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Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)

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This article is about the current park that opened in 2010. For the historical park that opened in 1903 and burned down in 1944, see Luna Park, Coney Island (1903). For other uses, see Luna Park.
Luna Park
LocationConey Island, Brooklyn, United States
Coordinates40°34′26″N 73°58′43″W / 40.573968°N 73.978479°W / 40.573968; -73.978479
Opened2010
OwnerZamperla
Operated byCentral Amusement International, LLC
General managerFernando Velasquez
Operating seasonApril–October
Area3.16-acre (12,800 m2)
Attractions
Total28
Roller coasters6
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Luna Park is the name of an amusement park in the neighborhood of Coney Island, Brooklyn in New York City that opened on May 29, 2010 at the former site of Astroland, an amusement park that had been in operation for 46 years. It was named after the original 1903 Luna Park which existed until 1944 on a site just north of the current park's 1000 Surf Avenue location.

The park was designed, developed, and operated by Central Amusement International, LLC (CAI), a subsidiary of the Italian company Zamperla which built 19 new mechanical rides for the park. There are also interactive games, food and beverage concessions, and live entertainment. The park is currently operated by Fernando Velasquez, its general manager.

History

Luna Park during its opening weekend in 2010

In September 2003, Mayor Bloomberg, the New York City Council and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz formed the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) which released the "Coney Island Revitalization Plan" in 2005, which laid out its plan to preserve and grow the historic amusement area.

In 2008, the Coney Island Astroland amusement park closed at the end of the season. In 2009, a traveling carnival operated amusement rides on the Astroland site, renaming it Dreamland.[1] On February 16, 2010, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the winning bid to develop and operator an amusement park to be constructed on the 3.16-acre (12,800 m2) 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 various ways such as 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.

When the park opened on May 29, 2010, it received much media attention. News channels went to the park and interviewed visitors of the park and newspapers took photos and wrote articles about the rides and attractions.[2]

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. During that time, construction crews worked day and night to dismantle the tower and by July 6 it had been reduced to a four foot high stump with the pieces sold to a local junkyard for scrap.[3]

Description

Luna Park entrance

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. The new park is the home of nineteen new attractions and games. It is the only area in Coney Island in which the use of cash to pay for amusements and rides is not allowed; visitors must buy Luna Cards and spend Luna Credits[4] or use an unlimited ride wristband that allows for four hours of ride time on select rides.[5] Throughout the park variations of the Coney Island "Funny Face" logo can be seen. The logo, from the early days of George C. Tilyou's Steeplechase Park, has been around for a hundred years.[6]

Attractions

Luna Park includes 19 attractions[7] designed and manufactured by Antonio Zamperla, SpA (Zamperla), a company based in Vicenza, Italy.[8][9]

Luna Park also operates the historic Cyclone Roller Coaster.[10]

Thrill Rides

The Tickler ride with the Coney Island "Funny Face" logo

.

The Thunderbolt

Family Rides

  • Balloon Expedition
  • Circus Coaster
  • Coney Island Hang Glider
  • Coney Island Sound
  • Coney Tower
  • Lynn's Trapeze
  • Surf's Up

Kiddie Rides

The Tea Party ride
  • Beach Shack
  • Big Top Express
  • Happy Swing
  • Mermaid Parade
  • Speed Boat
  • Sea Serpent
  • Tea Party

Scream Zone

Entrance to the Scream Zone

For the 2011 season, an addition called Scream Zone opened that features four new rides. While part of Luna Park, it is marketed as a separate destination.[11]

Rides

The Soaring Eagle ride
  • Boardwalk Flight
  • Coney Island Raceway - Go-Kart Track
  • Slingshot
  • Steeplechase - A Zamperla launching motocoaster with trains resembling horses.
  • Soarin' Eagle - A Zamperla flying coaster where riders lay on stomachs, cars go up a spiral lift hill.
  • Zenobio - A booster-type ride

See also

  • Luna Park, list of parks based on the original Luna Park

References

  1. ^ rcdb.com - Luna Park
  2. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/galleries/luna_park_opening_day/luna_park_opening_day.html
  3. ^ "Luna Park to reopen after Astrotower demolition". WABC TV. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. ^ New York City Economic Development Corporation. "Press Images". Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  5. ^ Luna Park. "Park Prices". Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  6. ^ Coney Island History Project, “The Face Of Steeplechase” Opening May 24 at the Coney Island History Project Monday, May 19th, 2014
  7. ^ Luna Park Attractions
  8. ^ "Coney Island Gets a $30 Million Italian Makeover." The New York Times. April 23, 2010.
  9. ^ "Luna Park Opens at Coney Island." USA Today. May 27, 2010.
  10. ^ Luna Park. "Ride Credits". Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  11. ^ "'Scream Zone' Opens, Joining Luna Park in Coney Island". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 2011-04-20. Retrieved 2011-05-11.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Luna Park, Coney Island.
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