The Death of Astroland: Iconic Rocket Could Be Sold for Scrap

by Rubys Host | December 11, 2008 at 10:42 am

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Anyone who's been to Coney Island and doesn't know the Astroland Rockethasn't really been to Coney Island. Back in the 60s, when Astroland was a "futuristic" amusement park, it was a ride. Then it ended up as a decoration atop those stands that sell really bad food. In any case, as Astroland is slowly being taken apart and put in shipping containers, it's in danger of being sold as scrap metal. Here's an email from the Save Coney Island Group that hit inboxes last night:

Help us Save The Astroland Rocket!! We have to find a new location for the Astroland Rocket soon or it will be sold for scrap metal!! Astroland will pay to relocate the rocket if we find a space for it!! It has to be somewhere secure, where people can't vandalize it. Any ideas??

Uh, maybe we were drinking heavily and imagined it, but wasn't the city supposed to be negotiating with developer Joe Sitt and working on saving Astroland for another year? Because the discussions seem to be going so, so well.

More Astroland Destructoporn: A Real Stairway to Nowhere [Curbed]

Monday Coney Island #1: Astroland Destructoporn [Curbed]

December 11, 2008 by Robert

Important Update Dec. 12, 2008

Carol & Jerry Albert - the current owners of the Astroland Rocket has offered to pay the moving cost to relocate the Rocket to the roof top of Coney Island USA building on Surf Ave. The problem is the roof is undergoing repair. The uilding is also adding air conditioning this spring. The roof would not be ready to support the rocket until May 2009. The Rocket needs to be moved from its current location by Jan 31st.

Contact Carol Alberts @ Astroland - (718) 372-0275 or Dick Zigun at Coney Island USA- (718) 372-5159

UPDATE: Astroland Rocket Removed - Jan 6, 2009 4 pm

Today the rocket was officially removed fro the top of Paul & Gregory's stand on the Coney Island boardwalk. As of today the Iconic Rocket still does not have a home awaiting its arrival. The rocket weighs 14,000 lbs. As tension filled the air and people cried a crain slowly lifted the rocket in one solid piece from the rooftop to the Astroland Park ground.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr8TWW6aeYw

http://www.gowanuslounge.com/2009/01/07/hardcore-destructorporn-iconic-astroland-rocket-is-removed/

http://kineticcarnival.blogspot.com/

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Rubys Host

at 11:13 on December 11th, 2008

If anyone has photos of the Rocket above Paul & Gregory's at Coney Island please contribute to story - I seem to be having trouble loading a photo today. Thanks.

lefty_liberated

at 15:04 on December 11th, 2008

"A deal between Sitt and the city, however, must be reached soon because Albert is under fire to relocate her rides by the end of January when her lease with Sitt ends."

"God willing, we will get this done soon," said Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. (D-Brooklyn), who convinced both Sitt's company, Thor Equities, and the city to go to the bargaining table and is helping broker the deal.

While a price is still being negotiated, it is expected that the city would have to shell out $200 million to $250 million for the land, sources close to the negotiations said.

"Recchia said the mayor "is committed to bringing back Astroland," at least for next summer."

- NY Post 11/17

----- Sounds to me like they're still going to have her sell off the rides and buy the land and do whatever they want with it hence all the images of concepts for the area. Bloomberg and Co. not the saviors they painted themselves to be.

Contact: Domenic M. Recchia, Jr Email: recchia@council.nyc.ny.us

Update 3: Sign Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/167257276?ltl=1173754589

CIDC Contact: http://www.thecidc.org/About/Contact.aspx

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/saveconeyisland

Rev Billy: http://www.revbilly.com/campaigns/save-coney-island

http://www.coneyisland.com

Update 2: Here's the email address of the NY post reporter who intially relseased the story about the negotiations: rich.calder@nypost.com . You can email him ask him to follow up.

Gothamist: Here's the link for where you can post "tips" i posted one earlier asking them to get more information about the "negotiations. http://gothamist.com/labs/contribute

or jake@gothamist.com jen@gothamist.com

Village Voice: http://www.villagevoice.com/press

The Mayor

Update: I tell you what else pisses me off is Gothamist ran a story about the email, too, but they dont bother contacting anyone to do a real story to find out where the negotiations are at. Americans are way too passive about what goes on. And its really clear to me the city is opportunistically buying the land and convienently not in time to stop the sale of the rides before her lease is up. It's great Gothamist ran a story about it, but they're not DOING anything about it not even lifting a finger to to get answers. Meanwhile ... Citizens are supposed to place these rides so they dont go into scrap? Hello is there anybody home in our local govt? I'm voting William C. Thompson for Mayor.

