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Community Corner

Countdown: Giant Dipper to Reach 60 Million Riders on Friday

5,000 "coaster" drink coaster are being given away to riders each day until the 60 millionth ride.

Nobody knows exactly what time it will happen, but on some point on Friday the boardwalk's Giant Dipper ride will reach 60 million riders.

And if you happen to be sitting in one of the roller coaster's 12 cars when it happens, you'll be sure to find out:

"We're going to identify a whole train load of people, so that's 24 people, and they're going to get prizes right on the spot," said Brigid Fuller, Communications Manager at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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The prizes for the 60 millionth trip around the track will be "boardwalk related."

From now until Friday, the boardwalk is giving out "coaster" drink coasters to the first 5,000 people to ride the Giant Dipper.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen wrote about the Giant Dipper: "...the great roller coaster arose amid screams above the golden strand of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk eyeball-popper, and one long shriek.”

Awesome Facts about Santa Cruz's Giant Dipper ride:

The Giant Dipper was built in 1924, and it is the fifth oldest roller coaster in the country.

That makes the Giant Dipper 88 years old.

The highest hill on the Giant Dipper is 70 feet tall.

Ride Time is 1 minute and 52 seconds. 

The Giant Dipper is equipped with 3,150 lights.

The maximum speed of the ride can get up to 55 mph!

Maximum nummer of rides in a day was June 27, 1987 with 13,729 Riders

More fun facts!

 


 
                                                                                   

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