Giant Dipper
Encyclopedia
The Giant Dipper is a historic wooden roller coaster
located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
, an amusement park
in Santa Cruz, California
. It opened on May 17, 1924. It is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States; over 55 million riders have ridden it since its opening. The United States National Park Service
recognized the Giant Dipper as part of a National Historic Landmark also covering the nearby Looff carousel
in 1987. It was named an American Coaster Enthusiasts
Coaster Landmark on May 5, 2007. The ride appeared in many television commercials and movies, including The Lost Boys
, Sudden Impact
and Dangerous Minds
.
The Giant Dipper, which is located between walkways 3 and 4 at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz, California
, was designed by Frank Prior and Fredrick Church (1878–1938), with a double out and back
layout similar to the Mission Beach Roller Coaster
built in 1925 in San Diego, California
. The Giant Dipper was built by Arthur Looff (1888–1970) in 1924 in just 47 days at a cost of $
50,000. It replaced the much tamer miniature railway ride designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson
. Looff described his plans for the coaster as a, "combination earthquake, balloon ascension, and aeroplane drop." Looff's father, Charles I. D. Looff
, built the carousel
on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1911; both attractions continue to operate today.
The ride originally cost riders 15 cents per ride. it costs $5.00 (5 tickets) for riders who do not have an all-day wristband. It also originally had an outdoor station; the indoor station and the tunnel at the beginning of the ride were added later. The trains have been repainted several times from the original green. For example, in February 2007 the fronts of the trains were covered with a "100 Years" sign and the sides were painted red and blue. The signage remains, despite the anniversary being four years ago.
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.- Overview :...
, an amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. It opened on May 17, 1924. It is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States; over 55 million riders have ridden it since its opening. The United States National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
recognized the Giant Dipper as part of a National Historic Landmark also covering the nearby Looff carousel
Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster
Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster On The Beach Boardwalk is a National Historic Landmark composed of two parts, a Looff carousel and the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, on the boardwalk at Santa Cruz, California.-Looff Carousel:...
in 1987. It was named an American Coaster Enthusiasts
American Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Landmark on May 5, 2007. The ride appeared in many television commercials and movies, including The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys is a 1987 American teen comedy horror film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Edward Herrmann, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, and Barnard Hughes....
, Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact is a 1983 American crime thriller and the fourth film in the Dirty Harry series, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood...
and Dangerous Minds
Dangerous Minds
Dangerous Minds is an American drama film based on the autobiography My Posse Don't Do Homework by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took up a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, where most of her students were African-American and Hispanic teenagers from East...
.
The Giant Dipper, which is located between walkways 3 and 4 at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, was designed by Frank Prior and Fredrick Church (1878–1938), with a double out and back
Out and Back roller coaster
Out and back refers to the layout of a roller coaster. An out and back coaster is one that climbs a lift hill, races out to the far end of the track, performs a 180 degree turn and then races its way back to the station....
layout similar to the Mission Beach Roller Coaster
Mission Beach Roller Coaster
The Giant Dipper, also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster, is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. The Giant Dipper is in Belmont Park, right on Mission Beach in San Diego...
built in 1925 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The Giant Dipper was built by Arthur Looff (1888–1970) in 1924 in just 47 days at a cost of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50,000. It replaced the much tamer miniature railway ride designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson
LaMarcus Adna Thompson
LaMarcus Adna Thompson was a US inventor and businessman most famous for developing many highly enjoyable gravity rides.-Early years:...
. Looff described his plans for the coaster as a, "combination earthquake, balloon ascension, and aeroplane drop." Looff's father, Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
, built the carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1911; both attractions continue to operate today.
The ride originally cost riders 15 cents per ride. it costs $5.00 (5 tickets) for riders who do not have an all-day wristband. It also originally had an outdoor station; the indoor station and the tunnel at the beginning of the ride were added later. The trains have been repainted several times from the original green. For example, in February 2007 the fronts of the trains were covered with a "100 Years" sign and the sides were painted red and blue. The signage remains, despite the anniversary being four years ago.