A dip on the Dipper

I don't like roller coasters. No, I don't! There have been many instances when I have stood in the que for an hour and then chickened out when the enormity of the fall has struck me (my husband would be more than willing to testify on that one). With those high falls, my heart skips not just one but many beats... I shout and scream... sometimes even pray that I come out alive! They are simply scary. (Don't take me wrong though... I sure have ridden many before coming to this conclusion!.. and yet... I sometimes do like riding one.)

But this one was different... I am talking about the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz, California. A mid size, wooden roller coaster, which at some point in history was one of the giant coasters around in the United States... In fact, it was one of the few around.

This woodie was first built in 1924 and happens to be the 6th oldest roller coaster in the U.S., continuously operating in its original location.

Painted Red and White, it is a landmark of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and is a National Historic Landmark! It is said that the dipper would have hosted 55 million people at the end of 2007!

The coaster was built in just 47 days and cost $50,000. And, it cost $135,000 to paint it in 2001! Not just that...in 1924 the fare was only 15 cents; today it’s $4.50 for a one-ride ticket.

This roller coaster is quite a star as well. It appears in television commercials and videos for Mitsubishi, Ford Motor Company, Levi’s, Coors Light, the National Association of Credit Unions, Sony, U.S. Air, MTV, Yahoo, etc, etc, etc! It has also been featured in movies Sting II, The Lost Boys, Dangerous Minds, and Sudden Impact.

At a speed of 55 mph, the Giant Dipper has no loops and its drops are fun. when on the top one can see the Santa Cruz beach and the buzzy Boardwalk. And when the cars roll down the tracks, the rattling wood reminds the age of this structure.

It is said the Dipper works its magic on couples... tugging to my husband's arms...and screaming as my stomach tumbled inside...I was laughing as the ride ended... The Giant Dipper's charm sure worked on us.