Muscle Beach

Way back in the 1930s, gymnasts displayed their astonishing agility while muscled men bench-pressed bathing beauties at a beach next to Santa Monica Pier. Soon, it became famous as Muscle Beach.

When Santa Monica shut down Muscle Beach in 1959, the athletes and their throngs of admirers simply moved to the ‘new’ Muscle Beach, two miles down the coast in Venice.

Over the years, many famous bodybuilders have trained at Muscle Beach, including Richard Harrison, Vic Tanny, Jack La Lanne and Dave Draper. You can learn about their feats of strength at the Muscle Beach Hall of Fame. Or stroll along the recently opened Muscle Beach Walk of Fame, celebrating the power and achievements of 23 notable bodybuilders.

If you’re lucky, your visit to Muscle Beach will coincide with one of the many weightlifting and bodybuilding events now held here annually, such as the Powerlifting Championships and the Mr. & Mrs. Muscle Beach competition.

This is also where the opening scenes of White Men Can’t Jump, starring Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, was filmed.

Do you know?*

Name the famous bodybuilder, actor and politician who trained at Muscle Beach?  Name the movie that made him famous!

* Think you know the answer? Find out during your exciting Sunseeker tour!