Since opening on the Fourth of July in 1925, the oceanfront amusement park at 3146 Mission Blvd in the 92109 has been a defining landmark of San Diego's coastline. Belmont Park was developed by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels as the Mission Beach Amusement Center, anchored by the Giant Dipper roller coaster, a 2,600-foot wooden track designed by Frank Prior and Frederick Church that climbs 75 feet above the sand. The coaster earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 after a citizen-led Save the Coaster Committee fought off demolition plans during the late 1970s. A $2 million restoration by the San Diego Coaster Company brought the Giant Dipper back to life on August 11, 1990, and it remains one of the oldest operating wooden coasters in the country. Weekend brunch crowds heading to or from the park often stop at World Famous, an oceanfront restaurant just blocks north with patio seating overlooking the breaking waves. Alongside the coaster, The Plunge indoor pool dates to the original park, once holding 400,000 gallons of saltwater as the largest such pool in the world. Pacifica Enterprises acquired the park leasehold in 2012, and the Eat.Drink.Sleep team led by Brett Miller, Steve Smith, and Justin Lopez reopened several on-site restaurants including Cannonball and Belmonty's Burgers. Modern additions since 2016 include a three-level TRON-themed laser tag arena, bumper cars under black lights and a disco ball, and the Liberty Carousel, a 30-foot antique reproduction featuring 12 paintings preserved by the San Diego Historical Society. Visitors walking south along the boardwalk can continue to Costa Brava for a sit-down meal with sunset views after a full day of rides. Free parking, wheelchair-accessible entrances, and a family-friendly crowd keep annual attendance in the millions.