Famed Sea Dragon Ride At Santa Monica Pier To Retire

SANTA MONICA, CA — The famed swinging Sea Dragon ride on the Santa Monica Pier featured in many a film such as "Iron Man" and "Her" is set to retire in a little more than a week, officials announced Monday.

After more than 26 years of entertainment and 12 million rides, the original Sea Dragon will be removed to make way for a new and improved Sea Dragon ride that officials said will thrill guests who have made memories with the cherished icon.

“We look forward to sharing the public’s memories of the Sea Dragon with our guests and team members as we celebrate the retirement of the original Sea Dragon ride,” said Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “The Sea Dragon is an iconic piece of the amusement park ride experience for everyone including the film and music industries and numerous celebrities.”

Since its opening on May 26, 1996, the Sea Dragon has been the backdrop for many star-studded events. The ride shared the spotlight with Regional Mexican music artists La Sèptima Banda and was even the muse of the book "Stella Rose and the Sea Dragon" written by Stella and James Harris and illustrated by Michael Bailey.

Guests who have had fond memories relating to the Sea Dragon ride were encouraged to share their favorite moments by submitting videos, photos or messages by submitting them to https://pacpark.com/seadragonmemories.

The original Sea Dragon's last day is scheduled to be on March 9 when a special retirement ceremony will take place at the pier at 8 a.m. At that time, the new Sea Dragon will make its debut.