Leap The Dips (Lakemont Park)
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| Designer / calculations | Edward Joy Morris | ||||||||||||
| Type | Wooden - Side Friction | ||||||||||||
| Riders per train | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | ||||||||||||
| Height | 41 feet | ||||||||||||
| Drop | 9 feet | ||||||||||||
| Top speed | 18 mph | ||||||||||||
| Length | 1452 feet | ||||||||||||
| Inversions | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Drop angle | 25° | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 1:00 | ||||||||||||
| G-Force | 1 | ||||||||||||
Leap-the-Dips is a wooden side friction roller coaster currently standing but not operating at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA. Opening on June 2, 1902, the ride was the oldest roller coaster in operation and the only side friction roller coaster still operating in North America until 2024, when the ride closed. The ride remains closed as of 2025.[1]
History
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The attraction first opened in 1902 as the Figure 8, replacing the Gravity Railroad.[2][3] In 1910, the ride was extended and renamed Leap-The-Dips.[4]
Leap-The-Dips closed in 1985 following a change in park ownership.[5] By this time, the ride's structure was worn out and as a result only one car was being operated.[6]
In 1991, the ride was nominated to become a National Historic Landmark.[5] It received this designation in 1996.[7]
A campaign was launched in the 1990s to restore and reopen Leap-the-Dips. Fundraising, donations from many individuals and organizations (including the American Coaster Enthusiasts) and loans generated the money required for the restoration.[8] Following a $1 million restoration effort, Leap-The-Dips reopened on May 31, 1999.[9][10] American Coaster Enthusiasts acknowledged Leap-the-Dips as an "ACE Roller Coaster Landmark" in 2002 and supplied a plaque.
The park and Leap-the-Dips were closed following the 2016 season.[11] The park reopened in 2019, but Leap-The-Dips remained closed. Following a refurbishment, Leap-The-Dips reopened on July 3, 2020.[12]
In February 2024, the president of the company managing the park stated that none of the park's rides would operate that year.[13] The commissioner of the company managing the park repeated the statement when referring to the 2025 season.[14]
Design
Leap-the-Dips features a figure-eight layout consisting of small drops followed by a turnaround.
Trains
Leap-the-Dips opened with around 8 cars with four seats each. The ride currently only operates single car and the others are in various states of disrepair.
Images
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References
- ↑ Kibler, William (2024-02-02). "Slim Pickings: Lakemont Park eliminates rides for 2024 season". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ↑ "The "Figure Eight" at Lakemont". Altoona Tribune. June 19, 1902. p. 8. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ↑ "Clipping". Altoona Tribune. 28 February 1902. p. 5. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ↑ "Lakemont Park Opens Saturday". Altoona Times. May 25, 1910. p. 10. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "National Historic Landmark Nomination". 1991. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Park's future triggers fight in Altoona". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 30, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Leap-The-Dips". National Historic Landmarks Program. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ↑ Success of Fund-Raising Efforts - Leap The Dips (Wayback Archive)
- ↑ Leap the Dips Roller Coaster - P. Joseph Lehman, Inc.
- ↑ "Oldest Coaster". Courier-Post. June 3, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Lakemont Park to Close for Renovations During Summer of 2017".
- ↑ Ozana, Rus (July 2, 2020). "Leap The Dips to Reopen". American Coaster Enthusiasts. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ↑ Kibler, William (2024-02-02). "Slim Pickings: Lakemont Park eliminates rides for 2024 season". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ↑ "Up in the air: Company, commissioners try to solve complicated Lakemont Park situation, determine park's future". altoonamirror.com. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
External links
- Leap The Dips on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
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