Belmont Park in Mission Beach is unveiling a multimillion-dollar revamp just in time for the busy summer season, featuring upgrades to its historic Giant Dipper roller coaster and new attractions for visitors.
The nearly century-old amusement park expects about 150,000 visitors during peak summer months as families return to enjoy the updated rides, beachfront views and classic attractions.
One of the park’s most iconic features, the Giant Dipper, recently underwent a $1.6 million rehabilitation project focused on improving the ride experience.
“So the Giant Dipper, which just turned 100 years old last year, it’s going into a 101st birthday in July, just went under a six-week rehab this past February,” said Sarah Abelsohn, marketing director for Belmont Park.
The work primarily focused on smoothing out the wooden track to enhance comfort for riders while preserving the coaster’s historic charm.
In addition to the coaster upgrades, Belmont Park has introduced new attractions, including a free-access play structure near Shipwreck Cove designed for younger visitors and families.
For longtime visitors like Sofia Holt, the park continues to evolve while holding onto its nostalgic appeal. “A little girl, coming here for the first time, especially being little like, very, very, very little.” Holt said Belmont Park remains a place she returns to again and again. “My favorite ride is either Mic Drop, which is over there, or it’s either one of the newer ones back over there.”
She said the park offers more variety than many might expect. “A playground that you usually see, that you would see at the park, no, there’s one at Belmont Park. You would usually think that you would have hot dog on a stick only at malls, no, we have hot dog on a stick here. You’d believe we only had ocean to swim at, no we have a plunge.”
Abelsohn said Belmont Park’s unique setting continues to set it apart.
“I mean, it doesn’t get more iconic than this, and it also doesn’t get more Sandiego than this. Like, where else can you go Go out for a surf, hit up the beach, ride on the roller coaster, go into the arcade, and then eat like, some really great bites.”
“Wetzels pretzels. You can’t go wrong with the mini bites,” Holt added. For Holt, the reason to keep coming back is simple. “I’m just here to have fun”
News source: NBC7
