The ride
Zip is a wood roller coaster built by Traver Engineering at Oaks Amusement Park in Oregon, having opened to the public in 1927. After 99 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Oaks Amusement Park midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 60 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. In total the track stretches 250 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Traver Engineering have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Traver Engineering installations will pick up on the same DNA in Zip's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Zip early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Oaks Amusement Park typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Oaks Amusement Park, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.