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    The Giant Dipper

    4.5 (161 reviews)

    The Giant Dipper Photos

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    When the coaster disappeared in a tunnel I silently begged for it to be over- scary FUN!
    Jennifer O.

    I've been on some great rollercoasters and The Giant Dipper clocks in at #1 or #2. That's a lifetime statistic culled from some of the best parks including DisneyLand. The Giant Dipper is not one of the new, slick, hyper-engineered models but the noisy, steeply dropping, cantilever-turning rollercoaster of the early 1900s that tilts, frightens and dares you to sit in the front seat. I couldn't. My 16 year old couldn't get enough and rode it three times. He would've ridden it three more if the rides didn't close at 7pm (early close for start of season/spring break). The speed feels A LOT faster than 55mph. I dare you to ride it!

    Kristina K.

    This is the longest wooden roller coaster in the US. Fun, fast, doesn't go upside down. The line can get long, but moves quickly due to many cars on the ride. You can bring your small bag so long as you keep it by your feet. There are some good bumps on the ride so be prepared for that and enjoy!

    Second time going there like few minutes after opening!
    Collin B.

    A Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk icon! Go to the back row which adds more intensity. If you go around Spring & Summer it's a long wait, Go there like before 30 minutes before the park opens! But for January it's a short wait like around 10 minutes! Service is very good and better than Great America's Grizzly!

    Jessica R.

    This is my favorite ride at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I absolutely love wooden roller coasters and roller coaster history. I think it's incredible that this is one of the oldest American coasters to have still continued operations to this day. It's really exciting, and fun. I'm amused that people in the 1920s, nearly a century ago now, have also had the same level of fun. I am on a mission to ride all of America's oldest coasters because of this ride--my first classic.

    Dipper
    Falisha R.

    Classic ride brings me back to childhood I'll always love it. Although customer service on the boardwalk has gone down.

    Tom C.

    A great coaster. Classic. A little rough tho haha Hadnt been on it in over 10 years. Went back with my girlfriend and had a blast. It does knock you around and hurt a little but thats what you get on a old classic coaster. Cant wait to ride it again

    Cheri N.

    Awesome roller coaster with enough dips, speed, and length of track to make a really exciting and satisfying ride. Well worth the $7 price tag per person. I rode with my 12 year old and we both were breathless and thrilled with the ride. I suggest that you buy a wristband for $29.95 if you are into the multiple ride options on the boardwalk or if you just want to ride the Big Dipper over and over again in a single day.

    Top of the lift hill

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    1 month ago

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    Amy T.

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Very bumpy. Lots of great airtime drops. I have lots of fun. Always great. Be careful who you sit next to.

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    2 months ago

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    Amy T.

    We are so glad you enjoyed your visit! :D

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    4 years ago

    My kids and I loved this Roller Coaster. It's a must every time we come to the Boardwalk.

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    Awesome ride! Super fun with friends, I used to be scared of roller coasters but this one Wasnt really scary at all. Just Fun!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - The Giant Dipper

    How much does it cost to just ride this ride?

    Hi Jessica, The Giant Dipper is 8 points to ride, or $8. Hope you’re having a wonderful 2023!… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Giant Dipper

    All I have to say about The Big Dipper is that whenever I am in the Santa Cruz area this is a must ride to go on....

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

    4.1
    (2.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Our first time at the famous Coney Island of the West. Admission is free. Ticket prices dependent…read moreon rides, and pay for the games individually. Although we hoped for a beach breeze, it was a surprisingly hot day. We started our visit with Strawberry Cruz'n and Surf'n Mango smoothies. We walked to view a majority of rides and games before purchasing tickets. After enjoying a good handful of rides, we attempted the ring toss bottle game and won a TV! A wonderful ending to a our first visit. Unsure we can top it, but we sure plan to return and try.

