The ride
Zippin Pippin is a wood roller coaster built by Martin & Vleminckx at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Wisconsin, having opened to the public in 2011. After 15 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Bay Beach 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 70 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. That opening drop measures 63 ft, long enough to pin riders against their restraints and pull a prolonged moment of weightless airtime over the lap-bar. Trains reach a top speed of 42.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 234 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 Martin & Vleminckx have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Martin & Vleminckx installations will pick up on the same DNA in Zippin Pippin's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Zippin Pippin early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Bay Beach Amusement Park typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Bay Beach Amusement Park, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.