No people? No problem. Theme park uses giant teddies to test California coaster
With the public shut out due to the coronavirus crisis, one California theme park is getting creative with how it keeps its coasters ready to run for the park’s full reopening.
Visitors of Belmont Park in San Diego can’t ride the rides, but that hasn’t stopped them from enjoying test runs of the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The 95-year-old attraction has to be run several times a day to keep the machinery running smoothly, according to the newspaper. So, what would’ve been an empty six-car train treading the tracks is now loaded each day with about a dozen giant plush pets.
Belmont Park marketing manager Daniela Bower said the amusement ride featuring the fuzzy friends has been a hit.
“The community has really enjoyed it and it doesn’t fail to put a smile on everyone’s faces as they see the roller coaster train go by with rainbow llamas, purple elephants and giant teddies enjoying the ride,” Bower told McClatchy News.
Bower said park operators were brainstorming reopening plans with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which has a sister coaster also called the Giant Dipper, when they came up with the fun idea.
“We wanted to find a solution that would enhance the guest experience, rather than be a burden to the guest,” she explained. “We came up with placing stuffed animals in the empty seats that would not be occupied by guests due to social distancing.
“When we ran the idea by our rides and maintenance teams, they loved it,” Bower added.
The Giant Dipper was built in 1925 during “the Golden Age of wooden roller coasters” and is the brainchild of the Prior and Church Company, according to the amusement park’s website. The park fell on hard times and closed in 1976, prompting a group of concerned citizens to band together and form the Save the Coaster Committee to stop the ride’s demolition.
The San Diego Coaster Company, formed in 1990, signed a lease with the city of San Diego and the coaster was restored at a cost of $2 million, the park says.
“Today, the Giant Dipper stands as an icon of the San Diego beachfront,” according to Belmont Park.
People passing through the park have posted photos and video of the coaster carrying the giant plush pets — each of which are about 4 feet tall, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Though park-goers wish they could enjoy the ride, they say watching the stuffed animals has been just as fun.
“The first best story I’ve heard in months. Look how much fun they’re having!!” one Facebook user commented on video of the teddy bears coasting down the 75-foot mountain.
“We were there this weekend and my girls thought this was the best thing ever!!!!!!” another user chimed in.
The historic roller coaster will celebrate its 95th anniversary on July 4, local station KGTV reported.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 12:32 PM with the headline "No people? No problem. Theme park uses giant teddies to test California coaster."