Giant Dipper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant Dipper |
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Track overview from the Skyglider
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| Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | |
| Coordinates | 36°57′53″N 122°00′55″W / 36.96472°N 122.01528°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 17, 1924 |
| Cost | $50,000 |
| Designated: | 1987 |
| Part of: | Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster |
| Reference #: | 87000764 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Arthur Looff |
| Designer | Frank Prior, Frederick Church |
| Track layout | Double Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Drop | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Length | 2,640 ft (800 m) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:52 |
| Height restriction | 50 in (127 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
| Giant Dipper at RCDB Pictures of Giant Dipper at RCDB |
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The Giant Dipper is a historic wooden roller coaster located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. The Giant Dipper, which replaced the Thompson's Scenic Railway, took 47 days to build and opened on May 17, 1924 at a cost of $50,000. With a height of 70 feet (21 m) and a speed of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), it is one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the world. As of 2012, over 60 million people have ridden the Giant Dipper since its opening. The ride has received several awards such as being named a National Historic Landmark, a Golden Age Coaster award, and a Coaster Landmark award.
Contents
History
The Thompson's Scenic Railway was built on the site of the current Giant Dipper in 1908 as the longest roller coaster in the United States. In October 1923, manager R.L. Cardiff and Walter Looff began negotiations to build a new ride to replace the Scenic Railway. The price was set at $50,000, $15,000 more than the Scenic Railway. In January 1924, the permit to build the Giant Dipper was granted to Arthur Looff. He wanted to create a ride that had "the thrill of a plunge down a mine shaft, a balloon ascent, a parachute jump, airplane acrobatics, a cyclone, a toboggan ride, and a ship in a storm." Demolition of the Scenic Railway began in January 1924 to make room for the Giant Dipper. It took 5 months to demolish the Scenic Railway and construct the Giant Dipper. The actual construction of the Giant Dipper took 47 days. The ride opened to the public for the first time on May 17, 1924.
In 1974, the ride received a new coat of paint with Victorian-style architecture around the station. In the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Giant Dipper was almost completely untouched. The ride was closed for about a month to be inspected. The park held a benefit for victims of the earthquake. In 2002, the ride celebrated its 50 millionth rider. Ten years after the 50 millionth rider, the park celebrated the Giant Dipper's 60 millionth rider on July 27, 2012. The park gave out trivia coasters leading up to the event. The 24 riders that were on the train when it hit 60 million riders received a hoodie among other prizes.
The Giant Dipper was built by Arthur Looff and designed by Frederick Church. It required 327,000 feet (100,000 m) of lumber, 743,000 nails, and 24,000 bolts to construct. The lumber was provided by Homer T. Maynard Lumber, and the 70 horsepower motor, which is still used today, was provided by Santa Cruz Electric. The concrete was done by T.F. Costello, and the steel work was done by Berger and Carter.
Ride experience
After departing from the station, the train immediately enters a tunnel. After going through some drops and turns in the tunnel, the train emerges at the base of the lift hill. Once climbing 70 feet (21 m) to the top, the train drops 65 feet (20 m), reaching a top speed of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). The train then rises up into a banked turn to the left. Riders then go through two hills next to the lift hill followed by a turnaround that is positioned over the tunnel at the beginning of the ride. The train then travels over three small hills situated next to the lift hill followed by another turnaround. Riders then go through three more small hills and enter the final brake run.
Characteristics
Trains
The Giant Dipper currently operates with two trains with six cars per train. Riders are arranged two across in two rows for a total of 24 riders per train. The trains were built by Dana Morgan from D.H. Morgan Manufacturing. When the Giant Dipper opened, it ran with three trains, each with ten cars. Over time, the trains have been redesigned several times with changes to the restraint system. However, they are almost unchanged since they opened. The trains have changed colors several times since the ride opened.
Track
The wooden track is approximately 2,640 feet (800 m) in length, and the height of the lift is approximately 70 feet (21 m). The track is colored red with white supports. When built in 1924, 327,000 feet (100,000 m) of lumber was used. The track is inspected every two hours.
Legacy
In the early 1970s, the Giant Dipper became the last "classic roller coaster" between Vancouver, British Columbia and San Diego, California. It is only one of three Church rides to still operate. The other two are Dragon Coaster at Playland Park and Giant Dipper at Belmont Park. It is one of the only roller coasters that are still operating from what ACE calls the "golden age of roller coasters." Other than being the oldest roller coaster in California, the ride is also one of the oldest roller coasters in the world.
