Is Coney Island, birthplace of american coasters, struggling? I've never been there, but from trip reports I've read, sometimes the crowds are not there. Plus they have a lack of parking. What do you think?
----------------- CP! Still the coaster capital of the world in 2002! My fellow Americans; Let's Roll! WoodenCoaster.com
Coney Island has not been the same since Robert Moses, who was Commissioner of parks and beaches, made it his sworn duty to get rid of the "mechanical Coney Island". His vision was to make the area manicured lawns and pristine beaches.This movement started as for back as 1946 when Luna Park burned for the last time. Low cost housing went in, and as the leases came up for renewal on the old amusement areas,they weren't .Everybody thought when Steeplechase "went dark" that the days of the old Coney were numbered. Fortunately,tenacitiously, it has held on. It may be only a shadow of it's former self, but it's still Coney Island.
Could someone come in with newer coasters and some Huss rides and give it some more life? Like if another park was build ajacent? ----------------- CP! Still the coaster capital of the world in 2002! My fellow Americans; Let's Roll! WoodenCoaster.com
I remember hearing on the last week of thrillride.com than there was something new and big coming to denos wonderland - either on the lines of a vekoma slc clone, or a sky screamer. I hope its true, becasue I live close to here and its alwasy fun to come down and ride the cyclone, or do the other rides. I feel like im walking down history lane (my grandmother is 90, and she rode the cyclone when she was 20). ----------------- How much more floorless can they get?
GAA, the land where the Thunderbolt (R.I.P.) stood was taken over by the city to use for a sports field or something, wasn't it? I got to see the T-Bolt at the SpringCon of '00, even had a few hours of ERT on CI Cyclone...what a day! ----------------- PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!
The park looks seriously toe up!!! If I had the money I would buy it from the city and renovate it into a full scale amusement park. The possibilities are endless!!!
------------- Baby, I'm not always there when you call, but I'm always on time.
For those of you that haven't been there, Coney Island isn't a park. It is an area made up of two parks (there were more in the past) and many individual amusements and concessions. A lot of the land has reverted to the city, while some is still privately owned. The Cyclone, for instance, actually belongs to the city of New York. Astroland has the lease to operate it.