The SS Palo Alto is widely known as the “Cement Ship” of Santa Cruz County, even though it is technically a concrete ship. We were lucky enough to see it a couple of days before big waves broke off the stern on January 21, 2017.
The SS Palo Alto was built as a World War I tanker but never used in war because it was completed after the war ended in 1919. It resided in the US Naval Shipyard in Oakland for the next decade, until the Cal-Nevada Co. purchased the ship and moved it to Seacliff Beach. The ship was intentionally grounded by them. A 500-foot-long wooden fishing pier was built out to the vessel and the upper decks of the ship were transformed into an entertainment center. By 1930 the ship had a ballroom, cafe, heated swimming pool and concessions stands. Cal-Nevada closed it after two seasons when they went bankrupt during the depression. After that, the pier and ship were widely used for fishing.
In 2004 to 2006, about 90 oiled seabirds were found on the beach and it was determined that the oil was coming from the ship. The Department of Fish and wildlife then did a $1.7 million oil removal to the vessel in 2006 and that resulted in the discovery of more than 200 dead oil-soaked seabirds and two harbor seals. Dead animals were removed from the ship along with 500 gallons of oil and 100 cubic feet of oily sand. After the cleanup, California State Parks and Department of Fish and Wildlife deemed the ship safe for wildlife.
The ship draws visitors from all over and helped turn the town into a resort area.
