Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)

History

In September 2003, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the New York City Council and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz formed the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC). The corporation released the "Coney Island Revitalization Plan" in 2005, which laid out its plan to preserve and grow the historic amusement area. At the end of the 2008 season, the Coney Island Astroland amusement park closed. In 2009, a traveling carnival operated amusement rides on the Astroland site, renaming it Dreamland.

Opening and early years

On February 16, 2010, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the winning bid to develop and operate an amusement park to be constructed on the 3.16 acre former site of Astroland in Coney Island would be awarded to Zamperla/Central Amusement International under a 10-year lease.

The new Luna Park was widely advertised across New York City in posters, billboards, and advertisements on the side of public buses as part of an advertisement for the attractions at Coney Island. The ads boasted the punchlines "Thrill is nothing without speed", referring to the various thrill rides at the park and "The FUN is back at Coney Island" referring to the Coney Island restoration project. The park opened on May 29, 2010. Besides the new rides brought in by Zamperla, many older rides from Astroland were incorporated into Luna Park. These included the old park's centerpiece, "Astrotower", which was not operational; another inherited ride was the landmarked Cyclone roller coaster, which was leased out to Astroland in 1975. Some of the other old spaced themed elements were incorporated into the amusement areas.

On July 2, 2013, Luna Park was evacuated as a precaution due to a problem with the Astrotower swaying; part of the attraction remained closed over the Fourth of July, and it had been demolished by July 6. In May 2014, the Thunderbolt steel coaster opened at Luna Park; it was named after the 1925 coaster that had been demolished in 2000.

Expansion

In August 2018, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation announced that Luna Park would be expanded. The new rides would be located on a 150,000 ft2 city-operated parcel between West 15th and West 16th Streets, next to the new Thunderbolt coaster. The rides would include a 40 ft log flume called the Super Flume, as well as a circus themed zip-line and a ropes course called "Sky Chaser", a family coaster, and possibly a water drop tower. that were originally scheduled to open in 2020.{{cite web | title=Log flume ride, zip lines coming to Coney Island | website=am New York| last1=Colangelo | first1=Lisa L. | last2=Pereira | first2=Ivan

These construction projects were placed on hold in early 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Alessandro Zamperla, president of Luna Park's owner Central Amusement International, stated in mid-2020 that he hoped to have these rides open in 2021. The park reopened for the 2021 season, and the expansion started in October 2021. Luna Park officials announced in 2022 that the roller coaster would be named Tony's Express, after Alessandro's grandfather Antonio, while the log flume would be named Leti's Treasure, after his grandmother Letizia. The new rides were still under construction at the end of the 2022 season. Four of the new rides opened in June 2023.

Description

Luna Park's entrance is patterned after the entrance to the original 1903 Luna Park and was built on the ground of the former Astroland amusement park. It has 19 new attractions and games. It is the only area on Coney Island where the use of cash to pay for amusements and rides is not allowed; visitors must buy Luna Cards and spend Luna Credits or use an unlimited ride wristband that allows four hours of ride time on select rides. Variations of the Coney Island "Funny Face" logo can be seen throughout the park. The logo, from the early days of George C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park, was created about 100 years ago. It has featured in TV shows such as Law & Order and Mr. Robot.

Attractions

Luna Park has 36 attractions designed and manufactured by Zamperla. Luna Park also operates the Coney Island Cyclone, an official city and national landmark. Six rides, including some from the former Victorian Gardens Amusement Park, were placed in the area where the Wild River was located for the 2021 season.

Thrill Rides

• Atlantic Aviator
• Brooklyn Flyer
• Clockworkz
• Coney Clipper
• Cyclone
• Electro Spin
• Luna 360
• The Tickler (2010 roller coaster)
• Thunderbolt (2014 roller coaster)
• Tony's Express
• Leti's Treasure
• Sky Chaser

Family Rides

• B&B Carousell
• Circus Coaster
• Coney Island Hang Glider
• Coney Tower
• Lynn's Trapeze
• WindstarZ

Kiddie Rides

• Brooklyn Barge
• Convoy
• Magic Bikes
• Seaside Swing
• Big Top Express
• Speed Boat
• Tea Party
• Circus Candy
• Fire Patrol

Victorian Gardens Rides

• Rainbowheel
• Aeromax
• Grand Prix
• Mini Mouse

Scream Zone

For the 2011 season, an addition called Scream Zone opened that featured four rides. Since then, more rides have been added in a secondary section.

