Big Dipper (Geauga Lake)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Big Dipper


caption= Big Dipper from across Geauga Lake
location=Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom
section=
type=Wood
type2=
type3=
status=Standing But Not Operating
opened=1925
manufacturer=National Amusement Company
designer=John A. Miller
model=Out and Back roller coaster
track=
lift=Chain lift hill
height=65
drop=
length=2680
speed=32
inversions=0
duration=1:45
angle=
capacity=522
cost=$50,000
acceleration=
gforce=
restriction=48
rcdb_number=236 Big Dipper was a wooden roller coaster at Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio. Built in 1925, the Big Dipper is an ACE "Coaster Classic" and until September 2007, was the oldest operating wooden coaster in Ohio, and 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.

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.fact|date=January 2008

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.cite web
title = 1925 Big Dipper Group Photo
publisher = Geauga Lake Today
date = 1925
url = http://www.geaugalaketoday.com/1925_Group_Photo_Dipper.htm
accessdate = 2008-01-02 ]

Big Dipper's Future

On September 21, 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Geauga Lake will no longer operate partially as an amusement park, and will become solely a water park, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom. This means that the future of Big Dipper is uncertain. Because it was the oldest operating roller coaster in Ohio, many, especially preservationists and roller coaster enthusiasts, are concerned about the fate of Big Dipper. Their is still no offical words of what is going to happen to the Big Dipper.

References

External links

* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/yellowpages/coasters/bigdipper_glake.shtml UltimateRollerCoaster.com - Unofficial Page]
* [http://www.myrollercoaster.com/geauga.html Geauga Lake at Top Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks]