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Astroland is Dead


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It's good that they intend to build a new park, but it's a shame that Astroland operators haven't being treated wth the respect they disearve.

 

It's very sad when a park closes. On my first reply to this topic, I said the closing down of Astroland reminded of when my childhood park closed down.

 

Here, a picture of the sign, on the entrance of Tivoli Park in Rio.

It says:

 

"We inform that sunday, 12/17/1995, will be the last day of operation of Tivoli Park. We thank the people of Rio de Janeiro for all the love along these 23 years."

 

It's awefull to see Astroland ending too. Signs like that should never be written. Parks should only open. Never close.

Tivoli.jpg.160cdd80fe3f920abab76cb94ff2f7e8.jpg

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This really is such a shame. I am surprised more people are not making a big deal out of this. While its a shame to see any park go, parks with a lot less history have seen a lot more opposition to there closer.

 

For any one that does not know about the history of the park, or would like to learn more about the history of the park, this is a great web site.

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Not so fast.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/09/09/2008-09-09_astroland_gets_shot_at_second_life_as_of-1.html

 

Astroland gets shot at second life as officials push to keep park open

BY JOTHAM SEDERSTROM

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Tuesday, September 9th 2008, 4:00 AM

 

 

Wenig/AP

 

Patrons flocked to Astroland Sunday for it's last day of existence. But, it may be alive again soon.

One day after Coney Island's famous Astroland closed for good, city officials Monday floated a plan to resuscitate the historic amusement park.

 

Despite little interest from Astroland owners and landlord Thor Equities, city officials are pushing the two sides to agree on an interim deal to keep the park open.

 

Sources said the city then hopes to find a different spot for the beloved park as part of an ambitious plan to redevelop Coney Island.

 

 

"If Astroland's current landlord was willing to extend its lease just until our plan passes, the city will then be in a position to keep Astroland - and all the other amusements - alive, using what would then be city-owned property," said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

 

The last-minute proposal would allow the 3.1-acre park to lease land from the city once the larger plan for the area is approved.

 

The dramatic makeover of Coney Island has met with one obstacle after another.

 

The proposal stalled last fall after private landowners and other amusement owners, including Deno's Wonder Wheel amusement park, balked at the city's intention to buy them out and build a single park.

 

If the city is able to move ahead, sources said, Astroland would be relocated or would buy its current home from Thor, which bought the land in 2006 for a reported $30 million.

 

Thor spokesman Stefan Friedman said Monday the city had not contacted developer Joseph Sitt about the plans and declined to comment on whether Sitt was willing to reopen negotiations with Astroland owner Carol Hill Albert.

 

An Astroland spokesman Monday said Albert still had no intention of reopening the park after Sunday's shuttering.

 

"Talk is cheap," said spokesman Joe Carella, who added that city officials have yet to contact Albert about their plans. "It's just too much of an upstream swim at this point."

 

Even if the two sides won't come to the table, city officials promised there would still be Astroland-like rides at Coney Island next summer.

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I hope something can be done. I wish there was some way we could preserve these historic parks. I've never been to Coney Island though I have always wanted to go.

 

I drive by the decayed remains of my childhood park which has been closed for 21 years.

 

The coaster and remaining buildings are going to be demolished for housing. *rolls eyes*

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  • 1 month later...

So it looks like Astroland's site is going to become a flea market next season

 

According to a flyer, "fleabythesea" will have rides, food and entertainment as well as broken goods and shady deals.

 

www.coneyisland.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1226521276

 

While it does say there will be rides, the same thing was said this past summer about the former go-kart track site that Sitt owns. The 'rides' consisted of just an inflatable waterslide.

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So its going from semi-ghetto but still appreciable amusement park to an ultra-ghetto, sleazy flea market. That's freaking wonderful. Now instead of riding rides you can buy a broken radio that bursts into flames as soon as you plug it in.

Hey! Don't knock it. There is always the chance you'll find a Vectrex or a ColecoVision....

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So its going from semi-ghetto but still appreciable amusement park to an ultra-ghetto, sleazy flea market. That's freaking wonderful. Now instead of riding rides you can buy a broken radio that bursts into flames as soon as you plug it in.

