Leap-The-Dips

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Leap-The-Dips is the World's oldest operating roller coaster and North America's last surviving side friction roller coaster. It is located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania and was built in 1902 by the E. Joy Morris Company. Leap-the-Dips operated until 1985, when it closed due to disrepair. A fundraising campaign led to a restoration starting in 1997 and a reopening on Memorial Day 1999.

The ride is quite tame by today's standards, being only 41 ft (12.5 m) in height and having an average speed of 10 mph (16 km/h). In comparison, Kingda Ka reaches 456 ft (139 m) high and has a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h). Despite this, Leap-The-Dips is considered a quite fun (and of course nostalgic) ride.

Leap-the-Dips is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1996 was made a National historic landmark. It is also an ACE Coaster Classic.

[edit]