Coney Island (Cincinnati, Ohio)
| Previously known as Parker's Grove (1867-1885) Grove Park, The Coney Island of the West (1886) Coney Island (1887-1975) Old Coney (1976-1985) Coney Island (1985-) | |
| File:Coney Island Logo.jpg Coney Island Logo | |
| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States  |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1886-1971 Reopened in 1974 (Sunlite Pool remained open during the 3 year gap) |
| Owner | Taft Broadcasting Company |
| Slogan | Coney Has it |
| Operating season | April through October |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 24 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
| Water rides | 4 |
| Website | Coney Island Web Site |
Coney Island is an amusement park in the California neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio and Anderson Township Hamilton County, on the banks of the Ohio River east of Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. It is located in "Cincinnati's Playland".
History
Coney Island started in the 1870s as an apple orchard farm owned by James Parker, who realized that his location along the Ohio River was a profitable location to attract people looking to visit. The orchard was sold to Ohio Grove Corporation and was officially renamed "Grove Park, The Coney Island of the West," and opened June 21, 1886. In 1887, the Grove Park name was dropped and the park renamed to "Coney Island."
Over the years, the park became a full-fledged amusement park, complete with rides and carnival games. In that capacity, Coney Island was a Cincinnati institution. However, the park's proximity to the river made it prone to frequent flooding. In 1968, park management entered into talks with Taft Broadcasting for the purpose of developing a new park on higher ground. Taft responded by buying Coney Island outright in 1969, and as a division of Taft Broadcasting, Coney Island began construction on the new park, 25 miles North of Cincinnati on Interstate 71. The park closed its amusements on September 6, 1971. Almost all of the rides were moved to the new Kings Island theme park in nearby Mason, Ohio. However, the Sunlite Pool — the largest recirculating swimming pool in the world — remained open, and remains a popular summertime destination for area families, with several water slides, as well as swimming lessons.
When Kings Island opened to the north of Cincinnati in 1972, and many of Coney's amusement rides were moved to the new park, Taft Broadcasting intended to sell the park's land for redevelopment. However, with the company's development of Kings Dominion in Virginia, as well as its acquisition of Carowinds on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, the property's redevelopment was a low priority. Thus, the company maintained the property as an amusement facility, though not competing with its successor park.
Near where the Wildcat and Shooting Star roller coasters once stood, the Riverbend Music Center opened at Coney in 1984. This amphiteater features a covered seating pavilion, and is the summer home of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Pops, as well as a venue for touring popular musical acts.
When Kings Island was purchased by Paramount Communications (which later became part of Viacom) in 1992 (as part of the then-new Paramount Parks group), the ownership of Coney Island and Kings Island was finally separated. No longer held back by its corporate parents (Coney Island is still owned by a successor to the Taft Broadcasting Company), Coney Island has resurrected itself as a traditional amusement park, with familiar rides such as the "Tilt-A-Whirl" and bumper cars, as well as carnival games and musical shows. Over a period of time, the park's management is attempting to restore the heyday image of the property.[1]
Roller coasters
| Ride | Year Opened | Removed In | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepsi Python | 1999 | From Splash Zone Water Park (1996-1999) |
Sunlite pool slides
| Ride | Year Opened | Removed In | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Twister | 2009 | The Twister is the replacement of the Zoom Flume. | |
| Zzip | 1984 | 1993 | The Zzip was similar to its successor, the Pipeline Plunge. |
| Pipeline Plunge | 1994 | Pipeline Plunge is a dual enclosed innertube slide. It replaced the Zzip. | |
| Cyclone | 2006 | The Cyclone type of enclosed slide. | |
| Zoom Flume | 1977 | 2008 | Zoom Flume, which had wooden supports, was the first of Sunlite Pool's large slides. Removed at the end of 2008 season. To be replaced by The Twister. |
Flat rides
| Ride | Type | Year Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris wheel | Eli Bridge Ferris wheel | 1990 | Designed in 1912, this ride is cable driven contrasting newer tire driven wheel. |
| Bumper Boats | Bumper Boats | 1990 | Bumper Boats located on Lake Como. |
| Scrambler | Scrambler | 1991 | Standard Eli Bridge Scrambler |
| Tilt-A-Whirl | Tilt-A-Whirl | 1992 | Standard Tilt-A-Whirl painted green and purple. Relocated from defunct Fantasy Farm park. |
| Trablant | Chance- Morgan Trabant or Wipeout (ride) | 1993 | Colorfully painted. |
| Super Round Up | Round Up (ride) | 1993 | Mass produced "Round Up" ride. |
| Flying Bobs | Matterhorn (ride) | 1994 | Chance "Matterhorn" ride. |
| Carousel | Carousel | 1998 | Merry Go Round consisting of 30 horses and 2 chariots. Chance Rides model. |
| Dodgems | Bumper Cars | 2000 | Oval shaped Bumper Cars ride with a center island. A one way sign is posted, though it is not always followed. |
| Tempest | Spinning continuously for a short time | 2001 | Intense ride featuring spinning round cars. Relocated from Americana/Lesourdesville Lake Amusement Park. |
| Giant Slide | Giant Slide or Fun Slide | 2001 | 3 lane, approximately 25 feet tall Giant Slide. |
| Frog Hopper | S&S power Frog Hopper | 2003 | Bouncing spring ride with frog theming. |
| Scream Machine | Moser Spring Ride | 2005 | 50 feet tall Moser Spring Ride |
| Rock- O- Plane | Eyerly Rock-O-Plane | 2007 | Originally opened at LeSourdesville Lake in 1949. |
| River Runner | Pirate Ship (ride) | 2008 | Relocated from Wild West World after closure. Canoe themed. |
| Pedal Boats | Pedal Boats | unknown | Located on Lake Como |
In addition to these flat rides there are five circular kiddie rides near the front of the park.
Events
Coney Island serves as the location for several festivals, including Summerfair Arts Festival, the "Cincinnati Celtic World Festival", The Appalachian Festival and the Cincinnati Flower and Farm Fest. Concerts are also held in the Moonlite Gardens area of the park, most notably by Over the Rhine.
Scenes from the old children's TV show The Banana Splits were filmed on location at Coney Island.
References
- ^ Jacques, Jr., Charles J., Cincinnati's Coney Island: America's Finest Amusement Park, 2002, Amusement Park Journal (ISBN 0-9614392-7-0)
External links