Coney Island Cyclone Ready to Roll Again

Photo courtesy of Coney Island Cyclone PR and © Charles Denson

It's almost Palm Sunday, and you know what that means. Religious significance aside, it's time for the world's most famous roller coaster to make her 2010 debut! The Coney Island Cyclone will emerge from hibernation on March 28 at noon, complete with all the pomp and circumstance you would expect from a Coney Island event. The festivities are scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. and will include a performance by NYC's own Hungry March Band as well as a ceremonial cracking of a bottle of egg cream on the front of the first train to leave the station. And if you happen to be one of the first 100 riders, you get to ride for FREE!

Photo courtesy of Coney Island Cyclone PR and © Charles Denson

It's a pretty safe bet that at least a couple (if not all) of the individuals pictured above will be on hand for this special event. Enjoying a lap on the classic woodie on opening day 2005 were (from left to right) Keith Nelson of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and "Miss Cyclone" Angie Pontani in the front seat, accompanied by Jen Gapay of Thirsty Girl Productions and Cyclone/Astroland operator Carol Hill Albert in the back.

For the full press release on this year's event, visit the official Coney Island Cyclone web site. While you're at it, you may also want to check out their photo gallery on Flickr or join their Facebook group. This is shaping up to be a great season for the People's Playground, and the Cyclone crew would love for all of you to help them kick it off in style!

Coney Island Gets Early Christmas Gift

The Grinch who stole Coney Island has given part of it back! After gobbling up parcel after parcel of precious real estate over the past four years and failing to establish any semblance of a permanent business on any of them, Thor Equities CEO Joe Sitt has finally agreed to sell a portion of his holdings back to the City.

The stand-off between Sitt and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a long and frustrating one. Even after the City's hotly debated redevelopment plan was approved this past summer, it was unclear whether their ambitious plans would ever come to fruition due to the smattering of Thor properties that were located right in the heart of the amusement district. But after a year of failed negotiations between the two parties, it was announced on Thursday that Sitt has agreed to sell approximately seven acres of prime real estate to the City for a cool $95.6 million. The parcels changing hands include the former site of Astroland as well as a couple other half-block sites located between the boardwalk and Surf Avenue. Both sides are said to have described the deal as a "win-win" situation.

The City is wasting no time in putting their new holdings to use. Yesterday they put out a request for proposals seeking parties who would be interested in developing and operating an amusement park and/or other entertainment venues on the three sites. Proposals are due by December 18, with one of the requirements being that the developer must have amusements in place on the former Astroland site (if not all three sites) in time for the 2010 summer season. Former Astroland owner Carol Albert previously stated that she intended to throw her hat into the ring if such an RFP were to be issued, so the chance of the storied park rising from the ashes of its former lot is a very real (though by no means guaranteed) possibility. It will be interesting to see how the situation plays out.

While local residents are cautiously optimistic about the City's "new deal", don't expect to seem them asking either Joe Sitt or Michael Bloomberg to carve the roast beast just yet. The fact remains that Thor still owns 5.6 acres of Coney Island, and even the City's plan does not prevent high-rises from springing up right next to--and possibly choking--the famed amusement district. Nevertheless, nobody disputes the fact that this week's agreement is a step in the right direction. The Mayor has promised that Coney Island will "be back" in 2010. I hope he's right!

Could Astroland Rise Again?

Astroland's last survivor--for now...

Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until Carol Hill Albert decides it is! Or at least, that's what she's been telling the local media. The Albert family (former owners of the theoretically defunct Astroland) may have lost the battle with Thor Equities, but they are intent on winning the war if the right opportunity presents itself.

Albert's lamentations over losing the lease on the former Astroland site have been matched only by the lamentations of the many locals and visitors who were devastated to see this piece of history disappear from the Coney Island landscape. And with the recent approval of the City's controversial "makeover" plan and the resultant question mark that has been placed on Thor Equities' future presence at the People's Playground, one can't help but wonder what could have been. Fortunately, this convoluted series of events may yield a glimmer of hope yet.

Pending the outcome of its real estate negotiations with Thor, the City is expected to issue a request for proposals in an effort to solicit entities who are interested in operating an amusement park at the "new" Coney Island. If and when that happens, Albert plans to throw Astroland's hat into the ring. She told another local newspaper that "every bolt and every screw" from Astroland is currently in storage, and that she would be interested in purchasing even more rides if the park were to be reincarnated at some point in the future. As things stand today, 23 of Astroland's rides live on (albeit quietly) in an undisclosed storage location.

