The Giant Dipper

The ride was extremely bumpy to the point where it was no longer enjoyable, but leaving you wondering how long your back pain would last.

Its a classic! And it’s official… I have no life because I just reviewed a roller coaster on Unilocal.No life! :-). But then again. You just read it. ;-)

I’ve been going to The Boardwalk practically my whole life and probably ten years ago, I went on The Giant Dipper. Gosh was I missing out. Most awesome roller coaster that I have ever been on.

Amazing historic coaster right on the board walk. I hadn’t been on a roller coaster in probably ten years, but the Giant Dipper has just enough turns and drops to keep it interesting without being overwhelming. We cruised in about an hour before closing, and the employees were super chill about it. In fact, they let us ride on past closing time, and we rode literally 8 or 9 times for FREE.

Ok!
I LOVE wooden roller coasters!
This is a fabulous old school roller coaster and it rocks
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
You can have a beer or a wine and enjoy the bikini babes as well as the parade of interesting people .
Try the Ferris wheel it’s great!

I was a Santa Cruz beach board walk with my girlfriend my 2 yr old daughter and to family members that are teen age girls after spend 72 bucks for wrist bands for our teens then going down to the beach to lay out and play with my daughter after a hour in the sun we decide to go walk the board walk and check on the girls I was approach by security and told that due to a tattoo on my leg that I would need to cover it or leave I was shocked honestly shock I then ask to speak to his boss and he said same thing I’m a 36 yr old successful operations manager for a very large plumbing company and am in the process of start my own plumbing company I have never been offended like this before about my ink I have 30 or so tattoos that I’ve been collecting for years I’ve been to Disney land great America raging waters 6 flags country club where I golf never a problem the tattoo is 408 my area code when growing up it means San Jose i saw several people with tattoos at the board walk that day some that were even gang related I’ve never been in a gang more do I ever plan on it this is and was not right they said it was for my own safety I put the band aide they gave me on to cover so I would not be thrown out and the rest of my family could enjoy the day but I felt humiliated literally
Sincerely a good guy with Richard the security guy needs a class in respect and manners

Been here many times over the years and it never gets old. It is a great ride to go on and is always fun. Sometimes the line can be long but it is always worth it. Cost more now then it did in the past and the area is getting a little to big for the old school feel.

This place is great! Back on the West Side! My family has such wonderful time at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!

A classic old-​style wooden rollercoaster. The Giant Dipper is fun!
Its old. so expect a bumpy, rickety ride with no-​frills. Its not really a large or very scary coaster, but it gives you the thrills you’d expect; Its a good, basic coaster that’s been around since the 20’s.
Luckily the time I went there were no lines, so this may skew my review some because getting on was so easy. If I had to wait an hour to get on, I would have been disappointed.

My wife and I come to Santa Cruz for the Big Dipper.
The ride gives us a 2 minutes high.
Family loves this place. We like the junk food, rides, and beach.

How many roller coasters are designated as National Historic Landmarks? Well I know of one: the Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Riding a historic landmark has never been such a thrill!
This wooden coaster was built in 1924 at a cost of $ 50k, and took 47 days to build. The ticket price back then was 15 cents, which would be $ 2.08 today adjusted for inflation.
Today’s ticket price is actually $ 6, because… profits. And because things have to be maintained. Despite (or perhaps because) this being the 5^th oldest coaster in the U.S., it’s maintained rigorously. Four full-​time mechanics inspect the track every two hours.
So safety? Check. Fun? Double check. You’ll be screaming with excitement from the get-​go, as the coaster car lurches forward through a dark, winding tunnel before it even gets to the lift hill.
And be sure to smile, or scream, for the camera.

Definitely a must-​see in Santa Cruz!
It’s old and a little rickety (built in 1924!), but a very fun ride. Lots of moments when your butt will float out of its seat. And the ride starts off in a dark tunnel, which is a lot of fun. Highly recommend.

I had the time of my life on The Giant Dipper! At first I was worried and scared, but I ended up gaining confidence and going on the ride. I an not much of a roller coaster person since I get scared whenever I ride them, but after all, this experience was great! The ride went by super quickly and this ride is one of those rides which move really fast but does not make you dizzy. I love it and I really would like to ride it again!

Noelle’s Unilocal Notebook 2014
The Giant Dipper is my favorite roller coaster. I remember riding this roller coaster when I was a little girl. Came here last Friday with my husband for date night at the Boardwalk and this was on my «must» list for rides when we arrived. There seemed to be a long line but it moved extremely fast. We probably waited a total of 10 minutes. I inquired with the ride attendant if we could ride in the front car and she said «yes.» We waited off to the side for a moment and were directed to the very front of The Giant Dipper. The speed, the «giant» dips, the lights that sparkle in the dark of the night make the Giant Dipper magical and exhilarating amusement park ride especially when sitting in the very front seat!
A must ride– every time we visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!
LOVE in 2014,
Noelle J.

