Good Morning America Broadcasts Live from the Santa Monica Pier for Best Summer Beaches

Published on July 11, 2023

America’s number-one morning news program featured Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier which displayed the “GMA” logo in lights on the world-famous Pacific Wheel.

ABC’s Will Reeve visited Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier to spotlight the best of California for Good Morning America’s special feature of great summer destinations, Diving into Summer. Along with a group of Good Morning America super fans, the broadcast highlighted the fun midway games inside Pacific Park, tasty summer treats served on the pier, unique activities like the Trapeze, and of course, fun rides like the Pacific Wheel.

The series, Diving Into Summer, invited fans of Good Morning America (GMA) to learn more about the top vacation spots across the country. At the Santa Monica Pier, Reeve visited the historic Merry-go-round where pier historian and Executive Director of the Pier Corporation, Jim Harris, explained some of the pier’s history and remarked that “you can turn any little corner on the pier and something has happened – every little thing has a story.” While riding on the Pacific Wheel, Pacific Park’s Director of Marketing pointed out the unparalleled views from the top where “when you are on top of the Ferris wheel you can see the entirety of Los Angeles basin from Malibu and Point Dume to the north, all the way down to Palo Verde to the south.”

During the visit, GMA visited Trapeze School where General Manager Kenna Stevens proclaimed “we rival the roller caster behind us with who can scream louder some days… its an exhilaration scream, its ‘oh my gosh, I did it, I jumped, I made it through’; it’s a very good feeling.” Students of the school demonstrated their skills on the swings and nets for the crew.

Later in the visit, Reeve stopped into Soda Jerks, a nostalgic soda fountain and ice cream shop located on the east end of the pier. Shop owner Kevin McCafferty made an ice cream soda for Reeve and explained “you can’t go to any other ice cream parlor or ice cream store that doesn’t have a soda fountain and get an ice cream soda – we are the only ones that can make them, and we make them the right way.”

In the live broadcast, Reeve reported from high atop the Pacific Wheel which was brightly lit with blue and yellow lights displaying the “GMA” logo. This was the second time GMA has visited Pacific Park in recent years. In 2021 ABC news reporter John Quiñones visited the pier to learn more about the post-pandemic reopening and enjoyed a ride on the Pacific Wheel with Director of Marketing, Nathan Smithson.

About Good Morning America

Good Morning America brings you the latest breaking news, expert analysis, helpful advice for everyday living, recipes from the best chefs in the country and live performances from the best musicians on television. The Emmy® Award-winning morning news program is anchored by Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan, and Ginger Zee is the chief meteorologist. The morning news program airs live Monday-Friday (7:00-9:00 a.m. EDT) on ABC. Simone Swink is the executive producer.

About Will Reeve

Will Reeve is a New York-based correspondent, reporting for all ABC News platforms and shows including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight with David Muir,” “Nightline,” “ABC News Live” and ABC News Radio. At ABC News, Reeve has reported on a variety of stories and topics from 39 states, eight countries, and counting. Reeve’s work as part of a group of ABC News journalists covering a series of wildfires in California in 2019 earned him his first News EMMY nomination for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Newscast. In 2022, Reeve was nominated for Outstanding Live News Special for his work co-anchoring the ABC News Live special “Mission to Mars: Live.” Prior to joining ABC News in 2018, Reeve was a correspondent at ESPN, contributing to all ESPN platforms and shows, including its flagship SportsCenter, College Gameday, E:60, and ESPN Radio. While at ESPN, Reeve also anchored the weekly “MSG Hockey Show” on MSG Network in the New York City area. Prior to beginning his career in broadcast television in 2014, Reeve spent two summers as an intern at “Good Morning America.” Reeve serves on the board of directors of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, an organization founded by his late parents dedicated to finding cures for spinal cord injuries and providing quality of life care for those impacted by paralysis. Reeve also serves on the board of his middle school alma mater, the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford, New York. A 2014 graduate of Middlebury (VT) College with a degree in English and American Literatures, Reeve lives in New York City.

About Filming at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has hosted news and television shows for over 25 years. A popular destination for local news broadcasts, the Pier is featured every morning and weekend via live streaming stationary cameras mounted on the west end of the pier looking back at the Ferris wheel and Santa Monica Coast. Local broadcaster ABC 7 utilizes the parks Pacific Wheel camera. For in-park shots, including use of the Pacific Wheel and West Coaster, news producers and content creators work directly with the Park’s media and Public Relations team. For more information, email guestservices@pacpark.com to be put in touch with someone on the team who can provide more information specific to your needs.