Final year of Coney Island

[winston89]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:08am

I know I might be a bit late. But, I just read an article that said that this season will be the final season for Coney Island. Developers are looking to completely re do the entier area. Everything will be gone. The only thing that will be saved is the Cyclone because it is a national landmark and thus can't be knocked down.

I know its old and dated but even still I have had some fun times there and I will hate to see this go.

However, I can still see myself making trips out there just to ride the cyclone.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:36am

I'm very sad to see Coney Island go It is tied to my childhood.

My father and I frequently visited the Aquarium. It was a short drive from our house.

[winston89]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 3:49am

The aquarium is going to stay. What is going to go is the amusment parks. Now, I do remember seeing the cover of an AM NY awhile back that showed this picutre of a very decked out Coney Island turned into more of an all year type amusment park and made to be more modern.

But, I think that the whole thing is going to go the way of the wrecking ball and be used for buildings. Everything will go sans the Cyclone because it can't get knocked down because it is a national and city landmark.

I know Coney Island is far from what it once was. But, it is still a fun place regardless.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:05pm

New York isn't like Houston in that it has blatant disregard for its own history, right?


RIGHT?!?

[winston89]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:51am

Cruel, I hear ya.

Coney Island is and always will be a historical place in the city. Sure, the rides are tacky and not the best but that is what makes it fun.

They have been saying for a couple of years now that the next year will be the last year. But, I think that this time they really mean it. That summer 08 will actually be the last summer of Coney.

But, I don't see what the point is in getting rid of it. Do they really want to get rid of Coney Island and replace it with more homes for old people?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 9:54am

You are completely exaggerating the articles. Please learn to comprehend what you are reading before you make posts. Here are the two most recent articles from AM-NY:

http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-coney0523,0,6230361.story

http://www.amny.com/news/local/am-wheel0522,0,5902671.story

[winston89]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 2:53am

This is the link to the article I got my information form. It says that Astroland is closing and it never said what was going to come of it after it closed.

I know that they wanted to re develope the area and do some building there. But, I never knew what they wanted to do with the land. I still think that it should be kept the way it is and not change it at all. They would be changing a historic landmark for the city of new york.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 8:43am

You mean the parachute jump and the Wonder Wheel are going to be demolished?

Heaven forfend!

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:13am

Winston, I just read your signature.

What appalls me about the spelling and grammatical errors that I see not only on this board but in general, has nothing to do with publication or haste in expressing an opinion.

It has everything to do with lack of education and/or concern for the proper use of the language.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:18am

whattaya expect, jane, he's a teacher.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:26am

I'm glad the Cyclone is protected by its landmark status. I just love roller coasters and enjoyed the video accompanying the article where the camera is in the front car and takes the viewer on the ride.

I grew up near West Haven, Connecticut and would visit Savin Rock which was an amusement park right on Long Island Sound, analogous to Coney Island's site. There were two roller coasters and one of them was actually built so that part of it was over the water. One day the cars jumped the track as they came up after the first drop, sending the passenger cars sailing out over the water and killing 2 people. That was the end of that roller coaster that I had ridden on so many times. Years later, housing developers took over the Savin Rock site, demolished everything, and built new housing right on Long Island Sound. Very sad.

The idea of making an all year round amusement park doesn't seem a bad idea, but the existing Ferris Wheel needs to be included in that plan, as well as the protected Cyclone.

Updated On: 5/26/08 at 09:26 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:12am

Gypsy,

I don't know for sure about the Wonder Wheel. It's in a seperate amusment park then the one being torn down. But, it's only a matter of time I feel until the Wonder Wheel amusment park isn't getting any business by Astroland next door and they shut their doors down.

The Wonder Wheel is a city landmark as oppose to the Cyclone wich is a city and national landmark. I don't know if the Wonder Wheel being a city landmark gives it much protecton. I know that due to the fact that the Cyclone is both a national and city landmark it gives it protection. But, I don't know how safe a city landmark status is.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 3:27pm

"whattaya expect, jane, he's a teacher."

Oh dear.

[Lavieboheme2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 4:56pm

actually im going there next week. me and my theatre group are going to see some broadway stuff and then spend one of the afternoons there

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 5:01pm

gudd fer u

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 5:25pm

I'm coming to NY for a weekend in July and I think that I just may spend a day at Coney Island. I've only been there once and I loved it. Just a day on the boardwalk and an evening watching baseball at the Brooklyn Cyclones park. I really want to go again - before it changes anymore.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 5:36pm

I hope it's in better shape than it was last time I was there. I had gone to shoot some pictures and it was so depressing. I mean the rides and grounds were in states of disrepair and neglect.

When there are crowds there, though, you would hardly notice it. It's still fun to go to Nathan's and walk the boardwalk. The beach is huge and fun to people-watch!

[winston89]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 6:29pm

I agree that some of the places there have seen better days. I know the dark rides there and the Wonder Wheel as well as the Cyclone are the oldest things there. They keep them the way they are more for the fact that they are considered classics rather then anything else.

A lot of the other rides you can find at any run of the mill amusement park or carnival. Yet, there is something about going to these rides on Coney Island that make it special.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/27/08 at 2:34am

I haven't been to Coney Island since last year. The fireworks are really pretty. They do them on Friday nights.

I've only been on the cyclone once a few years ago (after lots of persuasion, I'm kind of a chicken, lol).

I'd love to meet some of you if you would like to PM me when you are going.

Diane

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 5/27/08 at 3:16am

Where will "The Warriors" go?