Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Trip Report
August 3, 2008
And finally, the King of the Boardwalk, the Giant Dipper. This Frederick Church-designed Golden Age masterpiece has been a National Historic Landmark since February 27, 1987, and on May 5, 2007, the American Coaster Enthusiasts named the Dipper as one of its Coaster Landmarks, honors all well deserved. (According to the ACE plaque, this is one of only three Church-designed rides left standing.)
Waiting in the queue, there are several monitors and posters outlining the Dipper's history.
Here's a reproduction of an old ad, with at least one major inaccuracy: the track length is well under 5,000 feet long, unless they were measuring each rail and adding 'em up. (According to the RCDB, the actual track length is 2,640 feet.) But I was very pleased to learn that the attendants' hats were originally supplied by Rittenhouse Bros.
The original Prior and Church trains have been replaced with Morgan rolling stock. They look good, but I do hope when the time comes for another upgrade, they'll contact Great Coasters for some Millennium Flyers.
You gotta love the curved-rail, Roaring 20s-styled station. No safety gates, big ol' hand brake, pure and simple, the way they oughta be. And see that darkness right in front of the nose? That's the tunnel we dive right into, soon as they release the train. There's a long, twisty, high-speed run that takes you to the lift, and even in broad daylight, it's pitch black in there. Any ride that makes people scream before you even gain any altitude is a-okay in my book.
The first drop is no monster, but it's smooth and sweet.
From a distance.
California coastin' at its best.
Right after the first drop, we race up the first fan turn.
Ain't that beautiful?
So yummy!
Heading back up from the second drop, we fly past the lift hill...
...and then dive down into the structure for the rest of the journey. There's a nice little hidden speed bump, some more camelbacks, and tons o' good fun before you hit the brakes.
All Hail the Giant Dipper, long may it run.
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