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Santa Monica Pier
Ocean Ave. at Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA
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The 1,600 foot long Municipal Pier was built in 1909. In 1916 Looff's
Pleasure Pier opened on the pier with a carousel. The pier became a favorite
fishing place and in 1941 the pier business community installed the well
known sign shown above. Between 1987-1990 the pier was completely restored
and in 1996 Pacific Park opened. The pier has always had some kind of
amusement rides on it. The main entrance to the pier is at Ocean and Colorado
Avenues.
Just past the entrance sign you come to this long steep ramp down to
the pier. This is challenging for anyone with mobility issues. There
is both general and handicapped parking on the pier, but it is not always
open on holidays and possibly other busy periods. It was closed when
we visited on Memorial Day in 2013, hence the police car blocking the
road in the photo above. There is also handicapped and general parking
on the beach level and an elevator up to the pier level from there.
Of
course you can get some extra kicks on 66 by riding the the ferris wheel
on the pier. As you can see the ferris wheel isn't the only amusement
ride on the pier, so have some fun!
I
don't know if everyone traveling the Mother Road stops at the 66 to
Cali booth on the pier, but we stop there every time. They not only
have all kinds of cool Route 66 themed merchandise but they also have
some mighty friendly staff too, so stop by and say hi!
Although
many think of the Santa Monica Pier as being the western end of Route
66 it is only the symbolic end of the trail. The last official western
end of Route 66 was at the intersection of Lincoln Blvd. and Olympic
Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Photo(s): 2013
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