Hey! Don't knock it. There is always the chance you'll find a Vectrex or a ColecoVision....

 

I've been looking for a gun to play Duck Hunt and a new laser pointer, so its not a complete waste.

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This whole Coney Island situation is getting even more crazy now.

 

From the NY Post: Astroland Hope. City Eyes Coney Land Buy.

 

The Bloomberg administration is in serious negotiations to buy 10.5 acres of real estate in Coney Island that once appeared unobtainable – a move that would save both Astroland Park and the mayor's plans to revive the slumping seaside amusement district, The Post has learned...
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Yes, that is pretty sad but now all rides are packing up for now.

 

But i went to the Coney Island on August 19th 2007 was same my birthday date on August 19, 1980. Here picture of me, cyclone and astroland.

 

You wanna see Cyclone? let's see it.

 

Thank for remember about the Astroland and good to meet with you.

1259319768_Picture071.jpg.2c5ebb9b65e5494ff71848d56302d489.jpg

Funny, let me bump you around.

dsc00361.jpg.d5e383ae43c7d4ae52236397f620da0e.jpg

I'm on the Cyclone for $6.00 per entrance and ride again for $4.00

91217366_Picture019.jpg.695078bf3a771484a5a4e32429bdcdcd.jpg

CYCLONE was cool.

2089640492_Picture017.jpg.9d662ccb7454b7e018833a0f0a260f53.jpg

Cyclone is great.

1773225141_Picture016.jpg.f5d130f6a3500d6ec1811fcecaffb3d3.jpg

Old leather seat

973912537_Picture012.jpg.a2bc2640c2c40ba356f4a768b29e3fdb.jpg

I'm next

175479682_Picture011.jpg.c25176f345c59d765bd3c292e37ab7f2.jpg

Old train

1545433366_Picture025.jpg.ca5dc7074c5877fc00ec541b781e6bbc.jpg

Entrance, there i go

1355209706_Picture023.jpg.5e28d5375dbc2a36c029948fd4877b7e.jpg

I'd like to go on.

1704431445_Picture021.jpg.6cb391317f82e5230ef0e4f01b964039.jpg

Whooooooaaaaaaaaa!

1416632943_Picture059.jpg.69020037812fb4cb9856fdc3dd5c0619.jpg

I love cyclone

797219556_Picture008.jpg.598681e796134ce88e5fa720450f3477.jpg

View to the Wonder Wheel from Astroland

301177839_Picture024.thumb.jpg.09d6bf2f88c178597674cbfe8a948183.jpg

Astrotower

1800992797_Picture004.jpg.4a9a86caa388d8b0a755c0f11e94c001.jpg

Whoa that Big Apple as Wacky Worm has turnable with the two trains?

117710059_Picture001.jpg.c5fa4a78922e0cf5210f73c2f2123d09.jpg

Look very smile worm

1409688493_Picture007.jpg.1ece663faab35b5261ef6c5787f394f1.jpg

Also you seen on filmed Uptown Girls?

886564675_Picture006.jpg.a617cd07084db4cfd0fcc0936d861755.jpg

Scrambler

2117390908_Picture033.jpg.f032eb294c9252765fd3c3ec4ea5f923.jpg

That is one of my favorite Tilt-A-Whirl

271807673_Picture037.jpg.272429f950ca6c0be7ee4110a5dbfa03.jpg

Huss Pirate Ship just for swingin' ship.

118532699_Picture036.jpg.04f69a0e4d4c108f4cd0c971d6347595.jpg

Huss Top Spin II is closed due repair.

934708635_Picture035.jpg.e69e3c7d9659baf3c1f5ef56718a1346.jpg

Dante's Inferno sound like a man-eating demon. Creep and scared.

1827064949_Picture030.jpg.6f89ea273230cd476c5cefd806808358.jpg

That's me

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Huss Break Dance that i get me dizzy and fell asleep.

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That's me

406956489_Picture027.jpg.4ab4762b3105541e8d902f2bd95b58b0.jpg

Greatest famous Astroland and me.

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  • 1 month later...

