Zip (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zip |
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|---|---|
| Oaks Amusement Park | |
| Location | Oaks Amusement Park |
| Coordinates | 45°28′23″N 122°39′38″W / 45.4730°N 122.66061°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 1927 |
| Closing date | 1934 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Traver Engineering |
| Designer | Harry G. Traver |
| Height | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Length | 2,500 ft (760 m) |
| Duration | between 1 minute 20 seconds and 1 minute 30 seconds |
| Trains | Single train with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 10 riders per train. |
| Zip at RCDB | |
The Zip (sometimes called Zipp) was a thrilling wooden roller coaster that once operated at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. It was a smaller version of the famous "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters." These bigger coasters were built by Harry G. Traver and his company, Traver Engineering, in the 1920s.
Contents
History and Design of the Zip Coaster
The Zip was one of Harry Traver's less known roller coasters. It was designed to be like his larger "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters," but in a more compact size. The Zip was originally planned to be about 3,200 feet (975 meters) long. However, its length was shortened to avoid getting too close to a nearby trolley track.
Unique Track Features
The coaster featured a special "jazz track" design. This meant the track had many quick ups and downs, making the ride feel very bumpy and wavy. This unique part of the track was also made shorter by about 70 feet (21 meters) compared to Traver's other coasters. The entire coaster was built on a raised wooden platform. This was done to protect it from floods from the nearby Willamette River.
Why the Zip Closed
The Zip roller coaster was taken down in 1934. This happened because it cost a lot to keep it running and to insure it. After it was dismantled, the steel parts were sold.
Rare Photos of the Zip
Not many pictures of the Zip coaster still exist today. A writer named Robert Cartmell once described how surprised people were when they first saw photos of the Zip. He said it was like seeing "some primeval nightmare" on the screen. He even called the coaster "a ride bordering on the macabre," meaning it was almost spooky or creepy.
Riding the Zip: A Wild Experience
Most of Traver's big "Cyclone" coasters used trains with 10 cars. But the Zip was different, using shorter trains with only 5 cars. People think these shorter trains moved so quickly and suddenly that they gave the coaster its name, "Zip." Like other roller coasters designed by Traver, the Zip had very steep turns. The first turn, for example, was angled at a very sharp 80 degrees!
A "Rib Tickler" Ride
Some people believe that the shorter trains made the ride even rougher than other Traver coasters. It was often called a "rib tickler." This was because the cars would shake riders from side to side so much, especially on the "Jazz Track," that their ribs would hit the sides of the car. This intense ride experience led to a problem: not many people wanted to ride it again and again. Also, because the shorter trains could only run one at a time, it added to the problem of low ridership.
