One of the most iconic amusement parks in the United States is the park that sits on Coney Island in New York. Chances are you have heard of Coney Island in pop culture, or you have seen the iconic boardwalk view, or perhaps you have even been lucky enough to have ridden one of the historical rides.
However, there are a few things about this iconic park that you may not know. We are breaking down 5 things about Coney Island that you probably didn’t know.
1. Coney Island isn’t the actual name of the amusement park
Though the name Coney Island has become synonymous with the boardwalk rides and games, the actual park name is not Coney Island. In fact, there are currently two separate parks that makeup Coney Island’s amusement attraction line-up. These two parks are Luna Park and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.
Although the amusement park history on Coney Island dates all the way back to the 1800s, these two parks have only been around for the past few decades. In the 1900s, three parks opened on Coney Island: Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park.
Sadly, fires caused the original Luna Park and Dreamland to close. Over the years, many of the iconic attractions changed ownership, and several different owners opened up new parks like New Dreamland, which lasted only one season, and Astroland which was the only operating park for over 20 years. However, in 1983, Denos D. Vourderis purchased the Wonder Wheel and over the years has built up a park with over two dozen attractions for all ages.
The new Luna Park opened in and was formerly Astroland. The park has several thrilling and family-friendly attractions including the iconic Cyclone roller coaster.
2. There are three attractions that have been designated as historical landmarks
The Coney Island Cyclone is one of the oldest and most iconic wooden roller coasters in the world. Several other parks have even designed replicas including Six Flags and a few international parks. The coaster opened up at the original Luna Park back in 1927 and has remained operating for most of its nearly 100 years. The coaster features speeds of 60 miles per hour and has a peak height of 85 feet. In 1991, the Cyclone was named a National Historical Landmark.
The B&B Carousel was built back in 1906. The carousel includes 50 hand-carved horses. Although it has been relocated several times over the years, it currently calls Luna Park home. Over two dozen carousels have called Coney Island home, but the B&B Carousel is now the only operating carousel on Coney Island. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
Parachute Jump was built for this 1939 New York Worlds Fair and has remained in its current location since being relocated following the World’s Fair. The attraction was just as it sounds, a way for guests to jump with parachutes. A mechanism would lift riders who were strapped to an open parachute up the 250 ft tall tower, and then drop them. Riders would then parachute down. It required more than a dozen employees to operate it and would close during wind and rain.
Unsurprisingly, this attraction is no longer in operation, having closed in the 1960s. Despite not operating for more than 50 years, the tower still remains and is even lit up with colorful lights at night. In 1980, the Parachute Jump tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places and has remained a city landmark.
3. Luna Park is owned and operated by a famous ride manufacturer
In 2010, Anthony Zamperla was brought in to restore the park. Central Amusement International became owners and operators of Luna Park, and CAI is a subsidiary of Zamperla Amusement Group. This manufacturer has an extensive listing of flat rides and coasters that they manufacture. In fact, you have probably ridden a Zamperla ride if you have been to many theme parks. Due to this change in ownership, you will notice that most of the rides at Luna Park are Zamperla rides, because why wouldn’t they be?
4. Coney Island was home to one of the first roller coasters
In 1884, the first roller coaster in America opened on Coney Island. It was called a Gravity Switchback Railway. For this coaster, riders would have to climb to the top of a platform where they would board a bench-like car and ride it down 600 feet of track that would end at the top of another platform. The riders would then ride back down and up to the original platform on the return track.
This model was improved upon in the remainder of the 1880s and eventually, Scenic Railways complete with tunnels and scenery were being built in parks across the United States. One hundred and fifty years later, this idea of a roller coaster evolved and changed into the innovative steel and wooden creations we have today. Did you know some of it began at Coney Island?
5. There is actually another Coney Island
Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ohio originally opened in 1886 and was called Ohio Grove, Coney Island of the West, with the name being shorted to simply Coney Island in 1987. Over the years the park built up its reputation as a full-fledged amusement destination. Rides and games were added including roller coasters and even a Land of Oz children’s area.
Unfortunately, due to its location near the Ohio River, it was prone to flooding, and in the late 1960s, the park was bought by Taft Broadcasting who decided to relocate it. Coney Island closed in 1971. However, rather than relocating to Coney Island, the company decided to open a new park and one you have probably heard of. Kings Island opened in 1971 with several of the former Coney Island’s rides.
Fortunately, in 1973 Coney Island reopened, but having lost many of its attractions, it wasn’t able to live up to its former glory. The Sunlight pool, which originally opened in 1925, became the main attraction for Coney Island after its reopening. The pool continues to be the largest recirculating pool in the world. The park also included some smaller amusement attractions, such as bumper cars. However, in 2019 all rides were removed from Coney Island the park shifted into a water park. The park now operates with the Sunlite pool, water slides, a dive pool, and the nation’s largest Aquaglide pool obstacle course.
Have you been to this historical island or its Ohio counterpart? Additionally, would you have ridden Parachute Jump? Because I definitely would not have. Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page!
