Pleasure Beach Resport Blackpool's Big Dipper makes rollercoaster history
The Big Dipper at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Resport has made rollercoaster history.
The wooden ride, which has delighted generations, is now the oldest operational rollercoaster in the UK following the closure of the Scenic Railway at Dreamland in Margate.
The “out and back” rollercoaster was designed by John A. Miller, built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. for a reported cost of £22,000, and opened on August 23, 1923. It was extended in 1934 with arches over the south entrance of the park and additional drops by American engineer Charles Paige.
The track is a total of 3,295ft, and features five drops and many twists and banking turns, reaching speeds of up to 56kmph. It has a maximum vertical angle of 46 degrees, and subjects riders to a maximum of 3.7 Gs. Each ride takes three minutes to complete and when running at full capacity, it can thrill 672 passengers every hour.
In August 1998, Richard Rodriguez set a world record by riding Big Dipper for over 1,000 hours. There is a plaque commemorating this event in the ride's station. He doubled his record to 2,000 hours two years later.
The ride was given Grade II listing in 2017 by Historic England and is one of only 37 pre-Second World War wooden rollercoasters worldwide (of which four are at Blackpool Pleasure Beach).
Take a ride
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort will fully reopen for the 2026 season on Saturday, March 7. Nickelodeon Land will open earlier for February half-term (Feb 14–22). The park is introducing the new 'Aviktas' ride for 2026.