    There's an unmistakable sense of nostalgia as soon as you step onto the boardwalk…read more Even if you didn't grow up here or are visiting for the first time, the analog vibes of mini-golf, roller coasters, pinball machines, and carnival games creates a charm that many millennials, like myself, are constantly searching for. Maybe it's because there are so few screens here? There is a large arcade at one end, but it was surprisingly empty during our visit. My kids loved the carnival games and bumper cars, though my daughter wasn't quite tall enough for many of the rides yet. To play games or go on rides, you'll need a reloadable game card, which also works as payment for food and drinks. Card stations are located throughout the boardwalk, and you can add money at any time. Food options are plentiful! Enjoy pizza, nachos, corn dogs, teriyaki bowls, candy shops, and ice cream, with a few spots serving alcohol for adults. The food was reasonably priced, but the alcohol was shockingly expensive, $38 for two 20oz beers! The best part about this place is the location... it's right on the beach! So, start your day with some time in the sand, and end it with a sunset ride on the Sky Glider or their giant Ferris wheel. Have fun!

    Photos
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, summer 2019.
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, summer 2019.
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, summer 2019.
    Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, summer 2019.
    Apple pie funnel cake yum

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    Apple pie funnel cake yum
    Space Race

    Space Race

    4.0
    (1 review)
    0.1 mi

    Sixteen huge motorized inner tubes, each controlled by two side-mounted levers in a fiberglass…read morecockpit, all housed in a square enclosure entirely too small for the traffic...yet somehow it all works. Not only does it work, it vies with Speed Bumps bumper cars as Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's hotspot where students, blue- and white-collars of all ages flirt with adding a cervical collar--maybe not that drastic, but Space Race's thrill quotient surpasses Speed Bumps' because head-on bumping is definitely allowed, and you can drive backward. The lack of a steering wheel might confuse the first-timer, but it doesn't take long to learn which direction the various lever positions will steer the car. The easiest are both levers forward for forward, and both pulled in for reverse. From there, you'll absorb how to turn without spinning (and being a sitting duck), and how to turn in reverse. New this year beneath the cars are colorful LED rings that reflect on the stainless steel floor, and day-glo art on the enclosure walls that comes alive when the ride starts, the house lights go off and the blacklights take over--a delightful setting in which to wreak havoc. I don't know how many years I have left to ride Space Race. Not because of the impact, but the contortions necessary with barking knees to get seated in the car--you're literally a low-rider--and even worse, jockeying my way out. A man's GOT to know his limitations. On our last of five go-rounds, we had four fellow seniors enter the ride, a first for the day. We had a nice convo with one of them several hours later when we crossed paths on the midway. Daredevil codgers GOT to stick together.

    Photos
    Join us for some Space Race bumpin' fun!
    Join us for some Space Race bumpin' fun!
    Space Race ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    Space Race ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    SPACE RACE!  :)

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    SPACE RACE! :)
    Mystery Spot

    Mystery Spot

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    3.4 mi

    I just have to give a HUGE shoutout to our tour guide, Cassidy! It was already funny and kind of…read moremeant to be because my daughter with me is also named Cassidy, but she really made the whole experience special. She had such a bubbly, playful personality and kept the energy up the entire time. She was cracking jokes, making everyone laugh and just had a way of making the group feel comfortable and engaged. You can tell she genuinely enjoys what she does and it made a big difference. The tour itself is on the shorter side which was about 30 minutes and the area isn't huge, which explains the lower ticket price, but honestly it was still a fun little experience. She gave us a heads up about possibly feeling dizzy or nauseous, and I actually did feel that way in the cabin, which was wild to experience firsthand. Overall, it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area, and if you can, I'd absolutely recommend asking for Cassidy because she's what really makes it memorable! Thank you Cassidy!

    Fun for all ages, this is a place that you should visit at one time or another. I've grown up…read moreseeing the bumper stickers all over and so finally I made my first visit! Tucked away in the hills, you feel like you're going to a retreat site. I'd highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, as when we went on a Saturday around 1:30pm (we had reserved tickets), the next opening for 2 tickets was like 5pm! We arrived a little early and browsed the gift shop and snack area, which is pretty small. Soon our time for the tour began. The tour itself isn't long but it is hosted and the guide has a ton of corny/punny jokes (kind of like the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland) and it is very interactive. It's definitely a trip to see some of the gravity defying stuff! Likely a one and done for us, but it was memorable to visit.

    Photos
    Say cheese
    Say cheese
    It's a mystery to me
    It's a mystery to me
    Entrance

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    Entrance

    The Giant Dipper - amusementparks - Updated July 2026

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