This came as a bit of a surprise to me, as the last thing I remember reading was that all of Astroland's rides had been put up for sale after the park closed its gates at the end of the 2008 season. But hey, at least it was a pleasant surprise! Carol deserves a lot of credit for taking a chance on preserving the remnants of this beloved park. While Astroland's return to Coney Island is far from a sure thing, it's wonderful to know that it is within the realm of possibility. The reemergence of a classic Coney landmark could be just what the City needs to make its plan a bit more palatable.

Cyclone Manager Gerry Menditto Honored

When most people visit an amusement park, they expect things to just "work". The blood, sweat, and tears that are poured into each individual ride on a daily basis are often overlooked or flat out taken for granted. New York non-profit organization City Lore isn't about to let that happen to Gerry Menditto. Gerry, who has served on the maintenance crew for the legendary Coney Island Cyclone since 1975 and currently manages the ride, will be inducted into City Lore's People's Hall of Fame at a ceremony that will take place on October 25, 2009.

The People's Hall of Fame was established by City Lore in 1993 to honor individuals who have made significant grassroots contributions to New York City's cultural life. Gerry is being honored for his dedication to keeping the "world's greatest roller coaster" up and running for all residents and visitors to enjoy.

Public media provider Thirteen.org has produced an excellent mini-documentary on Gerry's involvement with the Cyclone, and I have embedded it above for your viewing pleasure. It features an interview with Gerry, some great footage of both the Cyclone and Coney Island, and quite a few behind-the-scenes geek shots for those of us who are interested in the "nuts and bolts" of it all. Interestingly, the man who lovingly maintains this famous ride day in and day out has never even taken a spin on it--Apparently he doesn't like drops!

For the full story on Gerry's selection, visit Amusing the Zillion. Congratulations, Gerry! Long may you maintain this treasured coaster.

One Slice of The People's Playground, Please!

The main course was hot dogs. Now it's time to move on to dessert! As the title insinuates, this mini trip report is a departure from my usual excessively verbose format. (Please hold back your tears!) In fact, it's not so much a TR as it is a whirlwind tour of a few of the major landmarks at Coney Island. My time at The People's Playground was brief, so the amusements had to take a backseat this time around. (Blasphemous, I know!)

Nevertheless, certain "sights" at Coney Island simply must be photographed during every visit, regardless of how ubiquitous they have become within modern culture. Who am I to break tradition? So pay close attention, because I'm sure you've never seen any of the following landmarks before!

Dormant since 1968, but still standing proud!

The inventor of Coney Island's iconic Parachute Jump had originally set out to build a better training structure for military paratroopers. Turns out it made a great amusement ride too! This model first operated at the 1939 New York World's Fair and was later purchased by the Tilyou family for Steeplechase Park.

I took this photo well before the masses descended upon Coney Island. The boardwalk sure was peaceful first thing in the morning, but that wouldn't last long!

The next few photos capture a piece of Coney Island that isn't so much a landmark as a travesty. "Dream Land" or "Dreamland" or however they choose to spell it on any given day is Thor Equities' attempt to sweep the Astroland debacle under the rug and pretend that they're giving something back to the people of Brooklyn. (And apparently spelling is not their strong suit: "showes"?)

Set up in the lot where Astroland used to stand, this carnival of sorts features a couple dozen rides, a "freak show", and inflatables galore. It was named after the original Dreamland Park which existed at Coney Island from 1904-1911, an association which is...well, laughable.

That being said, I predict that this place is going to make a killing this summer. Why? Two words: Dragon Wagon. Or more specifically, Michael Jackson's Dragon Wagon. That's right folks, it's right here at Dreamland! The story actually broke the day we were at Coney Island and as soon as word gets out, I'm sure that adoring fans will be descending upon this place like vultures. I can't say I blame them. Had I known this information at the time, I may have made a point to ride it myself.

And by the way, don't expect this newly discovered coaster "installation" to show up in the annals of RCDB anytime soon (although there is a brief mention of the ride's current whereabouts). Such privileges are reserved for permanent parks, and Dreamland is anything but that. Come Fall, this Coney Island "squatter" will be a nothing but a memory and the old Astroland lot will return to its empty, abandoned state.

