Santa Cruz Wharf Reopens Following Partial Collapse

The historic 110-year-old wooden structure reopens after safety assessments, weeks after storm damage caused a major section to fall into the ocean.

The Santa Cruz Wharf reopened on January 4, 2025, after a 150-foot section collapsed into the ocean during a December 23 storm.
A sonar and engineering assessment confirmed the structure is safe, with heavy equipment that fell into the sea no longer posing a risk.
The collapse occurred during a $4 million repair project on a previously storm-damaged section, raising questions about future resilience to extreme weather.
City officials celebrated the reopening with a ceremony, emphasizing the wharf's importance to the local economy and community, which employs 400 people and draws 2 million visitors annually.
Residents are urged to report any debris or artifacts from the collapse found along the coast to city authorities for safe removal.