Scenes from Coney Island’s grand opening weekend party
There were free rides, egg creams, and mugging pols on the Cyclone as Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel opened for the season
Coney Island is back, baby! (Scott Lynch)
Last weekend marked the start of amusement park season out at Coney Island, with both the sprawling Luna Park and more compact Deno’s Wonder Wheel sending shrieking kids flying, plunging, and spinning around on some 35 different rides along the boardwalk, including the historic Cyclone roller coaster, now entering its 97th year.
Most of the rides were actually up and running on Friday, but on Sunday morning Coney Island put on a grand opening show, with well-choreographed spectacles involving roving stilt walkers, Brooklyn United’s dance and drum corps, free chocolate egg creams courtesy of Brooklyn Seltzer, and many speeches from politicians and dignitaries.
Brooklyn United’s kickass dance and drum corps (Scott Lynch)
The Cyclone provided the backdrop for most of the oratory. The Zamperla family, who runs Luna Park, played host, and Dennis Vourderis of the “rival” Deno’s empire gave a gracious “not enemies but pals” speech about the two amusement parks.
Free egg creams! (Scott Lynch)
Senator Chuck Schumer recalled his Brooklyn childhood. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams gave a special shoutout to local New York City Housing Authority residents, and Mayor Eric Adams, famously unwilling to actually ride the Cyclone, did his usual photo-op in the roller coaster’s front car before bailing.
Hizzoner’s photo op, before not riding the Cyclone (Scott Lynch)
There was also a Blessing of the Rides and ribbon cutting ceremony at the entrance to Deno’s Wonder Wheel.
The Cyclone was free for the first 96 riders (in honor of the roller coaster’s 96th birthday) and, as usual, superfan Eric Knapp, known as “Mr. Cyclone,” was first on line. “I was born and raised in Brooklyn,” he told Brooklyn Magazine, “and I’ve been riding this roller coaster for 50 years.”
Mr. Cyclone Eric Knapp, front and center (Scott Lynch)
A couple of brand new rides made their debut over the weekend too, with a couple more coming soon. Luna Park unveiled Tony’s Express. A “high thrills” homage to America’s first ever roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, the Express winds its way around Leti’s Treasure water flume, during which, we were all warned repeatedly, “you will get wet.” No one dared do it in the cold on Sunday morning, but you should know that there’s a great view of the climactic final splashdown from the boardwalk.
Luna Park’s newest roller coaster, Tony’s Express (Scott Lynch)
Coming soon is the Sky Chaser, a ropes course that sends its victims climbing and hanging 50 feet over the boardwalk with no net. And Deno’s is almost ready with its new massive, state-of-the-art roller coaster, a red-and-yellow beast called the Phoenix.
A portion of Luna Park’s proceeds on Sunday were given to nonprofits that serve local children and youths, including the Coney Island Sharks, Give Kids the World Village, and Operation H.O.O.D.
