Two days before Christmas, the Santa Cruz area was hit by the biggest ocean swell in 30 years. The huge waves tore apart a portion of the city's municipal wharf and it has been closed to the public ever since.

The wharf reopened to visitors and merchants less than two weeks after a dangerous storm's crashing waves collapsed more than 100 feet of the pier into the ocean.

Santa Cruz’s beloved wharf reopened to the public Saturday, after about 150 feet of the pier’s end fell into the ocean last month and prompted the city to temporarily close the popular tourist destination.