Jordan Yerman

at 11:49 on December 11th, 2008

Heartbreaking...

Amy Judd

at 12:46 on December 11th, 2008

Oh, this is sad.

dis_cover_y

at 13:27 on December 11th, 2008

it would be fun to relocate it to Jones Beach.

soyignatius

at 13:35 on December 11th, 2008

As a tourist I visted Coney Island as a icon of the old fashioned America. It was a shame to know that just a couple of days after my visit Astroland will close its doors forerver. Please keep at least the rocket for future visitors as me. Ismael (Madrid - Spain)

soyignatius has contributed a photo to this story.

ottoikermann

at 07:41 on December 12th, 2008

I was there probably two days after your visit...it was already closed...it was a shame, that's for sure...

Salute!, amigo

Ikermann

Shutterbug67

at 13:48 on December 11th, 2008

I'm a die-hard fan of Coney Island/Astroland...not just the rides, but in particular its vibrant atmosphere. Coney has a down-to-earth grittiness that perfectly juxtaposes it's carnival setting, easily making it one of the most unique places on Earth. It genuinely pains me that Coney will probably never be the same, so I will always cherish my memories of what it once was...

Shutterbug67 has contributed a photo to this story.

Rubys Host

at 13:55 on December 11th, 2008

This is very sad news for the establishments located on the boardwalk as well. Icons such as Ruby's Bar & Grill, Lola Staar T-Shirt Shop, Tommy's Coney Island Souvenir shop, & Steve's Grill House as well as Paul & Gregory's (where the rocket currently sits above). As of today there have been no negotiations for the 2009 season. We know the Cyclone & Wonder Wheel will open on Palm Sunday as usual (April 5, 2009). If the Rocket is removed does this mean the boardwalk will soon follow? The Coney Island USA building (owned by Dick Zigun) is a perfect reloaction spot but the estimated cost to move the Rocket is over $10K. The final deadline for the boardwalk is Jan 1st. The Annual Coney Island Polar Bear Dip Celebration on Jan 1st may be the last of the Boardwalk as we know it. ;-(

branko_

at 13:55 on December 11th, 2008

a2b1.com

branko_ has contributed a photo to this story.

Eric510 (not verified)

at 14:23 on December 11th, 2008

It's breaking my heart that this place is being ripped apart. The Cyclone picture in the article was taken by me the last time i went to Astroland a few months ago. check my flicker site for a few more.

So sad... The Cyclone IS protect though right? i believe it's a historic monument isn't it?

Pablo57

at 14:47 on December 11th, 2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablo57/2271183053

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablo57/2837911585

lefty_liberated

at 15:20 on December 11th, 2008

http://flickr.com/groups/840900@N24/ Flickr group: Last Days of Astroland

kate

at 15:21 on December 11th, 2008

Someone has to save it. I love that rocket.

lefty_liberated

at 17:45 on December 11th, 2008

Good song by Albert Hammond of the Strokes: Rocket
"O, my rocket
O, o my soul"

jami_lee

at 16:26 on December 11th, 2008

I actually grew up in Coney Island. It's really sad that they are taking it away. It will really be missed =*(

jami_lee has contributed a photo to this story.

jml2166

at 17:02 on December 11th, 2008

I grew up in Brooklyn and have spent many days in Coney Island, a great place!!!

jml2166 has contributed a photo to this story.

celio_02124

at 22:34 on December 11th, 2008

I was taking pictures of the Astroland before this great landmark disappeared into oblivious for our sight and memories forever. And to show to the next generation what was Coney Island before it lost is luster and glory.
Taken November 23, 2008

celio_02124 has contributed a photo to this story.

Bossa Betty

at 04:54 on December 12th, 2008

Please don't let this happen!

ottoikermann

at 07:30 on December 12th, 2008

I've been there last September, it was raining, a lot. I loved this rocket so i took a pic of it. After that we went to see the side show in Coney island where the people there told us about the "evil" plans that a compoany has about Coney island...it would be a pity is future generations miss the Spirit of Coney Island...

ottoikermann has contributed a photo to this story.

coneyislandgrlone (not verified)

at 12:52 on December 12th, 2008

CANT THEY PUT IT ON ONE OF THE ROOFS BY RUBYS OR BY THE CYCLONE OR BY NATHANS OR WHERE THE PARACHUTTE JUMP IS WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING THE CAROUSEL

Rubys Host

at 15:34 on December 12th, 2008

Ruby's will eventually be gone as well - if it remains behind it becomes Thor Property- then the rocket will be turned over for scrap . We don't know if the carousel will be back - those plans have changed as well - The area from between Cyclone & Keyspan is all Thor Equities with Deno's being the last part that Thor does not have yet.