Neptune Beach (California)
| Company type | Entertainment venue / Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement park |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Defunct | 1939 |
| Headquarters | Alameda, California , United States |
Area served | San Francisco Bay Area |
Neptune Beach was an entertainment venue located along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay in Alameda, California, functioning from 1917 until 1939. It was accessible via the Southern Pacific Transportation Company and ferry services originating from San Francisco, earning it the moniker "Coney Island of the West."
Established in 1917 on what is currently known as Crab Cove, Neptune Beach was initially under the ownership of the Strehlow family. The entry fee was ten cents. Visitors could enjoy exclusive picnic spots, a dance pavilion, barbecue facilities, and rental vacation cottages referred to as Cottage Baths. Social dances took place on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Attractions
The park's proprietors, the Strehlow family, enhanced Neptune Beach by reclaiming part of the Bay to construct an Olympic-size swimming pool and a roller coaster offering scenic views of the Bay. The two outdoor swimming pools hosted competitions and exhibitions featuring Olympian Johnny Weissmuller, who later portrayed Tarzan for MGM, along with fitness icon Jack LaLanne. Among the features were a hand-carved carousel produced by the Dentzel Company and a Ferris wheel.
In 1923, Neptune Beach was the venue for the public introduction of both the American snow cone and the popsicle. Frank "Pop" Epperson marketed the popsicle under the name "Pop's Sicle."
Closure
The park ceased operations in 1939 due to factors including the economic impact of the Great Depression, completion of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, decreasing railway patronage, and shifts in automobile culture. The opening of the Bay Bridge diminished ferry usage, while increased car ownership motivated visitors to seek destinations farther afield within California. Additionally, local youths frequently circumvented admission fees by swimming around perimeter fences.
In 1940, most park structures such as the carousel, Ferris wheel, and roller coaster were sold at auction for a small fraction of their original value. During World War II, federal authorities acquired the property for office use and renamed it Neptune Pointe.