The story
Probably from the name given to some rides, such as the Black Pool Big Dipper (1923).
First known use, by meaning
- from 1845 A bright circumpolar asterism of the northern sky, said to resemble a ladle or cart, and a part of the constellation Ursa Major which includes the stars Mizar, Dubhe, and Alkaid. The other stars comprising it are Alioth, Megrez, Merak, and Phecda.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.