Coney Island's Astroland closes for good

by poolparty | September 8, 2008 at 11:42 am

786 views | 15 Recommendations | 11 comments

Coney Island’s Astroland days are sadly over. The rides are now already available for purchase. Astroland had been a staple of Coney Island’s Boardwalk since 1962. The park’s owner announced last week this past Sunday would be the last operating day for Astroland.

Late Sunday night, visitors were herded out of the park and the lights were shut off for the last time.

It's a sad day in New York City history: Astroland, the amusement park at Coney Island, is officially closed for business forever. But New Yorkers' loss is your gain: now you have an opportunity to buy the famed Astroland's rides to recreate the dirty, dirty magic in your own back yard.

Yes, you can own the awesome Break Dance ride for a mere $299,000. Too much for you? Well, how about the Bumper Cars? That's only $125,000. There are loads of rides available, with everything from a Tilt-a-Whirl to a Water Flume to a Pirate Ship, all for rock-bottom prices.

Many people reminisced about their childhood days spent at Astroland, and shook their heads in disbelief that yet another vestige of old New York would be lost.

“The city has decided that anything that makes a buck is a good thing. We’re giving up everything that makes New York wonderful,” said John Jeannopoulos, 55, a lawyer who lives in Manhattan and began coming to Astroland soon after it opened. “Once you take down some something like Astroland, or Disneyfy Times Square, you never get it back.”

Two of Coney Island’s signature rides, the Cyclone wooden roller coaster and the Wonder Wheel will still continue to be in operation.

Astroland’s closing would not mean the end of rides at Coney Island; the Cyclone wooden roller coaster and the Wonder Wheel, which is part of Deno’s Amusement Park, are both city landmarks and will continue to operate next year. Thor Equities said it would also bring more amusement rides to the Astroland site next year.

The rides, said Joseph Corella, spokesman for the Albert family, who owns the park, will be dismantled, then sold through a broker. As for the giant Astrotower, its future is not clear, but owner Carol Hill Albert has offered it to the nearby New York Aquarium, said Corella. Among the park’s other popular rides were the Top Spin, Dante’s Inferno and the Water Flume, he added.

The family also operates the world-famous, landmarked Cyclone roller coaster, but does so under a separate agreement with the city, and it will continue to roll, Corella assured. Not so lucky will be the 350 or so full-time and part-time employees, many of whom live in the nearby low-income housing projects.

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Jarrett Martineau

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:06 on September 8th, 2008

Stephanie Sobotka, a sad, sad day, indeed. Good stuff.

slohmie

at 17:47 on September 8th, 2008

My boyfriend and I just walked through it a few weeks ago, wading through an ocean of children we could only describe as being on 'fun-overload.'

It's the latest piece of Coney Island to go, and the largest part yet. Coney Island has held a special place in my heart since I moved here, but simultaneously the need for redevelopment is obvious: currently, it's nowhere near the splendor of it's glory days at the turn of the century.

There's been a lot of debate as to whether or not Thor Equities, the company taking on the task of reshaping Coney Island, has good intentions or not. I just hope consideration is given to Coney Island's rich history as we usher in a new era.

slohmie has contributed a photo to this story.

Fenfotos

at 18:01 on September 8th, 2008

Close up and personal with the Wonder Wheel at New York's Coney Island. This is just a short walk along the boardwalk or through arcades and hot dog/ice cream stands from the Wonder Wheel to the famed Cyclone. To some this is the world's greatest roller coaster, while some stand in awe of Nathan's original hot dog stand and the signs displaying the world record hot-dog-eating contest winners. Not to mention the Mermaid Parade each spring.

Most of this generations-old summer scenario is the two adjoining amusement parks, Wonder Wheel and Astroland. Both were feared to have been closing last year, and the struggle was continuing, land developers, family owners of the amusements, employees, businesses, and a way of life all in the balance.

The park is disappearing, some of it already for sale on Ebay. The Cyclone will remain, perhaps as a courtyard amusement for a luxury condo and hotel complex. The end of an era.

Fenfotos has contributed a photo to this story.

Yojimbot

at 18:07 on September 8th, 2008

Trip to Coney Island, Summer 2007 with NYC Magic Garden

jphillipobrien2006 has contributed a photo to this story.

jackrum

at 18:31 on September 8th, 2008

I went to Coney to say goodbye to summer forgetting that Astroland was closing in a few days. Here's hoping Thor and the city don't just turn the area into condos.

jackrum has contributed a photo to this story.

flight of the troglodyte

at 18:42 on September 8th, 2008

Reportedly the Cyclone and Wonder Wheel will remain, as they are both dedicated New York City landmarks.
According to a friend of mine..."The Cyclone is great, because you actually feel like you are going to die."

flight of the troglodyte has contributed a photo to this story.

m Q m

at 19:05 on September 8th, 2008

Had to get one final shot of Astroland on the very last day of summer and perhaps its long legacy. It was a bittersweet day. Even witnessed a couple get their wedding photos taken there. The bride was smoking incessantly to ease stress. The groom was tailing her in submission. A true New York moment.

m Q m has contributed a photo to this story.

Pat Garcia

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:23 on September 8th, 2008

Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff. I won't see it again! I used to go there as a child.

missapril1956

at 19:34 on September 8th, 2008

I live in Brooklyn, so it is a short 15 min train ride to the beach. My husband and I have been going to see the baseball team Brooklyn Cyclones since 2001. The baseball park and the boardwalk restroom areas we the first signs of major changes. When the Thunderbolt was unceremoniously removed, denying us shutterbugs of a photo op, I was peeved!

I love to photograph the amusements, but I rarely use them, unless we have children visiting, then Coney Island amusements are invaluable! I rode the Cyclone once, in the 1970s, never again! I love the Wonder Wheel, I have only ridden the swingin' cars.

I photographed Astroland and Deno's on Labor day and the last day, 9/7/08, I went alone to soak up the sights and sounds. I made little movies of the Astroland rides, here is the first one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2T67kkNbxg

I'll miss the open space, but hope the fun never ends. I'd hate to see it turn into a mall, but some convenieces would be nice like a drugstore.

enobrev

at 20:41 on September 8th, 2008

Was a gorgeous day to bid Astroland Farewell. The sky was crystal clear, without a cloud in sight. There were hundreds at the beach and boardwalk and the lines to the rides were long but filled with laughter and conversation.

enobrev has contributed a photo to this story.

ChulitaRivera

at 06:52 on September 9th, 2008

Having grown up in NYC, I have many wonderful childhood & teenage memories of time spent at Coney Island's Astroland. What a shame to see it all end. Although I am happy to hear that The Cyclone & Wonder Wheel will still be there, it will never be the same.

ChulitaRivera has contributed a photo to this story.