History of the Toonerville Funhouse

The Funhouse at Pacific Park is an ode to the legendary and mysterious Toonerville Funhouse, which first appeared at Ocean Park Pier in 1926 and then at Pacific Ocean Park in 1958. It’s an attraction embedded in Santa Monica’s fascinating amusement park history, so let’s roll back the clock 100 years…
Terrifying Twenties: 1926–1956

 

During the first two decades of the century, Santa Monica Bay was absolutely full of “amusement piers.” Pier owners competed for visitors by commissioning larger and larger roller coasters and more exciting rides.

 

Ocean Park Pier was one such pier. Located two miles south of where Santa Monica Pier is now, it burnt down twice in mysterious circumstances before being rebuilt again—this time out of fireproof concrete!  After that it reopened with an Egyptian Ballroom, newer, bigger rides, and something very special: the Toonerville Funhouse.

 

Apparently, the theme and design of the Toonerville Funhouse was inspired by the popular “Toonerville Trolley” comic strip, which was widely recognized in the early 20th century.

 

As a result, residents of Santa Monica and Los Angeles flocked to the Ocean Park Pier to be tickled and terrified in equal measure. In 1926, signs on the ride read: “cave of fire, skiddo slide, falling floor and maze of delight.” So delightful that this period lasted thirty years.

 

Frightening Fifties: 1958-1967

 

In 1956 CBS and the Los Angeles Turf Club took over the pier and reopened as the 38-acre Pacific Ocean Park. They kept six of the most popular attractions, including the beloved and mysterious Toonerville Funhouse. Accordingly, the park outperformed Disneyland in visitor numbers during its first week.
The Toonerville Funhouse thrilled and unnerved guests for another decade. Eventually, the neighborhood declined and rides fell into disrepair, and in 1967 the park was shuttered and abandoned.

 

However, the creepy ruins of the park still stood—until several suspicious fires broke out in the early 1970s, that is. After that, nothing remained of Pacific Ocean Park except a few underwater pilings. And the mysteries of the Toonerville Funhouse were forgotten until…

 

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier 2025

 

Until now! Fifty years later, the sinister magic of the Toonerville Funhouse has yet again been unleashed, this time inside Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. And this time, it’s even creepier.