Los Angeles—For nearly 27 years, the green Sea Dragon ride swung back and forth on the Santa Monica Pier, but on March 2, the 6,000-pound two-headed metal beast took its last ride 250 feet over the Pacific Ocean. The famed Sea Dragon ship at Pacific Park was retired March 9 as a helicopter lifted it off the pier. “The original Sea Dragon has provided millions of Pacific Park guests with fun memories with family and friends over the last 26 years,” Nathan Smithson, director of marketing and business development at Pacific Park, said in a statement. “The enthusiasm that guests have for the original Sea Dragon and its extreme popularity prompted us to introduce the all-new Sea Dragon and reimagine the ride experience while providing the same classic swing ride that guests know and love so well,” Smithson said. The original 26-foot-long bright-green dragon carried more than 12 million guests since it was installed in 1996, according to Pacific Park.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 17, 2023 18:34 UTC