ACE Roller Coaster Landmark

ACE Roller Coaster Landmark (HM16OJ)

Location: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Santa Cruz County
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Country: United States of America
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N 36° 57.867', W 122° 0.962'

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Giant Dipper

American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognizes Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Giant Dipper as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historic significance.

The 75-foot high wood coaster officially opened on May 17, 1924, replacing the 1908 L.A. Thompson scenic railway. With a track length of over 2,700 feet and an initial drop of 63 feet 6 inches, the innovative track design with articulating trains included tight twists, a thrilling serpentine tunnel, a graceful pan turn and the unusual curved station. Designed by Fredrick Church (1878-1938), it was constructed in less that seven weeks for $50,000 by Arthur Looff (1888-1970) who described the ride as a "combination earthquake, balloon ascension, and aeroplane drop."

Over time, the stylish cars have been updated, adding to the charm of this well-maintained, double out-and-back coaster, which earned National Historic Landmark status in February 1987. While it has starred as a backdrop in several Hollywood films, this rare seaside coaster is best enjoyed during golden sunsets and after dark when tracer lights magically accentuate its legendary profile.

Considered one of the ten oldest operating roller coasters in the world and one of only three remaining examples of Church's work, the beloved Giant Dipper continues to thrill riders of all ages and remains an integral part of the Boardwalk's outstanding collection of rides and attractions.

Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts
During the 100th Anniversary of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
May 5, 2007
Details
HM NumberHM16OJ
Series This marker is part of the National Historic Landmarks series
Tags
Year Placed2007
Placed ByAmerican Coaster Enthusiasts
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Thursday, September 25th, 2014 at 6:10pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)10S E 587591 N 4091380
Decimal Degrees36.96445000, -122.01603333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 36° 57.867', W 122° 0.962'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds36° 57' 52.02" N, 122° 0' 57.72" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)408, 831, 650
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 711 Beach St, Santa Cruz CA 95060, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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