For some reason, none of the operators of this ride can operate the trains at a constant speed. I'm not sure if something is wrong with the trains or if the drivers are just really bad at measuring their speed, but they go back and fourth between going really fast and then going incredibly slow. And the times that they go fast vs slow is different each ride. I should be able to enjoy each set equally. However, putting the speed problem aside, the ride still looks pretty good. read more

Fun and fancy harmless joyful ride of train transporting through the barriers of time into the fun loving days of the caveman meets dinosaur. Florescent colored scenery marks everything with a certain pizzazz. Not too long. read more

The Cave Train - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

In the 1960s, archaeologists discovered a magic tunnel through time, connecting our world to a Flintstones-like world of cave people. For your viewing pleasure, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has a train that will take you through this tunnel. Just don't hop out of the train, or you may be making a new life for yourself in the prehistoric age! The ride takes you through different caverns where animatronic cave people go about their daily work and play. The main cavern is crowded and has so much going on that it's really hard to hear and see everything in detail. You have to pay attention to notice some of the subtle jokes. I can't say this ride was exciting, but it was fun to see all the details that the ride designers put into this place. If you don't have an all-day wristband, then this ride will cost you 4 tickets, which seems like a fair price if you don't set your expectations too high. read more

I guess Cave Train Adventures is the Boardwalk's version of the Mouse House's "It's A Small World". Except that this is Santa Cruz, and Santa Cruz does things a little bit . . . weird. It all started a few years ago for us. We were at the Boardwalk with our baby, and the hunny said "Let's go on the Cave Train!" We rode it, I thought "this is so corny", the hunny got a kick out of it, and apparently the baby liked it too. Now we ride the Cave Train every year, and both the hunny and the girl (who is now in elementary school) want to ride it. The line to ride snakes back and forth and back and forth (that's 4 parallel lines), roughly one line of people can fit onto one train ride, and it takes several minutes to both load the train and ride the ride. So it can take almost an hour to go from the back of the line to your train exiting the cave. Be prepared. Synopsis: the life of a caveman community, complete with restaurants, fishing, and a dance floor. It's hokey, but if you approach it the way "Mystery Science Theater 3000" approached 1950s sci-fi flicks, then it's as much of a riot as you can make it. read more

Fun dark ride for if you have little kids or even if you just want an escape from the hot weather or to sit down for a while. It is a cheesy at times but it is a little kid ride so what do you expect? Overall, definitely not one of the Boardwalk's most thrilling or exciting rides, but it is nice if you want a break from all that for a while. read more

This, believe it or not, was always my favorite ride at the boardwalk. A poor man's version of Mr. Toads wild ride maybe, but I always enjoyed it. The use of lighting and animatronics always gave me a feeling as if I were at a park seven hours south of here, but epic as it may be, and corny at times. But always a fun adventure. A great escape from the beach scene fir a few moments. Yet I never tire of wanting to go back again and again. read more

WHY DID THEY REDO THE CAVE TRAIN!!!!!!!!! I am talking about the ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It was perfectly bad the way it was and that's what made it entertaining. They kept the bear from the original but that's all that's left. Now when I go inside there is a bunch of strange voices and singing (or i think it is singing) from baby looking cave people with florescent colored lights shinning on them. It doesn't really matter because you can't hear a damn thing. All I heard was the clacking and screeching of the train sounding like it was about to derail and explode into a plethora of Rugrats looking cave trolls. Seriously this ride was classic before. Bats on strings with fans to make them look like they were flying. Animatronic cave men with only one moving part. One of them had a club that would lift up halfway and then spasm as it could no longer perform its full mechanical function and slam back down. I miss the old cave train!!!! read more

The Cave Train is still fun, with lots more to see! I don't remember it ever being this "busy", as in so much to see that you might miss something. It's as mild a ride as they come, so I'm glad it's still on the Boardwalk as an option for people seeking mellow rides. It's always been one of my favorite rides for kids -- used to bring them here on field trips -- and it's also great to ride with your SO or other family members or friends. Not terribly romantic, as it's silly and whimsical, but it's pretty dark in there if you want to steal a kiss. The wait wasn't too bad on a Friday afternoon. You have to walk all the way down the Boardwalk and downstairs to get to it (think the opposite direction from the arcade). FYI: If you don't have a wrist band and are paying for tickets a la carte, this ride comes out to be four dollars per person. Expensive, yes. But it was the only ride we did (our main focus was getting to the beach early enough for the Eddie Money concert) all day so oh well. read more

This is excellent for when you are getting a little tired of walking and don't just want to find where to sit. Just ride this around for less than five minutes and then carry on. It isn't anything spectacular but it is one more thing to do. I sat down with the kids and went around twice because one time just wasn't enough relaxing for me. read more

Ditto, the old cave train was a classic. It's modern Disney remake panders to the modern kid raised on overstimulation. Used to be everybody rode the cave train cause it was so cool. And oh yeah, maybe I'm just nostalgic cause like many a kid raised in town, this is were I had my "first kiss"! read more