My favorite ride at the boardwalk! When my cousins and I came here for a day trip, we rode this like eight times back to back! It was a slightly rainy day so there were no lines for a while. The ride may not seem like it's that exciting, but it definitely whips you around and if you ride it enough you will feel dizzy. Wouldn't recommend for super small kids or anyone with physical ailments or feeling already unwell. read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

In my opinion this is the best ride on the boardwalk. We got on fairly quickly and the employees were friendly. They clapped after every train was finished with their ride. It's not a super short ride either, which i much appreciated. Keep in mind it is wooden so it does jerk you around a bit. Definitely would ride this one again. read more

The Giant Dipper - Ride - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Finally got to ride The Giant Dipper--and it was everything I hoped for and more! I'd always been either too young or just missed the chance, so getting to experience it for the first time with my daughter made it extra special. The hype is real. It's fast, thrilling, and dips you more times than you can count. I was laughing, screaming, and holding on for dear life--literally had to hold myself in by the end because I dipped right out of my bra! My daughter clung to the railing the whole time and said she felt like she was going to fly out like Superwoman. It was hilarious and a little terrifying, but such a blast. Definitely one for the memory books. Fun, nostalgic, and just the right amount of scary! read more

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! read more

The Giant Dipper - When the coaster disappeared in a tunnel I silently begged for it to be over- scary FUN! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I'm 5'11" and just barely fit in the ride, average weight. Hate to say it but it took pieces out of my right leg, fortunately I carry band aids! I did not buy my tickets so I'm not sure if their was a warning about height restrictions or not. Aside from that, the ride was 'VERY' violent for a person of advanced age...d;^P read more

Roller coaster on the beach!! Say less! This was such a fun and thrilling ride. Holding the title as one of the oldest roller coasters in the United States, this ride needs to be on your list! It's a national landmark in Santa Cruz and unexpectedly super thrilling for an antique coaster. They just celebrated the 100th year anniversary!!! This experience is waiting for you at the Santa Cruz Beach Boarwalk. It costs 8 points on your game card, which really is $8, but stick to the point system and enjoy the ride!!! When my family went, we got the BOGO on the game cards, which felt like a better deal for us than the unlimited wristbands because you can use them for the arcade, food, and rides. So be on the lookout for a promotion to save some money. But honestly, we had an amazing time, rode the coaster 3 times, and it was 100% worth it! And if you get to sit in the front, like my daughter and I did, it's not an experience you will soon forget!!! read more

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

DANGEROUS RIDE! I am not kidding. This ride does not secure you in properly and as a result you spend the entire ride trying to keep your self from bouncing up and down and keeping your arms and elbows from being smashed into the rails and side. This is a serious problem. They NEED the shoulder constraints to keep you in your seat securly. The ride is not fun. I LOVE LOVE LOVE speed and danger but this is neither. It is just all about trying to keep yourself from getting hurt. Today we feel like someone beat us up and I am talking about bruises on my wrists, a shoulder issue for my partner, and both kids said their necks hurt. This riide should be banned unitl they make it so riders are secure. I am 100% serious...do not ride this ride. It's not fun, scary wetc, it's just dangerous. I think it gets 5 stars by many kids because it's like a dare for pain. Roller coasters should be fun, invigerating, fast, stomach dropping, not fearful for your health and wellbeing. This needs to stop before someone gets serioulsy hurt. read more

When we visited in June 2021, the Giant Dipper was an excellent idea for me to ride. This attraction is everybody's favorite rollercoaster since 1924 and now it's over a century old. read more

Nostalgic ride for me, and although it's really bumpy and bangs me around pretty hard, lots of bouncing up off the seat, it's a lot of fun and semi-scary. As a kid my mom would never allow me to go on any rides. So when I turned 18 and got my own car, one of the first things I did was drive myself to the boardwalk and ride the rides! This one was my favorite. Fast forward many moons, and I had not ridden on this in several years, so was shocked that the price was now $8 to ride! Wow! My teenage daughter who rode next to me screamed the entire time and looked positively terrified. My poor baby!! I had forgotten the first part of the ride takes place in the dark....fun! Highly recommend to roller coaster ride aficionados! read more

