Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York City that first opened in 1962. It was located at 1000 Surf Avenue (at the corner of West 10th Street) on the
boardwalk
A boardwalk (alternatively board walk, boarded path, or promenade) is an elevated footpath, walkway, or causeway built with wooden planks that enables pedestrians to cross wet, fragile, or marshy land. They are also in effect a low type of brid ...
. It ceased operations on September 7, 2008.
History
Astroland was first built as a "space-age" theme park when it opened in 1962, although in later years "a visit asmore like stepping into the past than the future." Some of the later rides were similar to regular carnival rides, but others offered a kitsch experience that was lacking in modern amusement parks.
In 1955, Dewey Albert and his friends
Nathan Handwerker
Nathan Handwerker (June 14, 1892 – March 24, 1974)Nathan Handwerker at the United States , Herman Rapps, Sidney Robbins and Paul Yampo formed a corporation called Coney Island Enterprises. In 1957, Rapps and Albert announced they would build Wonderland. Through a series of acquisitions, together they built what is today known as Astroland, with rides including the Tower to the Stars or Astrotower
gyro tower
A gyro tower, or panoramic tower, is a revolving observation tower with a vertical moving platform. A gyro tower's observation deck is not simply raised to provide its passengers a spectacular view, it is also rotated around the supporting mast ...
, the Cape Canaveral Satellite Jet emulating a trip to the Moon, the Mercury Capsule Skyride carrying patrons in bubble cars across the park to the boardwalk, and the Neptune Diving Bells, a duplicate of an Atlantic City ride that took patrons 30 feet down into a tank to watch porpoises and fish. In June 1975 Astroland was chosen to be the new operator of the Cyclone, the famous wooden roller coaster, which stood on Parks Department land. On July 12, 1975, an early-morning fire wiped out much of the park, but they were able to rebuild.
Closure
On November 28, 2006, Astroland was sold by the Albert family for US $30 million to Thor Equities, which planned to redevelop the area as a $1.5 billion year-round resort. Under the agreement, the Alberts would continue to operate the Cyclone. At the time, the Alberts hoped to relocate attractions like the water flume and the Astrotower to another part of the neighborhood.Associated Press "Coney Island's Astroland Amusement Park sold to developer" ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...
'', November 28, 2006. After the sale, opposition to the relocation plan emerged. Efforts supporting the extension of Astroland's existence for the 2008 summer season were established. Astroland celebrated the 45th anniversary of its opening on April 1, 2007.
It was announced on October 24, 2007, that the Albert family and Thor had reached a deal, and that Astroland would re-open March 16, 2008. However, after a few months when no agreement between the two parties could be reached, Astroland closed on September 7, 2008. It was replaced in 2009 by a new park called Dreamland. A new amusement park called
Luna Park
Luna Park is a name shared by dozens of currently operating and defunct amusement parks. They are named after, and partly based on, the first Luna Park, which opened in 1903 during the heyday of large Coney Island parks. Luna parks are small-s ...
, named after Brooklyn's original, well-known
Luna Park
Luna Park is a name shared by dozens of currently operating and defunct amusement parks. They are named after, and partly based on, the first Luna Park, which opened in 1903 during the heyday of large Coney Island parks. Luna parks are small-s ...
and other Luna Parks from the early twentieth century, opened for the 2010 season on May 29, 2010, at the former site of Astroland.
On July 2, 2013, Luna Park was evacuated as a precaution due to a problem with the Astrotower swaying. The
Fire Department of New York
The New York City Fire Department, officially the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), is an American department of the government of New York City that provides fire protection services, technical rescue/special operations services, ...
responded to the park after concerns regarding the structural integrity of the former operational ride, which was situated in the center of the amusement area.
Because of the potential risk to other rides in the area of the tower, those attractions were closed on the
Fourth of July
Independence Day (colloquially the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States ...
. An initial portion of the Astrotower was taken down beginning the night of July 3, 2013.
Demolition crews worked through the night into the morning of July 4 to remove part of the Astrotower, and Luna Park reopened to visitors at 3 P.M. (EDT). By July 6, 2013, the Astrotower had been reduced to a four foot high stump, and the pieces were sold to a local junkyard for scrap.
Rides and attractions
Adult rides
*Musik Express (MONAE) (operated in 2008 only)
* Power Surge (until mid-2006)
*
Top Spin 2
''Top Spin 2'' is a 2006 tennis video game developed by Indie Built, MENT, and Aspyr and originally published by 2K Sports and Superscape. It is the sequel to ''Top Spin'' and is followed by ''Top Spin 3''.
Development
The game was showcased at ...
*
Coney Island Cyclone
The Cyclone, also the Coney Island Cyclone, is a wooden roller coaster at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. Designed by Vernon Keenan, it opened to the public on June 26, 1927. The roller coaster is on a plot of land at the ...
*Water Flume (Arrow)
*
Pirate Ship
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...
* Bumper Cars (currently operates at the neighboring
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park located at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It features six adult rides and 16 kiddie rides, including a dozen family rides that parents and children can ride together. Th ...
)
*
Dante's Inferno
''Inferno'' (; Italian for "Hell") is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem ''Divine Comedy''. It is followed by ''Purgatorio'' and '' Paradiso''. The ''Inferno'' describes Dante's journey through Hell, gui ...
*
Break Dance
Breakdancing, also called breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is an athletic style of street dance originating from the African American and Puerto Rican communities in the United States. While diverse in the amount of variation available in t ...
relocated from Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. Reopened in 1988
*Astrotower
gyro tower
A gyro tower, or panoramic tower, is a revolving observation tower with a vertical moving platform. A gyro tower's observation deck is not simply raised to provide its passengers a spectacular view, it is also rotated around the supporting mast ...
(unused after 2010)
*
Tilt-A-Whirl
Tilt-A-Whirl is a flat ride similar to the Waltzer in Europe, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals, in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Larson International of Plainview, Texas.
Des ...
*Scrambler
*Enter Prise (replace for Top Spin added)
*Super Himalaya (Mack) (replace for Power Surge added)
*Wave Swinger (replace for Pirate Ship added)
*Rainbow (replace for Break Dance added)
*
Bayern Kurve
The Bayern Kurve is roller coaster like amusement ride that moves a train around a banked circular track, gaining speed as the ride progresses. It is made in both a portable and park model and originally debuted in 1965. It was invented by German ...
(replace for Super Himalaya added)
*Round Up (old Astroland)
*Paratrooper (old Astroland)
*Satellite Jet (old Astroland)
*Diving Bells (old Astroland)
*Mercury Capsule Skyride (old Astroland)
*Astroland Rocket (old Astroland) (currently on display at neighboring
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park located at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It features six adult rides and 16 kiddie rides, including a dozen family rides that parents and children can ride together. Th ...
)
*Apollo 11
Source:Famous Astroland Rides and Attractions Astroland.com, updated 2012, retrieved January 15, 2013.
Kiddie rides
*Pirate Jet
*Mini Tea Cups
*Frog Hopper
*Motorcycle Jump
*Super
*Himalaya
*Fire Engines
*Big Apple Coaster
*Mini Trucks
*Convoy
*Popeye Boats
*Circuit 2000
*Carousel
*Kiddie Roller Coaster (replace for Big Apple Coaster)
*Dune Buggy Jump
Other attractions
*More than ten games of skill
*Three arcades
*Two Coney Island-style restaurants
References
The music video by Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi was partly done at Astroland
The official music video by Air Supply - Even the Nights Are Better was mostly done at Astroland