originally posted on 7/6/2019
In 2019 there has been no shortage of great new and exciting rides to enjoy. But in the midst of all the fastest and tallest, it’s nice to remember the classics and how they fit into the history of this roller coaster hobby. Leap The Dips is a classic wooden roller coaster that has been enjoyed by more than a century of riders, and with the grand reopening of Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania, this summer, there is the hope that it will be enjoyed by a century more.
After a two-summer hiatus, June 2019 marked the ribbon cutting of what Lakemont Park is calling a new era of its life. Mellisa Vyborny, Lakemont’s general manager, explained it best: “This renovation was something we had been thinking about for years. With the addition of the community-centered courts and areas, this transition is making us a true family entertainment center.”
Leap The Dips is the oldest operating roller coaster in the United States, having opened in 1902. The coaster is expected to shake off its standing-but-not-operating status early this July. While it’s not the tallest or the fastest coaster out there, its history is what makes it huge. Skyliner is also a coaster classic, having debuted in 1965 at Roseland Park in Canandaigua, New York, and been rebuilt at Lakemont, where it opened in 1987; it is a double-out-and-back coaster from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It reopened on June 27. These two wooden coasters are joined at the park by Little Leaper, a steel Allan Herschell kiddie coaster. Combined, the three coasters in this park’s coaster lineup add up to almost 200 years.
Photo: Rich Koppelman. View full-sized image.
Vyborny has been with Lakemont for more than two and a half decades, having worked for the park since college. She is proud of both the new direction and the coaster lineup at the park. “My favorite coaster here is the Skyliner, but it’s nice that we have something for all ages. The Skyliner is for those that are more adventurous, but we also have the kiddie coaster for the younger guests, and Leap The Dips, which is enjoyed by grandparents and grandkids alike,” she explains. “Everyone loves Leap The Dips because of the history; we’ve had generations that have ridden it together.”
Photo: Rich Koppelman. View full-sized image.
That doesn’t mean Lakemont isn’t hip to the times, though. Lakemont’s new direction has allowed it to remain a free admission park, with a little something for everyone. People can choose to hone their skills on the brand new basketball or volleyball courts, play minigolf on two courses or spend all their time riding the roller coasters. Lakemont also has some classic flat rides, including a Tin Lizzy Antique Auto and a C.P. Huntington train. This variety makes it truly unique to the community, giving the surrounding area an experience it can rally around. Events are planned throughout the summer and into the winter months, including the return of Holiday Lights on the Lake event for all guests to enjoy. The community-centric aspect is what you feel when speaking to the staff at Lakemont. It’s clear that they are working hard to make something families, historians and thrill seekers alike can enjoy.
— Jes Niemiec
Member Communications Coordinator
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