The Giant Diaper! The thrill of this coaster is the view of the ocean and knowing it's a National Historic Landmark. You can't ride many of those. Take that, Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill. Only three other coasters have been continuously operating in their orignal location, making this the oldest coaster in the state, and the 4th oldest in the world. Built in 1924, the designer Arthur Looff created this to be a "combination earthquake, balloon ascension, and aeroplane drop". I feel it is a combination derailed train, broken Indiana Jones ride, and being held by my feet over a building ledge by Suge Knight". From being banged around and the tension of my muscles in my attempts to not being banged around, it's very jarring and borderline painful. It was designed by Frederick Church, aptly named because you will want to pray you don't lose a filling. Despite being, in the words of SF Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, the fun of the 2640-foot track is that first 65-foot drop, hitting speeds of 46-55 mph, and the mysterious thrust into the long, dark tunnel, illuminated by tiny beams of sunlight sneaking through the cracks that almost have a strobe light effect that distracts you from the pain. Even at the age of nearly 100, it's been ranked as high as #16 and as low as #34 as the top wooden coaster in the world since the Golden Ticket awards of 1998. The Giant Dippers (there's another in NY) are the only ones to be awarded "American Coaster Enthusiasts Golden Age Coaster". I wonder where the Looof family keeps their ACEGAC. PS. The coaster has been seen in Us (2019), Bumblebee (2018), Roadside Attractions (2015), Dangerous Minds (1995), Lost Boys (1987), The Sting II (1983), and Sudden Impact (1983), where Mick is shot off of the coaster by Clint Eastwood. That makes my day. $8 as of June 2022, not including dental bills. read more

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! read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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! read more

The Giant Dipper - Second time going there like few minutes after opening! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This ride was amazing, it tossed me around like a bowling ball, its airtime is insane, and it's just amazing and I need to have a big talk with that one star rater. read more

My ALL TIME favorite coaster and I have been on many in my time. It may be an old fashioned wooden coaster and not fancy like many of the newer ones but it is fast, full of dips and an absolute thrill from beginning to end. Another childhood favorite! On my last visit, our group was fortunate enough to get the last 2 cars and we had a blast getting thrown around. Watch out for that first dip, there's a camera that snaps your pic at the bottom and we looked like absolute fools, lol! Great times! read more

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. read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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

The Giant Dipper - Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

So much fun! I took a giant step back in time when I decided to step in line for the Giant Dipper rollercoaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It had been about 15 years since I last road this ride and I was so excited to ride it again! It was $7 or seven points, depending on how you decided to get your tickets for the day. The line was also pretty long, but it flew by quickly. Either that or I was totally distracted by the nostalgia of it all. Even the signs up on the wall were the same. Did you know that this is the 5th oldest rollercoaster in the U.S.? As my friend and I got closer to the front of the line, we realized we were going to be sitting on the very last cart on this historical, old school rollercoaster. When the time came, we jumped in our seats and whipped out our phones to capture the greatness. The ride starts out in a tunnel and it's completely dark. Such a thrill! Once you get out of the tunnel you start going up, up, and away! This is when the intercom says to "put away your phones!" Thanks for the reminder! You get a really cool view of the boardwalk from way up top, just before the ride really gets going. There are so many ups and downs and little moments when your stomach feels like it's going to jump out of your throat. I honestly couldn't stop laughing. It was a lot of fun and definitely my favorite ride that day at the boardwalk. read more

