Little Dipper (Six Flags Great America) Explained

Little Dipper
Location:Six Flags Great America
Section:Yukon Territory
Type:Wood
Manufacturer:Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
Designer:Herbert Schmeck
Model:Junior Coaster
Lift:Chain lift hill
Status:Operating
Year:2010
Height Ft:28
Drop Ft:24
Length Ft:700
Speed Mph:25
Duration:0:50
Inversions:0
Trains:1
Carspertrain:4
Ridersperrow:2
Rowspercar:2
Transfer Accessible:available
Rcdb Number:8985
Extend:
Location:Kiddieland Amusement Park
Status:Relocated to Six Flags Great America
Year:1950

Little Dipper is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. It was built in 1950 at Kiddieland Amusement Park in Melrose Park, Illinois. When the park closed in 2009, Six Flags Great America purchased the ride at an auction. The ride was relocated and reopened on May 27, 2010.

History

In 1950, Little Dipper was built at Kiddieland Amusement Park in Melrose Park, Illinois. The roller coaster was designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters.[1] The ride consisted of a compact figure-eight layout featuring small hills, dips, and turns. Little Dipper cost nine cents per ride,[2] and stood as the sole roller coaster at Kiddieland until the park's closure.[3]

In 2009, Kiddieland closed due to a dispute with the owners of the land.[4] On November 24, 2009, Kiddieland's rides were auctioned off. Six Flags Great America purchased Little Dipper for $33,000, promising to preserve its history.[5] [6] The coaster reopened at Six Flags Great America on May 27, 2010 in the Yukon Territory section of the park.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Little Dipper . Kiddieland . 328 . 2 September 2024.
  2. News: Gettysburg Times . 2 September 2024 . 15 May 1954 . en.
  3. Web site: Marden . Duane . Kiddieland . rcdb . 2 September 2024.
  4. News: Spak . Kara . Kiddieland amusement park in Melrose Park to close :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State . 2 September 2024 . Chicago Sun-Times . 21 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090523140316/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1582779,kiddieland-closing-close-chicago-052009.article . 23 May 2009 . dead.
  5. News: Kiddieland auctions off rides; carousel sells for $355K - Chicago Breaking News . 2 September 2024 . Chicago Breaking News Center . 24 November 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527220726/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/kiddieland-amusement-park-auction-rides.html . 27 May 2010 . dead.
  6. News: Ball . Susan . Six Flags Buys Kiddieland Roller Coaster . 2 September 2024 . NBC Chicago . 25 November 2009.
  7. News: Martinez . Natalie . Little Dipper Reopens at Six Flags . 2 September 2024 . NBC Chicago . 27 May 2010.
  8. Web site: Little Dipper Kids Ride Six Flags Great America . Six Flags . Six Flags Great America . 2 September 2024.