Struggling SF tourism takes another hit top attraction closing after almost 60 years

You better ‘Believe’ it.Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf is closing after nearly 60 years.The long-running tourist attraction announced Tuesday that its doors will shutter by year’s end — but did not give a specific closing date or a concrete reason for the closure.

The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “It really wasn’t one single challenge or event that led to the decision,” Suzanne Smagala-Potts, a Ripley’s spokesperson, told SFGATE.

“After nearly 60 years at this location, we took a broader look at the attraction, the changing landscape of Fisherman’s Wharf and what makes sense for Ripley’s moving forward.Ultimately, we decided the time was right to close this location.”Ripley’s is one of many businesses to depart the struggling waterfront area in recent years.

For many years, Fisherman’s Wharf was a top attraction in San Francisco, which has lately battled multiple challenges to its status as a premier destination.The neighborhood’s San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum closed in August after struggling to recover following the pandemic.Several staple eateries in the district have also closed in recent years.Originally opened in 1967, Ripley’s houses over 400 artifacts and a 2,000-square-foot mirror maze.

A global chain of attractions, it’s known for its collection of bizarre, rare items.The company plans to sell several items with special ties to San Francisco, including a Golden Gate Bridge made on the head of a pin, toothpick versions of the bridge by a local artist, former San Francisco Giants star Joe DiMaggio’s crutches and a chicken-wire portrait of Janis Joplin, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.Ripley’s has a long history in the City by the Bay.

Founder Robert Ripl...