National Roller Coaster Day gives theme park fans an excuse to seek out their favorite thrills, but few celebrations offer the chance to ride a coaster with more than a century of history behind it.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will celebrate National Roller Coaster Day on Sunday, August 16, 2026, by placing the spotlight on its legendary Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster. The first 100 guests to ride the Giant Dipper that day will receive a Boardwalk souvenir cup while supplies last. Normal ride prices and restrictions will apply.
Compared with some of the larger coaster challenges being planned at other parks, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is keeping its celebration simple. There are no complicated checklists or multiple rides that must be completed before the end of the day. Guests only need to arrive early, purchase a ride and experience one of the most historically significant roller coasters still operating.
That simplicity feels appropriate for the Giant Dipper.
The wooden coaster opened on May 17, 1924, and has continued operating in its original location for more than 100 years. It was built by Arthur Looff in only 47 days at an original cost of approximately $50,000. The Giant Dipper is the oldest roller coaster in California and one of the oldest operating coasters in the United States.
The Giant Dipper may be historic, but it is not simply a slow museum piece.
The coaster’s half-mile track reaches a height of approximately 70 feet and sends its trains racing at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. The entire experience lasts just under two minutes, delivering a series of drops, turns and classic wooden-coaster moments alongside views of Monterey Bay.
There is something special about riding a wooden coaster beside the beach. The sound of the train moving across the track, the red-and-white wooden structure and the ocean setting create an experience that feels completely different from the highly themed steel coasters found at many modern parks.
The Giant Dipper represents an earlier era of amusement parks, but its continued popularity proves that a great roller coaster does not need launches, inversions or complicated technology to remain exciting.
Millions of guests have experienced the Giant Dipper since it opened. More than 68 million rides have reportedly been given over its lifetime, allowing multiple generations of families and coaster fans to share the same basic experience.
That connection between generations is a major part of the coaster’s appeal. Someone who rode the Giant Dipper as a child can return years later and experience it with their own children or grandchildren. The surrounding Boardwalk may continue to evolve, but the Giant Dipper remains a familiar centerpiece overlooking the beach.
Its cultural legacy also extends beyond the amusement industry. The coaster has appeared in films including The Lost Boys, Sudden Impact and Dangerous Minds, making its recognizable red-and-white structure familiar even to people who have never visited Santa Cruz.
In 1987, the Giant Dipper and the Boardwalk’s historic Looff Carousel were designated National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service. The entire Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk property is also recognized as a California Historic Landmark.
That designation reflects more than the coaster’s age. It recognizes how important the Giant Dipper remains to the identity of the Boardwalk and to the history of American amusement parks.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk itself has entertained visitors since 1907. It is California’s oldest amusement park and one of the last traditional seaside amusement parks remaining on the West Coast. Admission to the Boardwalk is free, with guests purchasing individual rides or using an all-day ride wristband.
A single ride on the Giant Dipper currently costs $8, or eight points on a MyBoardwalk Card. Guests may also ride using an eligible all-day wristband. Riders must be at least 50 inches tall, and regular safety requirements remain in effect during the National Roller Coaster Day promotion.
Because only the first 100 riders will receive the souvenir cup, guests hoping to collect one should plan to arrive before the rides begin operating. The Boardwalk recommends checking its official operating calendar because ride hours can vary by date and are subject to change.
Even without the giveaway, National Roller Coaster Day provides a great reason to experience the Giant Dipper.
Coaster fans often focus on the newest, tallest or fastest attractions, but historic rides like this one are an important part of the industry. Every trip through the Giant Dipper’s dark opening tunnel and across its wooden track helps continue a story that began in 1924.
More than a century later, the Giant Dipper is still doing exactly what it was built to do: sending riders over the hills with a view of the ocean and plenty of screams along the way.
At a Glance
Event: National Roller Coaster Day
Location: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2026
Featured Attraction: Giant Dipper
Giveaway: Boardwalk souvenir cup
Availability: First 100 Giant Dipper riders
Ride Price: $8 or eight points
Wristband Access: Eligible all-day ride wristbands accepted
Minimum Height: 50 inches
Normal Restrictions: Apply
Boardwalk Address: 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, California
Giant Dipper Facts
Opening Date: May 17, 1924
Coaster Type: Classic wooden roller coaster
Height: Approximately 70 feet
Top Speed: Up to 55 miles per hour
Track Length: Approximately one-half mile
Ride Time: One minute and 52 seconds
Historic Status: National Historic Landmark
Total Ridership: More than 68 million rides
