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American Coaster Enthusiasts Award ACE Coaster Landmark Designation
To Geauga Lake Park’s Big Dipper Roller Coaster

At its recent executive committee meeting, American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) voted to honor Geauga Lake Amusement Park’s Big Dipper wooden roller coaster as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation awarded to coasters of historic significance.

At the end of Geauga Lake Park’s final season in 2007, Big Dipper was the 14th oldest roller coaster in the world, the 10th oldest in the United States. Having originally opened in 1925 under the name of Sky Rocket, it would later be renamed Clipper in the late 1940s. Then in 1969 the ride was rechristened Big Dipper. In 1980, a major restoration project was conducted, ensuring Big Dipper’s survival.

Big Dipper is also notable as one of the last built by John Miller, a prolific designer whose inventions are still used on roller coasters being constructed today. Although John Miller designed hundreds of roller coasters, only a handful of his creations remain in the world. Currently, there are 13 standing Miller coasters, but only nine are still in operation. Big Dipper will join four other Miller coasters with the ACE Landmark designation. It is also the oldest standing coaster in Ohio. “To permanently lose such a classic ride as Big Dipper would indeed be a real loss for the region,” offered David Hahner, ACE Historian. “Not only is it a historically valuable ride, it was tremendously fun…one of the best wooden roller coasters in the state of Ohio!”

Its survival is an amazing accomplishment with nearly 1,200 coasters destroyed in the United States alone over the last century. With the ACE Landmark designation, the hope is to further support efforts to save Big Dipper for future generations to enjoy, whether on its present site or in another location. “They just don’t make them like this anymore,” says Howard Gillooly, ACE Preservation Director. “There are so few left from this era, they need to be enjoyed for generations to come."

Big Dipper joins three other coasters in Ohio which have received the ACE Landmark distinction: The Beast and Racer at Kings Island near Cincinnati and Magnum XL 200 at Cedar Point in Sandusky. Most significantly, the year 2010 will be Big Dipper’s 85th anniversary.

Founded in 1978, the American Coaster Enthusiasts is the largest amusement park enthusiast organization in the world. Currently there are more than 6,000 members worldwide.

That is so cool! I hope that this means that maybe our Dipper can be saved!!!!
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Life is like a rollercoaster. It is full of ups and downs!

Absolutely fantastic!!!

I hope the "owner" and Mr. Woosnam should really make sure they keep this in mind when making plans for the Dipper.

They really need to step it up in the plans for the coaster and let the public be aware of what is going on instead of staying silent for over two years.
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Katie

I have faith that good things will happen with Dipper. Today is a very good day for Dipper.

That is great news ACEPreservation! Thank you to everyone in ACE who took the time to commemorate something that truly is a remarkable piece of Ohio history and one of the oldest of its kind in the world.

ACEPreservation wrote:

It is also the oldest standing coaster in Ohio. "To permanently lose such a classic ride as Big Dipper would indeed be a real loss for the region," offered David Hahner, ACE Historian. "Not only is it a historically valuable ride, it was tremendously fun...one of the best wooden roller coasters in the state of Ohio!"

This quote is probably my second-favorite Big Dipper quote ever, I could not agree more with Mr. Hahner.

ACEPreservation wrote:

Most significantly, the year 2010 will be Big Dipper's 85th anniversary.

Quite an accomplishment right there. May it see 85 more.
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"It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." Cedar Fair Spokesman Innes on Big Dipper, 12th oldest roller coaster on Earth.

WKYC is on top of all things Geauga Lake as usual, the Landmark designation for the Big Dipper has now hit the media:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=124765&catid=3

Great find Skyglider!!! It is nice to see that even after 2 years, the area still cares about Dipper!!!

There are alot of people who I am finding really cared about the Dipper and the park! My hopes will stay as long as the Dipper stands!
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Life is like a rollercoaster. It is full of ups and downs!

Channel 5 WEWS also has a story on the Big Dipper's new honor:
http://www.newsnet5.com/entertainment/21526046/detail.html

The Aurora Advocate now has an article. I also heard the Big Dipper's landmark designation was mentioned on the radio today.

http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/4704877

Lets keep the memory alive. Just when someone thought the Big Dipper was all but forgotten this happens, imagine that.
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GL's demise was caused by one mans foolish greed.

In the end the truth will come out as it always does.

This means nothing. It's not a national landmark, even though it should be.

Being a National Landmark or on the National Register of Historic Places wouldn't mean a thing more, if you mean protecting it from destruction. Neither of those designations protect the structure from alteration or destruction. Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point is a good example. It used to be nationally listed, Cedar Fair altered it and it lost that designation.

I think the Coaster Landmark title is a neat way to honor the historic status of Big Dipper -- can you name anything else in the area that ranks that high in the list of oldest things of its type in the world?

I also think it is neat because as a kid after long days at Geauga Lake with family members, some of whom are no longer here, I would be drifting off to sleep and suddenly have the sensation of dropping down that first hill or hearing the faint screams of riders. It meant and continues to mean a lot to people on a personal level as the last standing remnant of a park that dates back to 1872. Money could be made on that property by building around the Big Dipper, that would be a truly unique hook.

Beyond that, it is historic regardless of the designations given to it. With or without those designations a lot of people are interested in what is going to happen with it.

I applaud the people who took the time and effort to recognize that history.

Thank You, ACEPreservation! Very Happy

and, congratulations to the Big Dipper.
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Geauga Lake 1888-2007 2008-Forever in our Hearts

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