / July 1, 2025
Some things are meant to be saved.
By the mid-1970s, Belmont Park — the iconic amusement park in Mission Beach — was at a crossroads. Once a bustling destination filled with laughter and rides, the park faced closure amid competing economic interests and shifting city politics. Despite its nostalgic charm and community value, Belmont Park was threatened with demolition, its future uncertain.
Contrary to some beliefs, the park’s closure in 1976 wasn’t due to neglect or safety issues. No, Belmont Park was still in remarkably good shape, with clean facilities, freshly painted attractions and attentive staff. The real culprits were complicated parking disputes and lease politics that ultimately forced the park to close.
The land — a prime stretch of beachfront real estate — quickly attracted developers keen to replace the historic amusement park with condos and commercial projects. City officials and business leaders leaned toward clearing the old structures, including the beloved wooden roller coaster, to pave the way for new ventures.
But a determined band of locals refused to let Belmont Park fade into history.
Community groups, historic preservationists and longtime residents rallied together. They recognized the park’s importance not just as an entertainment venue, but as a symbol of San Diego’s coastal identity and heritage. Their efforts grew into a grassroots movement centered on saving the park’s crown jewel — the Giant Dipper roller coaster — and the park itself.
Tim Cole’s new book, ‘Saving Belmont: An Up and Down Journey,’ chronicles his personal story, the fight to save the coaster, and the broader legacy of Belmont Park, once known as the Mission Beach Amusement Center.
Tim Cole’s new book, ‘Saving Belmont: An Up and Down Journey,’ chronicles his personal story, the fight to save the coaster, and the broader legacy of Belmont Park, once known as the Mission Beach Amusement Center.
Among the champions of this cause was Tim Cole, an amusement park enthusiast who helped found the Save the Coaster Committee. Cole and his team worked tirelessly, organizing community meetings, fundraising and spreading awareness through local media. Their mission was clear: Preserve Belmont Park’s unique legacy and prevent the giant wooden coaster from disappearing forever.
“It was difficult for our committee to convince people it could be restored,” Cole said. “But our passion, faith and determination kept the Giant Dipper standing until we could pass the torch.”
That torch was passed in 1989 when the San Diego Coaster Co. invested more than $2 million in restoring the Giant Dipper, proving that Belmont Park could be a historic treasure and a financially viable attraction.
The successful restoration sparked new life throughout the park. Belmont Park reopened in 1988 with renewed energy, blending its rich past with modern amenities. The Giant Dipper eventually reopened in 1990. Over the years, it continued evolving, including the 2019 refurbishing of the Plunge — the giant pool that remains a community fixture.
Today, thanks to the unwavering dedication of community advocates like Cole and countless supporters, Belmont Park stands as a vibrant testament to San Diego’s seaside spirit.
“An amusement center is what is destined to be here,” Cole said. “Belmont Park was dead for over a decade, and now that it’s alive and better than ever. I feel confident about its future.”
Thanks for sharing this article from the Times of San Diego. As a board member of the Save the Coaster Committee along with Tim Cole, it’s amazing to me that 1) we actually *saved* the coaster from demolition and 2) the Giant Dipper celebrated its 100th Anniversary on July 4, 2025 along with Belmont Park (originally created as the Mission Beach Amusement Center and renamed by a lessee in 1955. It’s ironic that the park continues to revert to a family fun center despite more than one effort to develop the park (sits on dedicated parkland, Mission Beach Park) for entirely different uses such as a hotel and conference center.
Tim’s book is an excellent read and includes a detailed history of the “ups and downs” of the amusement center as well as the roller coaster. If you’re interested in buying a copy, Frank can refer you to me and I’ll refer you to Tim Cole.
A final note: American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) will hold their annual conference here in August and will be at Belmont Park on Saturday, August 9. ACE was a strong supporter (of course!) of our efforts to preserve the Mission Beach Giant Dipper, through donations raised in a preservation fund they established and with ACE members joining STCC members and supporters for weekend workdays at the coaster during the 1980s.
Hello Judy,
I am interested in this story and am wondering if there is someone who can give a presentation on the book and Belmont Park. Can you suggest a speaker? I am with LIFE at MiraCosta College, a lifelong learning group in Oceanside. Here is a site for a bit more information.
http://www.miracosta.edu/life. Click on Calendar.
I would love to hear from you.
Sue
I finally realized I can the gmail address at the end of the Calendar. I’ll email life.miracosta@gmail.com and ask to be put in contact with you.
Hi, Sue. Apologies for this delayed response – I missed seeing your (or the OBRag’s) email about Belmont Park until today. I don’t want to put my email here but hereby give Frank Gormlie permission to share it with you. It’s unclear to me how to contact you directly through the Calendar link.
I can give a talk about the history of the Save the Coaster Committee and how we saved the Mission Beach Giant Dipper roller coaster. We did not “save Belmont Park” however. Nonetheless, Belmont Park has once again become the beach amusement center that John D. Spreckels originally intended it to be despite the ups and downs of the park.
Tim Cole, author of the book Saving Belmont, can also talk about his book and his experiences with the Giant Dipper going back to his younger years up through saving the coaster (his focus, again not Belmont Park).