This "Astroland is Dead" thread might soon turn to "All of Coney Island is Dead"... According to the New York Post, the new Coney Island development plans may include sacrificing the Nathan's Hot Dog location.

 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01202009/news/regionalnews/coney_is__plan_bites_nathans_151018.htm

 

 

CONEY IS. PLAN BITES NATHAN'S

By RICH CALDER

 

Mayor Bloomberg's plan to revitalize Coney Island could mean the end of the original Nathan's Famous hot-dog stand.

 

That revelation is hidden deep within the draft of the 47-acre rezoning plan's environmental-impact statement, which the city submitted yesterday.

 

The Nathan's site - which opened at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in 1916 - could make way for more lucrative development should land values skyrocket once the rezoning is approved.

 

"Nathan's Famous restaurant . . . is assumed to be replaced under the proposed actions with a new building containing hotel, amusement, retail and enhancing uses," according to the city document.

 

Nathan's-- which owns the building at 1308 Surf Avenue and has a right to sell for big bucks -- could not be reached for comment yesterday.

 

But Andrew Brent, a spokesman for the mayor, said any talk of Nathan's leaving is premature.

 

"Nathan's is one of Coney Island's treasured assets, and it's continued success in its current location is absolutely a part of the administration's plan to grow and revitalize the amusement district."

 

Another city official said the rezoning could possibly open the door to the frankfurter king expanding the site with "possibly a sit-down restaurant, catering or even a hot-dog ride."

 

Nathan's operates a smaller stand in the amusement district a block away on the boardwalk, but it rents the stand from developer Joe Sitt, who is in the process of trying to sell his Coney Island properties to the city.

 

The report comes in light of the city getting set today to kick off the seven-month public review process for the $2.5 billion rezoning plan.

 

The Nathan's Surf Avenue stand abuts where the city wants to build a new 9.39 acre outdoor amusement park nestled between the Parachute Jump to the west and the Cyclone rollercoaster to the east.

 

A new strip, dubbed "Wonder Wheel Way," would connect three landmarks, the Parachute Jump, Wonder Wheel and Cyclone.

 

The park would be part of a 27-acre "entertainment and amusement district" that would also include indoor rides, games and other entertainment and high-rise hotels.

 

"The plan to revitalize Coney Island will substantially increase the storied amusement area, creating a year-round attraction that will bring tourists and visitors to Brooklyn," Mayor Bloomberg said.

 

"This plan protects and preserves the unique character of Coney Island while bringing new housing, shops and recreational facilities to a community that needs more of each."

 

Many Coney Islanders, however, want to see a larger amusement area - saying up to 61 acres is now zoned for rides in the area, although city officials are quick to point out that just few precious acres now offer them.

 

Some civic leaders are calling on the city to revert to an earlier plan that had 15 acres set aside for the outdoor park and are planning organized protests.

 

The city plan also includes erecting 4,500 units of new housing north of Surf Avenue and west of Keyspan Park - roughly 900 of which would be affordable units -- and 500,000 square feet of neighborhood retail.

 

 

 

I will be totally disgusted if this really happens, why are they trying to destroy all of the history and nostalgia of Coney Island?? They say the plan protects the unique character of Coney Island, but it seems to me that everything that made it unique has already been lost or is on the way out. I am really glad I got to go this past summer, it will obviously never be the same. I could tell it was on its way down, but I guess I didn't realize just how far it would go!

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That article scared me for a minute, but I saw this article linked at the Coney Island Message Board; looks like Nathan's is going to stay: Nathan's Says Its Coney Island Flagship Will Stay Put

 

BTW, just to update eveyone on Astroland in general; a couple of places have inquired about the rides, even reports that places in the Middle East and Australia want to buy the entire park and relocate it, but nothing has been done yet. In the meantime most of the rides were put into storage in hopes that the rides could move to a new section in CI.

 

Here's a Flickr photo album showing the dismantling: The Destruction of Coney Island

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Great pics, Rideslover!

 

You know, Coney Island was one of those places I would have liked to have visited, only I have a distinct aversion to being shot. I still wouldn't mind going sometime since they're keeping the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel... but if they tear down Nathan's, that might be a deal-breaker.

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