Mission Beach Roller Coaster

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The Giant Dipper is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. The Giant Dipper is in Belmont Park, right on Mission Beach in San Diego.

[edit] History

Originally the idea of John D. Spreckels, the original coaster was built by a crew of 100 to 150 people in two weeks. The coaster became very popular in the 1940s and '50s but by the late '60s, it had fallen into disrepair. It was closed down in 1976.

In the early 1980s, people began calling for the demolition of the coaster. It had been in disrepair and was becoming a home for local transients. A date for the demolition was set but a group of citizens calling themselves the "Save the Coaster Committee" interviened and had the Giant Dipper designated as a National landmark.

A few years later, the San Diego Seaside company was officially formed to restore the coaster to operation. $2 million was spent on the restoration. The new coaster contained six four-person cars. On August 11th, 1990, the Giant Dipper was reopened to the public. The response was so strong that a second train was eventually added to the coaster.