The Pike - What's Old and New
By the late 1890s, Long Beach had already established itself as a premier resort town, even though it had only been incorporated as a city a decade before. Visitors were quickly lured to the city by its picturesque bluffs and expansive stretches of pristine shoreline. Entrepreneurs were also charmed by the area, but the small beach community held a different appeal for them. Sensing the potential fortune to be made from the city’s strategic location and accessibility, clever businessmen like the Bixby brothers were swift to begin land development efforts that would include the building of boardwalks and storefronts to attract tourists.
Crowds of people came from all over the west to bask and play in Long Beach, a place where ocean waves rolled toward yellow and lilac sand verbenas, reaching for the outcroppings of ice plants near the bluffs. For lack of a name, revelers simply referred to this area as The Strand or The Beach. But that would all change in 1902 with the development of The Pike, a section of Downtown that would play a pivotal role in forging the identity of Long Beach, one of California’s most diverse and stimulating cities.
In 1902, Charles Drake, president of the Long Beach Bath House and Amusement Company, participated in negotiations that led to the extension of the Pacific Electric’s streetcar service into Long Beach. This development promised an even greater influx of visitors to the city and its beaches. Drake also began construction on the first of many attractions that would later come to form the boardwalk between Pine and Chestnut Avenues, best known by locals as The Pike.
In its heyday, The Pike was a west coast Coney Island, full of roller coasters, fun houses, carnival games and concessions. There were rides with names such as Laff-in-the-Dark, The Round Up, Racing Derby and Auto Speedway, but the most famous of all was the wooden roller coaster called the Cyclone Racer. Originally named the Jackrabbit Racer, the coaster was renovated in 1929 to make its course faster, steeper and more exhilarating. It was on Memorial Day, 1930, that the new attraction was unveiled and christened the Cyclone Racer.
The Pike enjoyed its long history as the oldest amusement park in California. It remained one of the region’s most legendary landmarks, and several of its attractions had appeared in film. Sadly, however, The Pike faded into local history with the demolition of the Cyclone Racer in 1968.
But thanks to recent efforts by the city to rejuvenate the Downtown area and restore it to its former glory, a new generation of locals and visitors can once again enjoy the majesty of The Pike.
Still located off Pine Avenue in the heart of downtown Long Beach, The Pike offers a “vibrant dining, retail, and entertainment destination ideally located on the waterfront.” And though visitors may not be able to climb aboard the Cyclone Racer or lose themselves in the dizzying incongruities of the Fun House, The Pike today pays homage to its predecessor in turns both modern and retro. To preserve a sense of nostalgia, The Pike greets guests with Art Deco architecture and a working Ferris Wheel. The bridge spanning Shoreline Drive is a special tribute, designed to replicate the appearance and original track of the Cyclone Racer. Watching lights speed through the course of the miniature track, guests are invited to imagine the thrills their parents and grandparents may have enjoyed.
But The Pike of today has grown into much more than a boardwalk amusement. It now offers guests an eclectic and modern entertainment experience, boasting fine and casual dining, a variety of unique clubs, one of L.A. County’s best movie theaters and much more.
For movie buffs visiting the area, I personally recommend the Cinemark at The Pike, one of the nicest theaters in southern California. Clean, roomy, state-of-the-art, and with stadium seating in every room, it’s a hidden gem: in addition to its amenities, the theater is almost never full and offers electronic ticketing systems to prevent long lines at the box office.
For diners, fare at The Pike ranges from All-American to the exotic. Those who have trouble choosing a meal from a large menu will have a tough time deciding on where to eat at The Pike.
And for those seeking after hours entertainment, the clubs and bars along The Pike have something for everyone. Authentic Irish pub? Trendy New York style lounge? Relaxed sports bar atmosphere? It’s all at The Pike. There’s even an enormous GameWorks for those who enjoy the combination of booze, sports and bowling while the kids occupy themselves with a multitude of video games.
Now Open at The Pike:
The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub
Border’s
Boston's Gourmet Pizza
BubbaGump Shrimp Co.
California Pizza Kitchen
Candy Bouquet
Chili's
Cinemark Theatres
Cold Stone Creamery
Extreme Pizza
GameWorks
Giant Ferris Wheel
Gladstone's
Great Steak & Potato Co.
Historic Carousel
Islands
Jax Grill
Long Beach Clothing Co.
Mai Tai Bar
Outback Steakhouse
P.F.Chang's China Bistro
Segway
Sharky’s Mexican Grill
Smoothie King
Sunless Tanning Co.
Tokyo Wako
V2O - The Venue
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor is located at 95 South Pine Avenue in Long Beach, CA 90802. For a complete directory of shops and restaurants, driving directions, parking information and more, visit http://www.thepikeatlongbeach.com
