Leap the Dips has reopened!

Good news! Leap the Dips reopened on Friday, Aug 12th. Lots of lumber has been replaced, mainly on the track and some of the structure. The ride seems to be running as good as ever, though there is heavy rust on the rails since it hasn't operated since last fall.

Kudos to Lakemont Park for returning this classic to operational status!

Is Skyliner back open, too? Last I heard, it was also down.

Yeah! I'm looking forward to riding it during a first time visit to the park next weekend. It's good to hear that the park has finally got her up and running this season.

Excellent! I'm planning on a brief stop there on the way home from a Penn State visit later this fall... glad to hear I'll get to ride some classic wood.

Yes, Skyliner was also operational!

I know who you are Brother Dave.

Is he anything like Big Brother? And is he watching me?

I think I might know his identity as well. ;)

Now I am scared. LOL!

Good to hear the Dips reopened! In a sadistic sort of way I really liked the coaster, although it didn't like me.

-Tina

It seems every yaer people say there's more new wood. I wonder how much if any wood is left from the original stucture over 100 yaers ago.

This is excellent news, indeed. I was at the park on Saturday the 6th, just missing it. I am glad to hear that it is now back up and running. Skyliner was running great, imo, so I may try to get back to the park when I'm in that general area this weekend. Great stuff.

- Jeff

Probably very little. But that's the case with most/all wooden coasters

Yeah. pretty much all of the wood was probably replaced during the past decade. At least the cars are original!

I think I know too. I can read between the lines.

This is GREAT news indeed! LTD is a must ride for any coaster enthusiast. I've got to get there in the next few days.

Even treated lumber isn't gonna make it past 20-25 years....granted, LtD is *not* your normal coaster, it's a piece of hardwood furniture reconstructed by *furniture makers*....completely different animal than any other wooden coaster you've ridden....

VERY happy to see it "back on track".. :)

It was rough but fun to ride in the pouring rain. The staff was having a field day with us last year....laughing their butts off.

VERY unique coaster.

-Tina

Its a fun ride too, more exciting than you'd expect.

All I know is on August 24 it was re-closed, with a car sitting several feet from the bottom of the lift hill. :(

Sorry to hear that, RatherGoodBear. I just heard that there may have been a problem with the chain lift this time. Hopefully, they can repair it soon.

On a PBS show called "Great Old Amusement Parks", (which is available online on VHS) they did a lengthy segent about Lakemont/Leap The Dips. And on there, while they didn't go into a tons of detail they did say Ashley Rischel, (I'm guessing on the spelling.), a local furniture maker was payed to do a "full restoration" on LTD. He said that the wood he had added was "saturated in motor oil to give it longevity, and life" and that he approached the coaster as "...one big piece of furniture."

Take those comments for what there worth. And above all, listen to those who have been there, (which I haven't). From the few up-closeshots they gave it appeared the parts he was talking about were probably around the track itself, and not so much around the structure.