Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster

Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location	400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, California
Coordinates	36°57′53″N 122°0′56″W / 36.96472°N 122.01556°WCoordinates: 36°57′53″N 122°0′56″W / 36.96472°N 122.01556°W
Built	1911
Architect	Charles I. D. Looff; Arthur Looff
Architectural style	Other
NRHP Reference #	87000764
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 27, 1987[1]
Designated NHL	February 24, 1987[2]

Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster On The Beach Boardwalk is a National Historic Landmark composed of two parts, a Looff carousel and the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Looff Carousel

Brass Ring dispenser and target on Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Looff Carousel in Santa Cruz, California The ring dispenser is visible as a mechanical arm crossing to the upper left, where a rider is grabbing the ring

The Looff Carousel includes a brass ring dispenser. Riders on the outside horses can reach out and try to grab rings which then get tossed at the target which is a large clown's mouth. It is one of the only ring dispeners still operating in the world. Sometimes, riders keep the rings to remember their visit.

Roof of the Carousel

The Looff family was one of the major early manufacturers of carousels, including this 1911 example. Only five other intact Looff carousels remain in the United States. The 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster is the older of the two large, wooden scaffolded roller coasters remaining on the West Coast.

The Looff Carousel and Giant Dipper roller coaster were both declared National Historic Landmarks in 1987.^[2][3]

Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster

The Giant Dipper is a classic wooden roller coaster that still provides entertainment over 90 years after it debuted.

References

1. National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. "Santa Cruz Looff Carousel & Roller Coaster On The Beach Boardwalk". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
3. James H. Charleton (October 15, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Roller Coaster ("The Big Dipper") and Carousel" (pdf). National Park Service and Accompanying 3 photos, from 1985. (628 KB)

External links