Big Dipper (Geauga Lake)

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Big Dipper
Big Dipper's Logo
Location	Geauga Lake
Type	Wood
Status	Operating
Opened	1925
Manufacturer	National Amusement Company
Designer	John A. Miller
Model	Out and Back roller coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	65 feet (19.8 m)
Length	2,680 feet (816.9 m)
Max speed	32 mile per hour (51.5 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:45
Capacity	522 riders per hour
Cost	$50,000
Height Restriction	48 inches (121.9 cm)
Big Dipper at RCDB
Pictures of Big Dipper at RCDB

Big Dipper is a wooden roller coaster at Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio. Built in 1925, the Big Dipper is an ACE "Coaster Classic" and is currently the 7th oldest operating roller coaster in the USA (12th oldest in the world). Big Dipper underwent major renovations in 1980. It has been named "Big Dipper" since 1969, before which it was named Clipper and Sky Rocket.

[edit] Opening Controversy

There is some debate over what year the ride actually opened to the public. Some historical accounts claim the ride was built and opened in 1925. Others claim that the ride was built in 1925, but did not open until 1926, and still others find that the ride was built and opened in 1926. Newspaper Article

To satisfy all three claims, the park celebrated the ride's 80th anniversary in 2006 as well as 2005.

A rare photo of the ride has been recovered which clearly states that the photo was taken in 1925, however whether or not the Big Dipper has been completely built or even opened cannot be ascertained from the photograph. Link to 1925 Photo