Giant Dipper - San Diego, CA
N 32° 46.295 W 117° 15.100
11S E 476429 N 3625992
This wooden roller coaster is located across the parking lot from Mission Beach in San Diego, CA.
Waymark Code: WM708W
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 08/13/2009
Views: 19
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. It is one of the only remaining coaster built by noted coaster builders Prior and Church on the West Coast.
Originally the idea of John D. Spreckels, the original coaster was built by a crew of 100 to 150 people in two weeks. The coaster became very popular in the 1940s and '50s but by the late '60s, it had fallen into disrepair. It closed in 1976.
In the early 1980s, people began calling for the demolition of the coaster, as it had been in disrepair and became a home for local transients. A date for the demolition was set, but a group of citizens calling themselves the "Save the Coaster Committee" headed by Tom Cole intervened and had the Giant Dipper designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
A few years later, the San Diego Seaside company was officially formed to restore the coaster to operation. $2 million was spent on the restoration. The new coaster contained six four-person cars. On August 11, 1990, the Giant Dipper was reopened to the public. The response was so strong that a second train was eventually added to the coaster.
Maximum Height: 73.00
Construction Material: Wood
Train Type: Multi Car
Car Type: Cars Above Track
Number of Inversions?: 0
Length of Ride: 2,600.00
Duration of Ride (time): 1:45
Water?: No
Included in Admission?: No
Cost: 6.00 (listed in local currency)
Host Park Name: Belmont Park
Minimum Height Restriction?: Yes
Minimum Height Required: 50
Number of Riders: 24
Top Speed: 45
Manufacturer of Ride: Prior and Church
URL to Host Park: [Web Link]
Link to Ride Details: [Web Link]
"Express Pass" Available?: No
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Visit Instructions:Post a photo of yourself near the entrance of the coaster and try to capture some aspect of the ride. Be sure and describe your ride too!