Plush animals get rollercoaster joyride in the absence of human riders

With the public locked out, stuffed animals are riding this rollercoaster every day. Photo: K.C. ALFRED/TNS

Like many tourist attractions, The Giant Dipper rollercoaster at Belmont Park amusement park in San Diego, the United States, was closed to the public in mid-March when stay-at-home orders were announced.

But the historic rollercoaster couldn’t just shut down and ride out the pandemic. The 95-year-old amusement ride must be operated multiple times a day to keep its machinery from tightening up from lack of use. So rather than have the six-car coaster train barrelling down the tracks with empty seats every day, its operators decided to strap in some riders who are immune to the coronavirus.