Mission Beach Plunge marks 100 years

👏 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.

State of play: Five years and $12 million later, the Plunge reopened in 2019 and is open to the public daily.