Coney Island

Special Note:

Since its inception, a single operator has never owned nor managed the landmark Coney Island amusement area (unlike most modern-day theme parks). Rather, it has been, and continues to be, a collection of independent owners and vendors. Therefore, there is no central office or phone number. That may be changing, however. (See "The Latest from Coney Island" below.)

2009 Update

Astroland, one of Coney Island's two major parks, permanently closed at the end of the 2008 season. The Cyclone coaster, however, is open in 2009.

Coney Island Location, Admission Policy, and Area Hotel Info:

Coney Island is in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, along the ocean.

There are no gates, and admission to the amusement areas is free. Guests purchase tickets and pay a la carte for rides and attractions.

Compare rates for hotels near Coney Island at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Directions to Coney Island:

Subway: D, F, N, or Q train to Stilwell Ave., the end of the line.

Driving: Belt Parkway to Exit 6. South on Cropsey Ave. toward Coney Island. Cropsey becomes W 17th St. Left onto Surf Ave. to Coney Island's amusement area.

Parking: There are meters on the streets and parking lots in the area. On busy weekends, if everything appears to be full, you could drive about a mile away to Brighton Beach, which has a large parking lot, and walk the boardwalk back to Coney Island.

Coney Island Highlights:

Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, featuring the iconic wheel as well as the kitschy Spook-A-Rama and about twenty other rides, is Coney Island's major park. It also offers games, arcades, and food stands.

Other highlights:

• The Cyclone Roller Coaster
• Nathan's Famous- The chain's original hot dog joint has an evocative vibe and great food--especially the fries.
• The New York Aquarium
• The Coney Island Circus Sideshow- Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, to one of Americana's last genuine freak shows.
• Cyclones minor league baseball
• The boardwalk and the beach

Brief Historical Overview:

The historical importance of Coney Island can't be overstated. From the 1880s through the 1940s, it was the world's archetypal amusement area and featured three major parks: Steeplechase Park (1897-1964), Luna Park (1903-1946), and Dreamland (1904-1911).

In 1884, the Switchback Railway, a precursor to the modern roller coaster, opened. Through the years, Coney Island hosted more than 50(!) coasters, including the circa-1927 (and still operating) Cyclone and the circa-1925 Thunderbolt (removed in 2000 to make way for the baseball stadium). Coney Island also had as many as 30 dark rides, including the circa-1955-and-still-scarin' Spook-A-Rama. At one time, riders could choose from about 15 carousels; the B&B, which opened in 1932, is the only classic one remaining, although it is currently not operating. The Wonder Wheel debuted in 1920, and the Parachute Jump moved from the 1939 New York World's Fair to Coney Island in 1941. Its tower remains, but the ride is not operational. The hot dog made its debut in 1867 at Coney Island. In 1916, Nathan's Famous opened.

More Coney Island Info:

• The Cyclone at Coney Island Roller Coaster Ride Review
• Coney Island Photo Gallery
• Wonder Wheel at Coney Island Ride Review
• Spook-A-Rama at Coney Island Ride Review

Official Web Sites and Other Coney Island Links

• Astroland at Coney Island Official Site
• Deno's Wonder Wheel Park at Coney Island Official Site
• The Coney Island Circus Sideshow Official Site
• The New York Aquarium Official Site
• Coney Island History Site
• Another Coney Island History Site

Coney Island Overview and the Latest News:

There's no denying that Coney Island bears little resemblance to its high-flying heyday in the early 20th century. The magnificent spires of Luna Park are long gone, and most of the rides are off-the-shelf numbers that can be found at traveling carnivals. However, amid the ragtag midways, there is an elegant patina of decay and a palpable sense of Americana. The neon signs at Nathan's and the Cyclone fairly ooze nostalgia. And echoes of the past remain with the Wonder Wheel, the Spook-A-Rama, and the shell of the Parachute Jump tower.

Coney Island still does what it has been doing for decades: bringing people from all walks of life together for thrills, laughter, great food, fun, and relief from the city's heat. But, the amusement area is poised at a difficult crossroads. Change is inevitably coming, and coming fairly soon. Everyone might agree that the crumbling area needs some help. But the architects of change need to find a delicate balance between bringing Coney Island into the 21st century and irrevocably severing its ties to the past. Between creating a gentrified, movie-set facsimile of the cherished landmark and preserving an authentic sense of the place. Between developing attractions that will bring in well-heeled guests to generate big profits and shutting out the egalitarian masses that have always been its audience. The players in the power struggle to reshape Coney Island include investors, the area's current vendors and tenants, the people who live in the neighborhood and the outlying areas, casual and ardent park fans, and the city of New York.

The Latest from Coney Island

• Joseph Sitt of Thor Equities purchased a big chunk of the amusement area, including the property on which Astroland used to sit. He has a $1.5 billion dollar plan to convert Coney Island into a year-round destination playground that would include new amusements, hotels, an indoor water park resort, and time-share condominiums.
• At the end of the 2008 season, the Albert family that had operated Astroland for many years, said that it wanted to negotiate a two-year lease extension. When Thor missed a deadline to reply to the request, the Alberts decided to call it quits. Now closed permanently, Astroland will not reopen in 2009.
• New York City officials have refused to approve Thor's controversial plan and has countered with a number of its own makeover proposals. The city's vision for Coney Island includes a residential district, new retail space, and a revitalized amusement area. For now, the two sides remain at an impasse.
• No matter how the power struggle plays out, it's likely that a single operator will manage the core amusement area.
• No matter what, the Cyclone roller coaster, which used to be part of Astroland, is a National Historic Landmark and is protected in perpetuity. Deno's Wonder Wheel Park (which does not sit on land owned by Thor) and virtually all of the other concessions will reopen for the 2009 season.