SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Since Belmont Park first opened to the public in 1925, the historic Mission Beach amusement park and its iconic wooden roller coaster have become synonymous with San Diego's beach culture. Located at 3000 Mission Blvd., Belmont Park welcomed its first guests on July 4, 1 925, under its original name, Mission Beach Amusement Center. New high-speed thrill ride coming soon to Belmont Park Its star attraction? The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, formerly called the "Earthquake" or sometimes "Mission Beach Roller Coaster." Aerial view of Belmont Park in 1927, a historic oceanfront amusement park located on Mission Beach. (City of San Diego/Harry (Jimmy) Erickson) Belmont Park history Both the park and coaster were part of a $2.5 million development project led by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels, the real estate developer behind other projects including the Hotel del Coronado, the Spreckels Organ Theatre in Balboa Park and the Lower Otay Dam. His goal for the waterfront amusement park -- called the Mission Beach Amusement Center at the time -- was to attract people to the Mission Beach area, especially as roller coasters began peaking in popularity across America during the 1920s. During the Great Depression and World War II, amusement parks began to decline. The Mission Beach Amusement Center was sold to a new owner after Spreckels died. It was then renamed "Belmont Park" in the 1950s as it turned its focus on family-friendly entertainment. 1977 photo of the roller coaster in Belmont Park, then called 'Earthquake' now the 'Giant Dipper'. (City of San Diego photographer) Origin of the 'Giant Dipper' The Giant Dipper was the largest on the West Coast at the time it was built and is one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the country. Featuring rolled steel tracks totaling about 2,800 feet and "hills" that reach a height of 75 feet, the beloved ride attracts millions of visitors each year. The coaster has gone through a slew of ups and downs over its lifetime, including surviving a fire in 1957 and several earthquakes. Belmont Park celebrating major birthday on Fourth of July Then, in the late '70s, San Diego residents demanded the demolition of the Giant Dipper as it fell into disrepair. Years later, over $2 million was spent on restoring the coaster and a new train that contains six four-passenger cars. It continued to face questions regarding its structural integrity after pictures taken by a visitor in early 2025 brought issues to the public eye. A spokesperson for the amusement park told FOX 5/KUSI at the time that inspections on rides happen routinely to ensure the public's safety. Despite its hurdles, the Giant Dipper remains a fan favorite for people seeking a classic thrill. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. ...read more read less