«A wave of Time hangs motionless on this particular shore.
I notice a tree, arsenical grey in the light, or the slow
Wheel of the stars, the Great Bear glittering colder than snow,
And remember there was something else I was hoping for.» — Theodore Roethke
Okay, so the above quote was about the big dipper but that’s close enough? Right? ;) This is a fun ride on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I love wooden rollercoasters and for its size, this is a nice solid ride with classic herky-​jerky motion and a good speed. One ride costs $ 6.00 a person, all day Boardwalk ride pass is $ 31.95 and you can get a full season pass for $ 72.95
Giant Dipper fun facts:
*More than 60 million visitors have experienced the Giant Dipper since it first opened in 1924.
*The classic wooden coaster can be seen in several movies including «Sudden Impact,» «The Lost Boys,» and «Dangerous Minds.»
*Fastest speed 55 mph
*The ride has received several awards such as being named a National Historic Landmark, a Golden Age Coaster award, and a Coaster Landmark award
*Designed by renowned rollercoaster engineer Frederick Church, it is one of 3 church designs remaining and one of the last of the classic West Coast ocean front coasters remaining (there is a Giant Dipper down in San Diego).
*It was undamaged by the nearby 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake

One of the main attractions to come to santa cruz… it is old school… but it is fun.
Wait is crazy long… so go early and choose this ride first.

Was a blast! I’m most certainly a fan of any and all rides that twirl you about, throw you around and get you all sorts of anticipated.. . and even though the Giant Dipper lacks the dips, loops and speed of modern roller coasters, it sure does have character. There’s something really cool about riding a coaster from 1924.
If you just keep this in mind, and enjoy the updates on this bad boy throughout the years, you’ll enjoy your minute and 54 seconds. I did.

So I have a confession to make: Under most circumstances, I’m not much fun. Sure, I plan parties for a living and spend a lot of time «out and about» socially… But anyone who knows me well will vouch, I can be a bit of a stick in the mud.
What does that mean? At a music festival, I’m the one who’s ready to go before the headliner finishes… Just so we can get on the road before traffic gets bad. At a party, I’ll be the one who stays sober (ish) make sure there’s a DD. You’ll rarely find me at nightclub, and if you do, I’m definitely NOT the one on the dance floor. Yeah, you could say I’m a bit of a wet blanket, but someone has to be responsible… guess that’s my job!
People like me rarely like carnival rides. They generally induce vomit and «swimmy head». But yesterday, I threw caution to the wind on a sunny Santa Cruz afternoon and got in line for a roller coaster. A big one. Where you can hear people screaming from across the park. What the hey, YOLO (you only live once)! Got in line for The Giant Dipper and didn’t look back. Lucky for me, there wasn’t a long line or wait, otherwise I might have second guessed this impetuous decision. Within 2 – 3 minutes I was strapped into the seat and off we went!
SO. MUCH. FUN. This is an old-​school coaster, with big dips and wide turns. No spinning like a teacup or anti-​gravity bells or whistles, just old fashioned thrills. Loved every terrifying minute. And yes, this ride is for reals, folks. Not for the weak of heart.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk made me feel like a kid again and riding The Giant Dipper reminded me that I’m not an old lady. Yet.

Legend has it that if you beat a person with a sack of oranges they’ll suffer only the internal damage, that there’s no outward expression to spur whispers at the water cooler or a visit from CPS.
I have no intention of testing this legend. I’m a scientist, but my internal organs are already in bad enough shape so I can’t guinea pig and I’ll not be doing any more time, even for the sake of the experiments, so from a first hand experiential viewpoint I may never know.
What I do know is this — the Giant Dipper ain’t no bag of oranges, baby. She’s the Honey Badger of roller coasters. GD will throw you from one side of the car to the other. She’ll take a shot at your patella and stretch then compress those little sacks that cushion your vertebra. GD don’t care if she leaves a mark. And, as in so many more conventional relationships, neither do you.
Hit me baby, if you must. Then kiss me. I know you love me.
On Friday I got me the 2013 Season Pass. First and last thing I did that afternoon was take the obligatory beating on the Giant Dipper. The views were lovely, all the people were smiling through their tears. For a moment I forgot about North Korea and Armageddon on the horizon. All was right with the world.

You’ll wait in line. Pay six bucks. Scream in the dark. Ride a half mile in a minute thirty.
And if you’re lucky, do it all again. This should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Bad back? Don’t do it !!