For a hundred years, Belmont Park has anchored the Mission Beach Boardwalk with its wooden Giant Dipper coaster and beachfront carnival energy. Now the park is in the middle of an estimated $20 million overhaul that could redefine what Mission Beach means to both locals and visitors. And if the plans survive California Coastal Commission approval and city permitting, what emerges by 2027 will look dramatically different from what stands today.
What's Changing at Belmont Park
The renovation's centerpiece is a new open-access concept that tears down the walls between the arcade, midway, and beachfront. Picture this: an indoor-outdoor "barcade" where you can play vintage games with a craft cocktail in hand, with a direct sightline through to the sand. The arcade walls are literally coming down to create a free-flowing space that connects food, drinks, games, and beach access in a way Belmont has never attempted. The midway has already been revamped. The Giant Dipper got a fresh coat of paint. A new play structure themed around a shipwreck is planned for the front entrance. And three new thrill rides are in the pipeline to complement the existing attractions.
Dining at the Beach Gets an Upgrade
The longstanding Beach House restaurant is getting gutted and reimagined. Plans include replacing most of the sandy floor with decorative concrete, adding a resort-like theme with patios and mini swimming pools, and creating multiple dining zones. It's a far cry from the grab-and-go pizza slices that have defined park dining for decades. Combined with nearby Draft House Belmont Park and Belmonty's Burgers, the food landscape inside the park is getting a serious expansion.
Why It Matters for Mission Beach
Belmont Park is the single biggest attraction on the Mission Beach boardwalk. It sits steps from Mission Beach Park and draws visitors who also patronize nearby businesses like Draft South Mission, ZoZo's Pizza, and The Mission. Every improvement to Belmont sends ripple effects through the entire Mission Beach economy. Hotels and resorts like Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, Paradise Point Resort & Spa, and Hyatt Regency Mission Bay benefit directly from having a world-class attraction on their doorstep.
San Diego's beach neighborhoods each have their own anchor attractions — Coronado has the Hotel Del, La Jolla has the Cove, and Mission Beach has Belmont Park. This renovation is about making sure that anchor holds for another century. For the full list of Pacific Beach entertainment and attractions, visit San Diego Lineup.
