Pretty Good Article On Big Dipper in Plain Dealer

Hello Coaster Fans Who Are Wondering Why Coasters Don't Run In The Rain Here In Ohio,

This past Friday the 19th the Cleveland Plain Dealer had a HUGE article on the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake. It was pretty well written and had lots of Big Dipper pictures. It talks about how Geauga Lake is planning on celebrating it's 80th B-day this year. Here's the online article link with no pics if anyone is interested:

http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1148027699227450.xml&coll=2

"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod

It's good to see GL get some positive publicity from the media after all the park went through during the last few years. With three woodies and the resurging interest in such coasters, that is just what the park needs. Meanwhile, some heads are turned toward Erie where Ravine Flyer II makes its debut in a year or two. And, of course, there are rumors of new wood at KW and DelGrossos sometime in the future. Its just a matter of how far in the future.

Hooray for some OLDER coasters getting some publicity and love...the media usually concentrates on the newest, latest, fastest, etc., but there IS a large contingent of fans of nostalgia. :)

....and when it comes with a GREAT ride to boot, it's win-win all around...

Screechin' Eagle, anyone? ;)

Ravine Flyer II - just based on how long the *protracted* battle lasted to get approval, I wouldn't be too surprised to find out its scheduled to open in '08.

*** Edited 5/20/2006 2:40:16 PM UTC by rollergator***

That's the one of main reasons why there is so much effort to save Conneaut Lake Park. The Blue Streak is another of thise old classics that we all want to preserve. Of course, we all appreciate what Kennywood has done to preserve the historic coasters in their park. Now, if only someone could rebuild the Idora Wildcat.

I am disappointed the park still thinks the coaster opened in 1926. A couple of ACE and GOCC members did extensive research on this coaster and found articles in the old Cleveland Press archives indicating the coaster opened in June of 1925. That information was presented to the park--unfortunately that was two owners ago.

Well Jeffrey, you and I know better, but didn't that other club just recently miss the same boat again in the last issue with it's anniversary?? nuff said bud. :)

Actually, CF is celebrating it both years due to this confusion. Last year the Dipper's station had a giant 80th anniversary celebration sign on it all year. This year I haven't seen anything so far other than the fact that it's talked about. Big sign last year, simple words this year, I think CF knows the truth.

Oh I know they know the date...it just continues all the confusion of the actual opening date June 20th, 1925.

Man, if Del Grosso's got a quality woodie it would really push it up to the next level.

A coaster so good, it celebrates turning 80 TWICE ;)

Well, Geauga Lake was probably too busy not re-installing the circle swing that they forgot to really kick it up for Dipper so they'll do it this year and hope nobody notices or cares. ;)

On a somewhat related note, Wyandot Lake is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sea Dragon this year. Is that date disputed or can I trust them?

^We have a pretty good record of the opening of PTC coasters thanks to Tom Rebbie and the PTC archives. You can trust the opening date of the Sea Dragon. :)

*** Edited 5/22/2006 4:21:19 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***

Was it 56 or 57? I could have sworn the Hunt's Pier Flyer opened in 1957 and that is the same year the Angela Park Valley Volcano and the Wyandot Sea Dragon opened.

I'll check my list when I get home but RCDB has the Valley Volcano and Sea Dragon opening in 1956, and the Flyer in 1957.

That can't be right, especially because the Flyer was the first of the three.

Cartmell's book lists:

1956

123 Hunts Ocean Pier Wildwood NJ

124 Angela Park Hazelton PA

125 Gooding Zoo Park Columbus OH

^So does the issue of First Drop that covered PTC's hundredth anniversary. I know they did extensive research for that article.

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Thrillerman said:
Well Jeffrey, you and I know better, but didn't that other club just recently miss the same boat again in the last issue with it's anniversary?? nuff said bud. :)

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I wasn't sure what you were referring to, but now that I look at my latest issue of ACE news, I see we left that in there. I saw that listing in the drafts and asked the editor to take it out. He had agreed to, so I'm not sure how it got through to the final version.

Holy schnikeys, speaking of CL's Blue Streak, I just went to rcdb to check out some pics of this coaster classic I still haven't visited, and it came up as the random coaster on the front page!

Wow, how many coasters are listed on rcdb? Talk about some crazy odds there.

Yeah Jeffrey, I have that issue of First Drop too, but Cartmells book was closer to my computer for easy reference. I also didn't want to drop any names and say that ACE had dropped the ball again with the coaster's date. It did irk me though as Ed and Bob did research for nothing it seems.

It sure turned out to be a nice article about the best woodie in the state. I was a little worried doing a phone interview for the Plain Dealer but the reporter seemed really into coasters and even said he liked the wood rides over steel because of the way they ride. But I sure want to see the Dipper thrilling the masses for at least another eighty one years.