My annual Little Dipper request

This is one ride I can't find any pictures on or much other information. I rode this several times in my youth. I believe it was my first ride I ever rode at Geauga Lake. But this was before I started taking cameras to parks so I have know pictures of the ride. I have tried many times on the net to find something on the ride.

What I do know is that it was removed for the 1976 season and replaced with a Zyclon coaster. But I don't know the make or designer. I think it was steel but could be wrong on that as well. I belive it had a double out and back design.

Are you sure you have the name right? I'm surprised it's not listed at www.rcdb.com

MrScott

Have you tried contacting the park?

Or try www.coasterbuzz.com. There is a helpful group of folks over there, too.

MrScott

Maybe you are thinking of Chippewa Lake Park??? I was looking through some of GL's old coasters and one ended up here... Sad to see coasters rotting to death.

http://www.rcdb.com/pd166.htm

There was a National Amusement Device (NAD) kiddie coaster called "Little Dipper" somewhere near the Skyscraper and old Ferris wheel I believe. Sorry I don't know more... it was a bit before my time! :-)

oh... I am so going to the defunct Chippewa Lake Park. That place looks so photogenic.

is Chippewa Lake Park totally off limits now? im sure people arent really encouraged to walk around there, but if youre not breaking things or causing trouble, is it ok?

I do rememeber the Little Dipper at Chippewa. But they wern't the same rides. Ironically when I was growing up Cedar Point was the only local park with no kiddie coaster.

I do believe Geauga's was a bit better.

You might be talking about the Big Dipper. It is a big wooden coaster at Geauga Lake. I rode it when the park was still SFWoA.

It scared the crap out of me though. lol. I wasn't expecting all of the air time, and the whole ride I felt like I was falling out of my seat.
*** Edited 4/28/2006 4:51:57 AM UTC by Jesz***

At one point Jesz, the park operated a Big Dipper and a Little Dipper simultaneously.

Proof that The Little Dipper did exist can be found in this map of Geauga Lake from 1973. The next year map I have is from 1976 and it shows it was replaced by The Zyclon. Although I don't remember The Little Dipper my guess would be that it was an old Herschell Kiddie coaster that was popular around that time. I will do some research and see what I can find out including any pictures that might be around.

you're right Jes, it was located about where Shark Attack is, the park then took it out and replaced it with "cyclone", a Zyclon in 1976.

I thought this ride was kind of like RYE's Kiddie Coaster

http://rcdb.com/id232.htm

Someone told me they remember riding it, and they told me it was like this, I could be wrong.

That would make sense. As the Zyklon was the park's first steel coaster, Little Dipper couldn't be a Herschell. And since Jes believes NAD built it, and NAD made wooden coasters. I don't think, however, the ride was a large as RYE's.

Before we get told to "move this discussion to CB," I will say that technically it is illegal to go stroll around Chippewa Lake Park, however if you can talk to some people near by, you can find your way in. I heard from my Cross Country coach (who lives in CL) that it's pretty cool to go walk around, but I wouldn't really suggest it considering it's illegal. You can read about one guy's story of going into the park here. http://defunctparks.com/parks/OH/ChippewaLake/chippewa-lake.htm

I'm new to the site but since I found this thread here,I thought here might be the best place to put this post. The defunct Chippewa Lake park was mentioned here and I found it interesting today, while watching a grade b horror flick, that two rides from that park seem to be in this movie. It had a cyclone coaster and a set of swinging cages,plus a tilt-a-whirl. Most of the scenes were obviously shot on a set, but these seemed to be real park footage from somewhere. The movie was" Gorilla at Large"(shot in '54 in 3-d no less!) Had Raymond Burr and a goofy Lee Marvin(early role probably)..crappy movie but the park footage was interesting. AMC did not include full credits so I have no idea where it was shot. Anybody ever see this first run maybe and know what park it might have been?

There's a couple pics from Chippewa my girlfriend has posted.

It's pretty depressing...just a warning.

http://community.webshots.com/album/69775279SFLsOJ

http://community.webshots.com/album/69791111rTLbaX

It is really sad to see Chippewa in that state. Coaster was my first coaster ride ever. The Wild Mouse at Chippewa used to reside at Geauga Lake and was moved to Chippewa when it was removed from Geauga Lake after the 69 or 70 season.