Rides

• Astro Tower (Named after Astroland's Astro Tower)
• Endeavor
• Slingshot
• Steeplechase (2011 Roller Coaster) - A Zamperla launching motocoaster with trains resembling horses
• Soarin' Eagle - A Zamperla "flying" coaster where riders lie on their stomachs and cars go up a spiral lift hill
• Zenobio - A booster-type ride

Nearby Attractions

• Brooklyn Go-Kart - A kiddie version of the Coney Island Raceway, with different owners
• El Dorado's Auto Scooters - Bumper Cars
• Brooklyn Mini Golf
• Swinging Ship
• Coney Art Walls- A collection of public murals with an event venue and a Coney-Island theme, though some of the murals have been vandalized.
• Maimonides Park – a minor league ballpark that is home of the Brooklyn Cyclones
• Nathan's Famous, the original location of the chain

Arcades and Games

• Luna Park Arcade
• Warpzone Retro Darkade - A small arcade featuring retro arcade games.
• There are also many stall games spread through the area of the park.

Former Attractions

• Wild River - Log Flume
• Coney Island Raceway - Go-Kart Track
• Eclipse - Mini Discovery (2010-2013). Replaced by Luna 360. The ride now operates at Six Flags Great Escape as Extreme Supernova.

References

References

1. (September 14, 2005). "Mayor Bloomberg Announces Strategic Plan For Future of Coney Island". NYCEDC.
2. {{cite rcdb
3. Lennard, Natasha. (2010-02-16). "Coney Island Rides Again".
4. (2010-02-16). "Coney Island will get two new amusement parks, 23 new rides".
5. (May 29, 2010). "Luna Park opening day".
6. "Luna Park to reopen after Astrotower demolition".
7. Brown. (June 14, 2014). "Coney Island's new Thunderbolt roller coaster officially opens". New York Daily News.
8. Barry, Dan. (October 4, 2003). "About New York; Giuliani Razed Roller Coaster, And the Law". The New York Times.
9. Salamone, Gina. (August 24, 2018). "Coney Island to score new log flume, adventure park and ropes course".
10. Chung, Jen. (August 23, 2018). "Coney Island's Luna Park Is Getting Log Flume Ride, A Ropes Course, And More!".
11. (August 23, 2018). "City Unveils Plans For New Water Park, Arcade On Coney Island".
12. (2022-04-25). "Coney Island's Luna Park is finally getting its log flume and ropes course".
13. Maisel, Todd. (May 12, 2020). "An endless bummer? Coney Island gripped by uncertainty as summer approaches in COVID-19 era".
14. Passy, Charles. (July 1, 2020). "Coney Island Emerges From Lockdown as New York City Beaches Reopen". Wall Street Journal.
15. DeJesus, Jaime. (October 7, 2021). "Coney's Luna Park to expand with new thrill rides, more space".
16. (October 5, 2021). "Coney Island's Luna Park breaks ground on Sky Chaser, Super Flume, J2SK Coaster".
17. (June 30, 2022). "Coney Island's Luna Park to expand, introduce 3 attractions".
18. Parks, Jessica. (August 29, 2022). "Construction of Luna Park's new rides still underway as 2022 season comes to a close".
19. Charles, Charline. (June 21, 2023). "Luna Park celebrates its 120th birthday; debuts 4 new rides".
20. New York City Economic Development Corporation. "Press Images".
21. Luna Park. "Park Prices".
22. [http://www.coneyislandhistory.org/news/?tag=george-c-tilyou Coney Island History Project, “The Face Of Steeplechase” Opening May 24 at the Coney Island History Project Monday, May 19th, 2014]
23. Marcus, Lilit. (2017-07-27). "What to ride, eat and more at Coney Island". [[CNN]].
24. [http://www.lunaparknyc.com/Attractions.htm Luna Park Attractions] {{webarchive. link. (November 13, 2010)
25. Povoledo, Elisabetta. (April 23, 2010). "Coney Island Gets a $30 Million Italian Makeover". The New York Times.
26. Yancey, Kitty Bean. (May 27, 2010). "Luna Park Opens at Coney Island". USA Today.
27. Luna Park. "Ride Credits".
28. (April 20, 2011). "'Scream Zone' Opens, Joining Luna Park in Coney Island". Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
29. "New Luna Park". Park World Online - Theme Park, Amusement Park and Attractions Industry News.
30. (21 January 2014). "Town Planning Board Meeting".