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

Sorry, we loved Undertow but hated this ride because of how much it tossed us around side to side. We were expecting it to be smoother and easier on the body. Maybe because most of the rides we ride are steel coasters instead of wooden? We did like the feeling of flying off our seats though! Overall, it was just way too rough. Definitely wouldn't recommend to younger kids as their 1st coaster unless you want to scare them off from riding more coasters/rides read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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This was a super solid and all around smooth and just amazing wooden coaster right on the beach! So this is the second Giant Dipper coaster I have ridden on a California Boardwalk and I must say it definitely is an awesome ride from start to finish! The beginning is super fun how you take off and head down into a tunnel only to turn around and then head up the lift hill. The coaster itself gives you a bit of air time and some sudden and steep drops that are sure to give you a bit of a thrill. The ride it self was very quick and definitely very smooth riding for being a super old wooden coaster it's because of this that I really enjoyed my ride and I'd definitely say this is the best ride in the park and overall it was just an awesome coaster on the beach I mean how can you ever go wrong with that! I'm sure I'll be back here again some day to ride this Giant Dipper until then I'll visit my local Giant Dipper in SD as it's a completely different ride than this one but they both are great coasters anyway! read more

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"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 read more

The Giant Dipper - The Giant Dipper is part of the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk... - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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. read more

The Giant Dipper - Visual metaphor for my life. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This is your quintessential wooden roller coaster. It may not be the fastest, it may not be the tallest but it's definitely one of the best. A classic wooden coaster that takes you on dips and dips and dips. It's the centerpiece attraction of the Boardwalk since 1924 and also a Historic Landmark. Really!...look it up. It boast 50 million riders throughout the years but who's counting, really? You can't visit the Boardwalk without riding the Giant Dipper. That would be like going to Roscoe's and not eating the Chicken and Waffles. You can do it, but you will miss out on the fun and experience. One of the best part is that there are no long waiting lines to ride this attraction unlike other Amusement Parks, and you can ride in the front car over and over again. read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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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!

Love this amusement park by the beach! We arrived in Santa Cruz when it was cloudy and cold, and these few rides were a perfect way to kill time until the sun came up. They were right by the beach so it was super convenient! read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Old school wooden rollercoaster on the boardwalk. Not sure it's worth the $7 per ride (7 tickets) but it's the best ride at the boardwalk and a must if you're spending the day there. read more

The Giant Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Soooooo fun!!!! What a great experience. I haven't been on this ride in years and rode it on Friday with my step-son and it was better than I remembered. read more

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 5th 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. read more

Newer rollercoasters may go faster and higher and have loops, but the Giant Dipper remains a thrilling classic that will hopefully continue to bring joy to coaster riders for years to come. It's the best ride at the Boardwalk and will always be the best. Happy 85th birthday Giant Dipper! I recently rode the Dipper at night, for the first time. It's even better at night. First you wait in line and read about the history of the ride on the way, e.g., fifth oldest roller coaster in the US, national historic landmark, over 55 million riders, featured in movies, etc. They don't let you wait around for the seat you want (unfortunately, since the very back or the very front are best). There isn't any place to put your belongings, so you have to bring them in the car with you. You're held in by a metal bar that goes across your lap but leaves enough space for you to slide around and be lifted off your seat by the ride (vs. the newer restraints that do a better job of holding you in place). That's part of the charm. At night the first part of the ride takes place in complete darkness (very cool) and then you ascend for awhile (time to admire the views of the Boardwalk). There are quite a few dips and curves and the ride is longer than the newer rides today (another big plus for the Dipper). Well worth $4.50 and a trip to Santa Cruz. They also take your picture during the ride and it's available for purchase. read more

The Giant Dipper - Tuttimelon bear about to ride the Big Dipper - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

