By Jondi Gumz
On March 20, yellow excavators began ripping into the old wooden pier at Seacliff State Beach — deemed unsafe after January’s epic storms, which destroyed half the pier.
State parks officials said it was in imminent danger of collapse, although here it is the end of March, and it hasn’t yet fully fallen into the ocean.
A look at the severe damage the pier took during the storms. • Photo Credit: Zach Friend
The 500-foot pier was what connected locals to the Cement Ship, formally known as the S. S. Palo Alto, towed here in 1930 and outfitted to offer pleasures such as dancing, swimming in a pool, a cafe, carnival concessions, slot machines, and it is rumored gambling downstairs.
Birds found the ship a convenient pooping place, and it was closed in 2001. A big storm in 2017 made the ship roll over and then break apart.
The Cement Ship and the pier have been the subjects of countless photographs, especially as the sun is setting.
Most people in Aptos are nostalgic about the pier and the ship — they fished there when they were young. Not Michael Kram of Royal Oak. He called it “a gambling boat for rich people,” and he doesn’t want any more money spent on it.
Granite Construction of Watsonville is the demolition contractor.
Gabe McKenna, State Parks public safety superintendent, estimated the demolition would take six weeks.
During this time, public access will be limited from the waterline to the bluffs for safety reasons Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
However the Visitor Center and ParkStore will remain open, normal hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
From March 29-31, the Visitor Center was closed so a new roof could be put on. That was among the damages during the storm.
The campground closed again March 27-29 as yet another storm blew through; a decision on reopening is due on March 29.
State Parks has not released an estimate of damages at Seacliff State Beach but damages in state parks across Santa Cruz County were estimated at $40 million, according to Chris Spohrer, superintendent for the Santa Cruz District of state parks.
The entire job, which began last Monday, is expected to be finished by the end of April. The wood, Douglas fir covered generations ago by creosote, coal tar commonly used years ago as a preservative and today is restricted from some uses by the European Union because it is carcinogenic, will be buried at a landfill in Marina.
Because of the storm damages, Seacliff State Beach is closed to vehicle traffic. However, people can park in the upper lot, then walk in and view the ongoing demolition from the bluffs.
Planning meetings on the future of the park facilities will take place this summer and be open to the public. Dates are to be announced soon, with a plan to be ready in a year. Construction will likely begin in 2024 or 2025.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has established the Seacliff State Beach Recovery Fund to support short-term support, followed by investments in long-term recovery work.
To donate, see https://thatsmypark.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/thatsmypark/donation.jsp?campaign=158 n
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To join the State Parks Seacliff mailing list, visit parks.ca.gov/SeacliffStateBeach
Top Photo: The lifeguard tower is removed from the Seacliff pier.