A California roller coaster is closed to visitors, so stuffed animals are riding it every day instead
- Belmont Park in San Diego, California, closed its rides in mid-March, but one hasn't stopped.
- The old Giant Dipper roller coaster has to keep running to stop its machinery from tightening up.
- The park decided to replace riders with giant stuffed animals to bring some joy to onlookers.
Though the rides at Belmont Park in San Diego, California, had to close due to the coronavirus in mid-March, the Giant Dipper roller coaster couldn't stop running. Since the historic ride is almost 95 years old, it needs to run the tracks multiple times a day to keep its machinery from tightening up.
Rather than see the Giant Dipper run with empty seats, park workers decided to strap in about a dozen giant stuffed animals. Since the animals' first ride last week, they've been riding the coaster every day, two times an hour, from 12 p.m to 6 p.m., the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Photos show the stuffed animals, some of which are 3 to 4 feet tall, having the time of their lives.
The animals don't serve any purpose to the ride itself, but are just something to make people smile in tough times. While the park's rides are closed, the parking lot, games, and restaurants are open, so visitors are able to see the stuffed toys on the Big Dipper.
Daniela Bower, the senior marketing manager at Belmont Park, told Insider, "We decided to keep the plush animals in their seats and use it as an opportunity to spread joy to passers-by. The community has really enjoyed it and it doesn't fail to put a smile on everyone's faces as they see the roller coaster train go by with rainbow llamas, purple elephants, and giant teddies enjoying the ride."
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