You'd think that a dinky, dated wooden roller coaster by today's standards couldn't possibly be much fun; why doesn't the boardwalk just tear down the Giant Dipper for some movie-themed, ultra-radical hyperkinetic attraction? To borrow an old advertising slogan, try it again for the first time. This throwback coaster still packs a wallop, and the only thing you might be pooh-poohing during your 1-minute, 52-second ride is your pants. It's a nostalgia trip for mature riders who might not care for the extended time and dimensions of a Magic Mountain Colossus or Cyclone, or a Knott's GhostRider. It's a thrill ride for youngsters accustomed to being bound into their modern coaster seats for safety, but who find themselves weightless and unseated in their car for much of the ride, restrained by only a lap bar. Coaster riders at the front of the line typically rush to either the front or back car for differing extremes of motion. What I noticed this time, after not riding for a few years, is that most of the kids now go to the front. I have always liked the back car, preferring to descend at maximum speed and get whipped around the turns without regard for whiplash, contusions or concussion. To illustrate the perceived importance of coaster seating location, a couple of high-school-age girls behind us in line seemed completely crestfallen when we selected the back two seats of the last car, even though they sat in the two seats directly in front of us in the same car. As scenic as a daytime ride on the Giant Dipper is, give it a try at night when the twisting tunnel before the lift hill is pitch black, and the entire ride gains an element of mystery and surprise. Night or day, you'll have experienced the masterpiece of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LKarIpBBzs read more

The Giant Dipper - Giant Dipper rounding first big curve - Amusement Parks Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Noelle's Yelp 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. read more

As of this review, there are 41 posts, only 7 are four stars, the rest are five stars. That should tell you something. It's regularly one of the top 10 roller coasters in America, and one of the 10 oldest. It's very well maintained, too. I first went on the Giant Dipper in high school. I was in the Santa Cruz Band Review, and we went to the Boardwalk after the parade. I rode this coaster eight times that afternoon. Then I became a student at Bethany University, and I've ridden this coaster at least once a year every year since then. My favorite seat is the back left. In that seat, not only do you get thrust out of your seat on the dips, but you get thrown to the right on most of the turns, your butt almost into your neighbor's lap. When you get off, if you're not grinning with delight, then check your pulse. read more

Best wooden roller coaster of all time. Everything about it is an awesome experience. The ride starts off by plunging into a dark tunnel and then you come out of the tunnel and immediately go down the big drop. This is a fast paced, bumpy, thrilling coaster. You will seriously want to ride it over and over. The only cons is that there is usually about an hour or more wait for it, even on not so busy days. Also it costs $7 per ride unless you buy an all day wristband. Overall though, this is one of the best rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. read more

The mark of a great roller coaster is getting that momentary "Oh Shit" feeling at the top and then getting right back in line when the ride is over. And having your hands up the entire time just adds to the thrill. I'm partial to my home town roller coaster located in Arnold's Park Iowa. However, the Big Dipper is even better and worth every minute of the trip and wait to hop on. read more

Talk about not judging a book by it's cover here! I always thought of the Giant Dipper as some rickety, old coaster and always rode on the newer, flashier rides at Boardwalk. However, my friends and I decided to go on The Giant Dipper since it would've been my first time on it. While waiting in line, you can read the history of the coaster itself and feel the entire place tremble. Yes, this is where you put all your loose items into your bag and prepare to scream your lungs out. The ride has insane drops, that make your tummy go on a butterfly feeling- free falling frenzy. You really can't help but keep your hands up and letting out a scream. After your minute and a half comes to an end you realize why everyone comes back with a big ol' grin on their face. The only downside was that I was practically airborne 50% of the time since the lap bar never touched my lap. Yes, that's right I was always up against the lap bar and never actually sitting on the seat during the dips. My goodness! Definitely a must if you love coasters or an adrenaline rush! read more

The Boardwalk's Most Popular Ride I don't like roller coasters. I'm a big chicken. I only agreed to this because you maintain an upright position. While waiting in line, a TV screen tells you some interesting facts about the wooden coaster, such as: The Giant Dipper is now the fifth oldest coaster in the U.S. My friends wanted to sit in the front, but I chose to sit by myself in the middle which seemed to be a safer location. I started to regret agreeing to ride the coaster as soon as I sat down. After the big drop I was ok for the most part and kept telling myself that the worst part is over. Even so, the whole time one hand clutched on to the lap bar while the other hand gripped onto the side of the roller coaster where I found some dried up chewing gum. In the end, I survived! read more

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. read more