A US Army Amphibious Brigade from Fort Ord used the Plunge in 1943 for aquatic training of 1,000 troops before they were shipped to South Pacific action. The US Navy occupied the facility (and the Casa Del Rey Hotel across Beach Street) for two years during World War II so that injured sailors could benefit from the healing therapy of warm salt water. Many local kids, myself included, learned to swim in the Plunge during Red Cross “Learn to Swim” programs. Aerial artists and swimmers - many from the Santa Cruz community - would regale audiences with amazing performances from high in the rafters before diving into the pool. They were leftovers from the storied Plunge Water Carnivals which ran from 1927 to 1945. I remember seeing trapeze bars and rings hanging from the building’s ceiling girders and platforms for performers above the balcony level. I recall swimming under water with my eyes open, a sure way to get “Plunge burn.” Your red, stinging eyes, irritated by the mix of chlorine and saltwater, could hurt the rest of the day. What a thrill! Plunge lifeguards pose for a photo circa the 1940s. Another right-of-passage was a dive - or just a jump - off the high diving board. After a session of Red Cross swimming lessons, I would venture into the middle area, swimming or paddling with growing confidence. The larger L-shaped pool with diving boards was about 12-ft. One was about 5-ft deep and used by parents with small kids. There were two pools, holding a combined 408,000 gallons of water. Heading to the pool area, I’d go down the steps into the 83 degree water – like entering a hot tub today - and quickly snuggle up against a spout of incoming warm water. I’d walk toward the men’s locker area where rows of lockers were layered over several floors the area was musty, damp and sparsely illuminated. Patrons could also rent a bathing suit, but I never did. The 25-cent entrance fee entitled me to an official towel. If time permitted and the pools didn’t look too crowded, I’d go back to my family’s Bright Spot Concession for my swimming trunks and return for a “plunge into the Plunge.” Rings and trapeze for the Plunge Water Carnivals are shown in 1938. The misty humid air coming off the heated mix of saltwater and chlorine, floated upwards, giving a distinctive feel to the upper reaches of the hanger-like building. I remember ducking into the Plunge through the colonnade entrance (where Laffing Sal is now), walking past the attendant and climbing the stairs to the spectators’ gallery. My own memories start in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some of the older amusement machines still exist in the building, like the Metal Typer machine and the crazy mirrors.Older Boardwalk visitors may notice the blue ceiling girders inside Neptune’s Kingdom and fondly recall swimming in the Plunge. In 1989, after the Loma Prieta Earthquake, the old miniature golfcourse was demolished and the entire facility was remodeled. In many ways the elimination of the Plunge marked the end of the Boardwalk's original purpose, since the site began as a bathhouse. However, in 1963 the building was repurposed and made into the a mini golfcourse, due to the declining interest in indoor swimming. This was also the location of the Water Carnival, where aquatic acrobats and "human submarines" would come to perform superhuman feats. Historically, the building used to hold a large indoor pool called the Plunge. The Barbary Coast Restaurant serves burgers, deli sandwiches, and espresso. Entertainment features at Neptune's Kingdom include the Smuggler's Arcade, with pinball machines and video games downstairs, the upstairs' Captain's Game Deck with eight pool tables, air hockey, fosse ball, snacks, and beer, and Buccaneer Bay, a two-story 18-hole miniature golf course.
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