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Leap-The-Dips
Leap-The-Dips is a wooden roller coaster located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Built in 1902 by the Federal Construction Company and designed by E. Joy Morris, it is the oldest standing roller coaster in the world and believed to be the last surviving side-friction roller coaster of the figure-eight variety.
Leap-the-Dips operated continuously until 1985, when it closed after falling into disrepair. A fundraising campaign led to its restoration, with refurbishment efforts beginning in 1997 and ending with a grand-reopening in 1999. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996 and received the Coaster Classic and Coaster Landmark awards from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE).
Leap-The-Dips was designed by Edward Joy Morris and constructed by the Federal Construction Company. It opened to the public in 1902 at Lakemont Park. Its figure-eight design was common on side friction roller coasters constructed in the early 1900s, reaching peak popularity in the Roaring Twenties. Leap-The-Dips is one of the few coasters to survive from the era and is considered the oldest remaining roller coaster in the world.
In 1985, the attraction closed as a result of structural integrity concerns and lack of maintenance funds. A fundraising effort initiated by the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization led to the formation of the Leap-The-Dips Foundation, which accepted private donations and worked with eight local banks along with the Progress Fund to save the roller coaster from demolition.
Restoration began in 1997, utilizing carpentry techniques that were performed during its original construction, with over seventy percent of the original wood remaining intact. Leap-The-Dips officially reopened to the public on May 31, 1999.
Prior to its restoration by P. Joseph Lehman, Inc., Consulting Engineers, the roller coaster was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Several years later in 1996, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Following its reopening, ACE awarded Leap-The-Dips two awards, the Coaster Landmark Award and the Coaster Classic Award.
In early 2017, it was announced that Lakemont Park would undergo a complete restoration and transformation that would require the park to remain closed for one season; and announced that it would remain closed during the 2018 season with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. The park opened in 2019.[citation needed] The coaster has not been operational since 2023; the park claimed financial constraints forced them to suspend operation of their amusement rides.
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Leap-The-Dips
Leap-The-Dips is a wooden roller coaster located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Built in 1902 by the Federal Construction Company and designed by E. Joy Morris, it is the oldest standing roller coaster in the world and believed to be the last surviving side-friction roller coaster of the figure-eight variety.
Leap-the-Dips operated continuously until 1985, when it closed after falling into disrepair. A fundraising campaign led to its restoration, with refurbishment efforts beginning in 1997 and ending with a grand-reopening in 1999. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996 and received the Coaster Classic and Coaster Landmark awards from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE).
Leap-The-Dips was designed by Edward Joy Morris and constructed by the Federal Construction Company. It opened to the public in 1902 at Lakemont Park. Its figure-eight design was common on side friction roller coasters constructed in the early 1900s, reaching peak popularity in the Roaring Twenties. Leap-The-Dips is one of the few coasters to survive from the era and is considered the oldest remaining roller coaster in the world.
In 1985, the attraction closed as a result of structural integrity concerns and lack of maintenance funds. A fundraising effort initiated by the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization led to the formation of the Leap-The-Dips Foundation, which accepted private donations and worked with eight local banks along with the Progress Fund to save the roller coaster from demolition.
Restoration began in 1997, utilizing carpentry techniques that were performed during its original construction, with over seventy percent of the original wood remaining intact. Leap-The-Dips officially reopened to the public on May 31, 1999.
Prior to its restoration by P. Joseph Lehman, Inc., Consulting Engineers, the roller coaster was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Several years later in 1996, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Following its reopening, ACE awarded Leap-The-Dips two awards, the Coaster Landmark Award and the Coaster Classic Award.
In early 2017, it was announced that Lakemont Park would undergo a complete restoration and transformation that would require the park to remain closed for one season; and announced that it would remain closed during the 2018 season with plans to reopen as a "family entertainment location with some amusements" in the summer of 2019. The park opened in 2019.[citation needed] The coaster has not been operational since 2023; the park claimed financial constraints forced them to suspend operation of their amusement rides.
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