Abhishek Navlakha via Pexels / Startrekker via Wikimedia Commons, Fair use
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The Lost Boys (1987) is a cult classic vampire film whose outdoor sequences were filmed almost entirely on location in Santa Cruz, California. In fact, many of the film’s most memorable moments take place at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which is one of the most quintessential retro landmarks still standing in California.
In honor of the Halloween season, we’ve taken a look back at The Lost Boys and its legendary local connection.
Filming The Lost Boys
The famous horror-comedy movie centers around two brothers who move to the sleepy beachside town of “Santa Carla,” only to find it harboring a dangerous vampire gang. The city of Santa Cruz reportedly didn’t want to be associated with the “murder capital of the world” tagline, hence the name change, but many of the outdoor scenes are unmistakable to Santa Cruz natives to this day.
Notable scenes introducing the vampire gang, led by David (Kiefer Sutherland), feature prominent landmarks like the Giant Dipper roller coaster and the 1911 Looff Carousel.
Other Santa Cruz filming locations from The Lost Boys include opening shots on West Cliff Drive, the motorcycle race starting at the stairs at the colonnade, and the Santa Cruz Wharf.
While The Lost Boys remains one of the most iconic representations of the Boardwalk on the big screen, numerous film productions have been drawn to the retro amusement park landscape. You may also recognize it from Sudden Impact (1983), Dangerous Minds (1995), Bumblebee (2018), and Us (2019).
If you’ve never seen The Lost Boys, some local theaters are showing special screenings in honor of Halloween 2025.
Courtesy of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk opened in 1907 and has operated continuously since then, making it the oldest surviving amusement park in California. From the rush of the 100-year-old Giant Dipper roller coaster to the taste of saltwater taffy from Marini’s, the environment offers a kind of time-travel trip for the senses.
Guests can enter the Boardwalk without paying an entrance fee, as it’s publicly accessible right on the beach. You just need to purchase a wristband or individual tickets to go on the rides.
Reach the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in about 2 hours by car from San Francisco.