Big Dipper (Geauga Lake)
Encyclopedia
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Built in 1925, the Big Dipper is an ACE
American Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
"Coaster Classic" and an ACE "Landmark Coaster." Until September 2007, it 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.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.
Big Dipper's Future
On September 21, 2007, Cedar Fair announced that the amusement park side of Geauga Lake would close and only the water park, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom, would remain. This left the future of Big Dipper uncertain. Because it was the oldest operating roller coaster in Ohio, many, including members of the general public, elected officials, preservationists and roller coaster enthusiasts, are concerned about the fate of Big Dipper. Even though the coaster has been sold at an auction of the park's rides in June 2008, there is still no official word of what is going to happen to the Big Dipper and it is still standing intact but not operating. Minor damage to the structure was repaired in late 2008.According to Max Ivey, as of December, 2009, the Big Dipper was up for sale again for a price of $150,000.
As of August 29, 2010, the Big Dipper was up for auction on internet auction website eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
with bid starting at $9,500 and a "buy it now" price of $65,000. The auction ended on September 6 without a single bid.
On September 30, 2010 two roller coaster enthusiasts teamed up to buy the roller coaster, but the deal was declared dead by the two on January 11, 2011 due to various legal issues regarding the sale. The enthusiasts had intended to disassemble and store the coaster in an area close to the park.