P-O-P was LA’s forgotten theme park. It was a nautical themed poor mans Disneyland, but it was right in our backyard on the shores of Santa Monica. I remember us piling into my dads station wagon on a summer day in 1963. Driving north on Ocean Avenue, us kids would ooh and ahh while catching glimpses of the Pacific Ocean on the side streets. Then there it was, in all its glory, the iconic entrance of Neptunes Courtyard. We didn’t stay too long but we packed in as much as we could. I remember the creaking wooden Sea Surpant Roller Coaster and the Mystery Island Banana Train Ride complete with volcanoes and earthquakes. We all loved and cheered with amazment at the Sea Circus with shows by performing sea lions and dolphins. The most fun was the Ocean Skyway ride, bubble shaped gondolas suspended 75 feet high on a ½ mile trip over the Pacific Ocean.
After running around all afternoon and our fill of hot dogs, popcorn and ice cream, the evening drive home was very quiet as most of the happy and exhausted kids fell asleep. I remember looking at my dad as he drove and realized it must not have been easy for them to save up the money to treat their struggling family to this wonderful adventure. I’d have to say my favorite ride of that fun-filled day was the safe ride home in that crowded and quiet station wagon, lovingly driven by my dad, my hero.