The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz

In my book A Very Typical Family, which is set in Santa Cruz, CA, one of the first sounds Natalie hears as she enters the city after 15 years away is the screams of riders on the Giant Dipper!

In honor of National Roller Coaster day on Sunday, August 13, 2023, I thought I’d do a post about the Giant Dipper, the iconic wooden roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Next year in 2024 it will be 100 years old! You can hear the roar of its tracks and the screams of its riders all over Santa Cruz. It is a ride I have ridden countless times over my life.

The Giant Dipper was built in May 1924, by Arthur Looff (who built the also-iconic Looff Carousel!) and designed by Frederick Church, an engineer and roller coaster designer. The 70 horsepower motor is still used today and came from  Santa Cruz Electric. If you have never ridden it, let me tell you how it goes: it’s short, intense, and breathtaking. You start the ride by shooting down through a pitch-black tunnel before emerging into the sunlight and a tense climb up a huge track hill. The anticipation grips you, because you know what’s coming–the downhill drop! And it is delicious. You’re under the blue skies next to the beach and the views are amazing, but you are being plummeted down and around at breakneck speed. In fact if you don’t brace yourself, you’ll slam against the side of your car. It’s physically rough and heart-pounding, and it is fantastic. Then, as the cars slide into the shed again, you have this sense that you’re home, you’re safe–and you can’t wait to do it all over again.

Here’s a fun video of the ride from Coaster Enthusiasts:

It seems incredible that such a rip-roaring ride is nearly 100 years old, but the Giant Dipper is one of the oldest roller coaster in the word and definitely the oldest in California. It is only one of three Frederick Church rides to still operate — the other two are Dragon Coaster at Playland Park and Giant Dipper at Belmont Park. 

The Giant Dipper was built on the site of a ride called the L.A. Scenic Railway, that was considered quite the thrill ride in 1908–rolling along at a breakneck 25 mph, outstripping most automobiles’ top speeds of just 10 mph.

Good to know:

  • The Boardwalk is free, but ride tickets cost money and can be purchased on site.

More good Santa Cruz stuff: