Tucked into the Planet Snoopy section of California’s Great America in Santa Clara, Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies is a gentle kiddie coaster built for the park’s youngest thrill-seekers. Riders climb aboard crab-themed taxi cabs named for Peanuts character Lucy van Pelt and set off on a short loop of turns, dips, and bunny hills that doubles back over the same stretch of track during a single ride cycle.
The ride opened in 1999 as Taxi Jam before being rethemed and renamed Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies in 2015. Built by E&F Miler Industries, the same manufacturer behind countless kiddie coasters at parks nationwide, it remains one of the gentlest ways for families to introduce children to the feeling of a chain lift hill and a few harmless airtime bumps.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: California’s Great America (Santa Clara, California)
- Manufacturer: E&F Miler Industries
- Opened: 1999 (as Taxi Jam; renamed in 2015)
- Maximum climb height: About 8 feet
- Inversions: 0
- Capacity: 12 riders (6 two-across cars)
- Minimum height: 40 inches unaccompanied; 36 inches with a supervising companion
The Ride Experience
Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies keeps things simple: an 8-foot climb up a chain lift followed by a run of gentle turns, twists, and small dips designed to feel exciting without being intimidating. The train of crab-shaped taxi cabs travels the compact layout twice during a single cycle, giving young riders a longer taste of the action than the short footprint might suggest.
Because the coaster sits well below the thrill threshold of the park’s bigger rides, it’s frequently the first roller coaster many Great America visitors ever ride. The combination of a real lift hill, a few airtime bumps, and Peanuts theming makes it a memorable starting point for a lifetime of coaster riding.
Location and Theming
The ride lives in Planet Snoopy, California’s Great America’s dedicated kids’ area themed around the Peanuts gang. Its name and crab-taxi cars tie into Lucy van Pelt, and the attraction fits alongside other family-friendly rides in the same zone, making it easy for parents to let older kids ride the coaster while younger siblings enjoy nearby attractions.
The park has occasionally renamed its kiddie rides as sponsorships and theming shift, and Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies’ switch from the original Taxi Jam name in 2015 reflects that pattern without changing the ride’s layout or mechanics.
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Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies FAQs
How tall do you have to be to ride Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies?
Riders must be at least 40 inches tall to ride alone, or 36 inches tall when accompanied by a supervising companion. Guests over 60 inches must ride with a child.
Was Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies always called that?
No. The coaster opened in 1999 as Taxi Jam and was renamed Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies in 2015.
Who manufactured Lucy’s Crabbie Cabbies?
E&F Miler Industries, a manufacturer known for compact kiddie coasters, built the ride.
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Photo: Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.