Needless to say, Dreamland was still closed at the time these photos were taken. I didn't bother returning when it was open, partially due to time constraints but primarily because I couldn't stomach the thought of supporting Thor Equities in any way, shape, or form. Nevertheless, if this park manages to draw a few extra visitors to Coney Island, I'm all for that. If you'd like to check it out, this thread on Theme Park Review includes photos of virtually every ride, Dragon Wagon included!

What was I saying about keeping this brief? Let's fast forward to the part where everything is open. By the time the last hot dogs were consumed at Nathan's, Coney Island had become a veritable sea of people--none of whom had the patience for an ogling, tweeting, photo-taking blogger!

Shoot the Freak: An oldie but goodie

In order to truly "get" Coney Island, you really need to experience it firsthand. And leave your "PC" sensitivities at home, because somehow the bizarre, the outrageous, and the downright disturbing make perfect sense here. There's not another place like it on this planet!


Now that Astroland is gone, the burden of preserving Coney Island's legendary amusement history rests squarely on the shoulders of the Vourderis family, owners of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. If the message printed on the park map is any indication, they are up to the challenge. It reads: "Open this year, and next year and next and next and next."


Stepping into Deno's is like stepping back in time--in a good way! Although the park has changed and evolved through the years, it has also stayed very much the same. Deno's is classic Coney.

Swinging cars: Only for the bravest of riders and the strongest of bladders!

The centerpiece of this park, of course, is the magnificent Wonder Wheel itself. This 150-foot tall landmark opened in 1920 and has managed to maintain a perfect safety record throughout its history.


Our last stop on this ever so brief tour of Deno's is the Spook-A-Rama, a classic Pretzel dark ride built in 1955. It was the last permanently installed dark ride to make an appearance at The People's Playground. In honor of Spook-A-Rama's 50th birthday in 2005, the Laff in the Dark organization presented the Vourderis family with the Leon S. Cassidy Achievement and Preservation Award for their continuing commitment to the maintenance and preservation of this historic ride.


If you are a history buff (or even if you aren't), do not leave Coney Island without paying a visit to the Coney Island History Project. This not-for-profit organization was founded by Carol Hill Albert and Jerome Albert (former owners of Astroland) in 2004. Its purpose is to increase awareness and appreciation of Coney Island's past, present, and future, with special emphasis being placed on its illustrious history. The History Project's exhibition center is certainly easy enough to find, as it is located right beneath the Cyclone!

Speaking of which...Time constraints or not, there was no way I was leaving Coney Island without taking a spin on the most legendary coaster of them all!


Earlier in the day, before the Cyclone opened to the public, I happened to catch a glimpse of a maintenance worker walking the track. So of course I had to snap a couple photos!


Our friend in maintenance must be doing something right, because the old girl was running like a well-oiled machine! It was even better than I remembered. The Cyclone stands as one of the last survivors of that fabled "golden age" of roller coasters, and it is everything you would expect a coaster built in the 1920s to be: Pure, raw, unadulterated, bone-rattling fun.


I must also give props to the members of the Cyclone's ride crew, as they, too, were working together like a well-oiled machine. The loading and dispatch times were lightning fast. I don't think the line stopped moving once!

I was lucky to get a few seconds to quickly snap some photos inside the station. The crew let me know in their own subtle, friendly, yet unmistakably authoritative way that I was not to dawdle! Point taken. I would not dream of interfering with such an efficient operation!



Now that it's all said and done, I guess this TR ended up being a little longer than I thought. That's pretty amazing considering that I didn't even have many photos to share! Let me assure you that the next time I visit Coney Island, it will be all about the rides. Until then, I hope you've enjoyed your lil' slice of the world's most famous amusement area!

Daily Spin 6.6.09

As the "on" season kicks into full swing, the ever innovative marketing gurus at Hersheypark continue to assault our senses with technology. This week the park reminded the Facebook community to check out the "Hersheypark Today" mobile web site (mobile.hersheypark.com), which provides up-to-the-minute information on burning topics such as ride statuses and entertainment schedules. Definitely something to check out for all you technophiles who are cool enough to own an iPhone or some other fun toy that actually makes surfing the web on a mobile device somewhat enjoyable! On another technological front, the team has supplemented the supremely entertaining Hersheypark Hits the Road blog with an equally entertaining series of videos that capture John and Luke's antics during their recent trip to the Sunshine State. These videos are available for your viewing pleasure on Hershey's YouTube channel as well as the blog itself. Hilarious!

