Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
Classic Wooden Roller Coaster
Speeds up to 48 MPH with sharp dips and turns, plus an ocean front view
The Giant Dipper was built by the Prior and Church Company (a pioneer in the coaster field) in 1925, during the Golden Age of wooden roller coasters. The park’s popularity peaked in the early 30’s. In the years that followed, the park and coaster had their shares of financial ups and downs, and the entire facility closed in 1976.
After the park’s closing, a group of concerned citizens formed the Save the Coaster Committee to prevent the demolition of the coaster and attempt to restore it instead. The committee obtained a state historic preservation grant to help start restoration.
In 1990, the San Diego Coaster Company was formed and a lease was signed with the city of San Diego to restore and operate the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster at Belmont Park. It was restored at a cost of $2 million and, in all, took three years of planning and building. The renovation of this vintage wooden roller coaster included such improvements as an all-new track and track bed, 11,000 new bolts, thousands of board feet of lumber and two new trains with modern restraint systems.
Today, the Giant Dipper stands as an icon of the San Diego beachfront.
History
Dana Morgan and Ed Hutton of the San Diego Coaster Company oversaw the initial research, planning and rebuilding of the Giant Dipper. Mr. Morgan is the founder and President of Morgan Manufacturing Company (a ride manufacturer), and was formerly a manager with The Walt Disney Company, as well as the General Manager of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company. Mr. Hutton has worked in the industry for over 30 years, including at Frontier Village and the Santa Cruz Seaside Company. They worked together to preserve the coaster’s historical integrity while meeting today’s more stringent safety standards.
Belmont Park’s Giant Dipper Roller Coaster was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1990 and officially reopened on Saturday, August 11, 1990 after 14 years of repose. Now visitors to Belmont Park, San Diego’s premier beachfront family park, can again enjoy the excitement of quick drops, steep hills and high speeds of the Giant Dipper, along with the park’s other rides, shops, restaurants, and attractions.
