The Plunge is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Photo: Andrew Keatts/Axios
👏 Congrats to Sarah Z. for recognizing the Mission Beach Plunge, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year!
Zoom in: Built in 1925 alongside the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, it was a marquee attraction at Belmont Park a century ago.
Initially called "the Natatorium," it was the world's largest saltwater pool when it was built, holding 400,000 gallons of water.
Friction point: After its flapper-era glory, the Plunge fell into disrepair, with a 1977 San Diego Reader article describing it as a "crumbling but majestic monument."
The building was closed in 2014 for a significant remodel by Pacifica Enterprises, which leased Belmont Park from the city and began rejuvenating it.