Speaking of technology, this week Morey's Piers launched their brand new web site, a facelift that was 10 months in the making. Norris Clark, Director of Sales and Marketing, called the effort "the most involved project the marketing department has undertaken in years". I must say their hard work has paid off, because the site looks great! Among other things, a slew of new multimedia components have been added, including a new and improved 360-degree interactive tour, audio introductions to each of the main navigation areas by their respective team leaders, and the option to view the site in "day", "night", or "thrill" mode. Be sure to check it out!

In other seaside news, the North Myrtle Beach City Council has approved new amusement park guidelines which will allow the proposed plan to build a small, family-oriented park along Ocean Boulevard to move forward. The park, which will be called O.D. Pavilion and Amusement Park ["O.D." referring to the Ocean Drive section of Myrtle Beach], is scheduled to open August 1 and will stay open through Labor Day weekend. If all goes well, it will reopen next year for a full summer season. You can read more about the park in this article from The Sun News.

Carol and Jerome Albert, former owners of Coney Island's beloved but now defunct Astroland, have donated one of the stars that used to adorn Astroland's entrance to the Smithsonian collection according to this article. The 8-foot tall, 200-pound star, which features 160 light bulbs, is slated to be put on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Northern Virginia sometime in 2011. Margaret A. Weitekamp, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum who hand-picked this particular star, noted that the Alberts had originally offered to donate Astroland's famed rocket simulation ride but that particular item proved to be "a little more than the Air and Space Museum could handle". But since the rocket has since found a good home-not-away-from-home as well, the story has a happy ending. Or at least, as happy of an ending as you can get when it comes at the expense of losing Astroland. At least we will not lose its history!

Astroland Rocket Saved

New York city officials have announced that the famous Astroland Rocket will be saved and be incorporated into the redevelopment of Coney Island.

"The 71 foot-long, 14,000 pound Rocket was removed from its perch atop Gregory and Paul’s boardwalk stand in anticipation of its move to Homeport in Staten Island, a City-owned facility operated by NYCEDC. The Rocket will become a permanent and iconic part of the 27 acre redeveloped amusement district in Coney Island. "

Carol Hill Albert and Jerry Albert, whose family owned Astroland, donated the famous Rocket to the city for use in the redevelopment.

"The Rocket was the first ride debuted at Astroland Park when it opened in 1962 and one of the first space voyage simulators created during the Space Race. Originally built as the "Star Flyer," it was renamed the Astroland Rocket in 1963 and continued to operate through the 1970’s. The ride had 26 seats and lifted on hydraulics to simulate launching into space. "

It's wonderful that the city is trying to preserve some history as part of their plans for Coney Island.

Astroland Brochure

The actual brochure is undated but was sent to me in 1998. There's that famous Cyclone coaster right on the front!

Dante's Inferno is a popular dark ride at the park, the ride is pretty famous - it even has its own wiki page. The ride is currently for sale, and if Astroland is closed for really real I certainly hope someone buys it.

You like that breakdance there in the middle? It's for sale for $300k! Make it yours today!

More of the park's rides. The water flume they have is one of the older ones around. Again, even if Astroland really is closed for good the Cyclone coaster will continue to operate in future years.

Astroland is Closed

© 2008 The New York Times

I held off posting about the closing of Astroland until now because I wasn't sure that the closing 'announcement' was legit (or just made to generate press to get the park another lease) but it appears as it was.

That said, it looks like Astroland closed for forever last night. The operator of the park says that Thor Equities, who is planning on redeveloping Coney Isand in general, would not even meet her to discuss a new lease to open the park again next year.

The Cyclone roller coaster and Wonder Wheel will be be open next year, as they are not technically part of Astroland. What a major piece of American history to lose.

Here's a Times article on the situation. Here's all the park's rides listed on a broker's site.

Astroland's Future

While reading this article from the New York Times about the future of Coney Island's Astroland, I remembered that the park had sent me some info on the Cyclone years ago. I dug it out and here is a fact sheet the park sent me ages ago.

You can tell it was ages ago because it was done on a typewriter. Ack! A typewriter, what is that?

Anyway, the future of Astroland and the area surrounding it either looks really bright or just as dim as it's been for years now.

If the developers' plans work out, the area will be a filled with new and exciting rides and attractions, as well as retail, food, and housing, but if not, who knows what will happen. The park is already slated to close after this season.

That said, if you're in the area take a trip!