Coney Island Cyclone Roller Coaster Located Near Casino Site Shuts Down

Posted on: August 26, 2024, 11:57h. 

Last updated on: August 26, 2024, 12:07h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Coney Island’s landmark Cyclone roller coaster in New York City’s Brooklyn abruptly stopped running last Thursday due to a mechanical problem.

Coney Island casino Cyclone roller coaster
The Cyclone roller coaster on Coney Island has shuttered indefinitely to undergo repairs. The ride is located just blocks from where developers want to build a $3 billion casino resort. (Image: Casino.org)

The historic 97-year-old wooden roller coaster stopped during a run with amusement riders aboard. Several people were helped off the coaster after it was deliberately stopped while making an ascent.

Luna Park, the corporate entity that operates the largest amusement park in New York City, said the Cyclone was disabled after a damaged chain sprocket in the ride’s motor room was detected. The event resulted in riders being assisted in walking down the tracks.

At Luna Park in Coney Island, safety is our number one priority. Thorough testing happens daily before Luna Park opens and throughout the day as necessary,” Luna Park officials said. “The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily.”

The NYC Department of Buildings issued Luna Park code violations for failing to maintain the ride and not notifying the city agency promptly about the Cyclone’s issues.

The Cyclone is three blocks east of where a consortium of gaming entities wants to build an integrated resort casino called The Coney. The group is one of 10 bidders seeking to acquire one of the three downstate casino licenses the New York Gaming Facility Location Board is expected to issue before Dec. 1, 2025.

Casino Seeks to Bring New Life to Coney Island 

Coney Island has seen better days. Once a popular seaside resort town for Manhattanites, Coney Island’s appeal peaked during the first half of the 20th Century. Now, it’s perhaps best known for its annual hosting of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4.

Numerous revitalization efforts over the decades have largely failed to bring economic prosperity to the neighborhood on Brooklyn’s southern end along the Lower New York Bay. Today, one in four Coney Island households live in poverty and the median household income is just $44,800.

The Coney, a proposed $3 billion undertaking from Saratoga Casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation’s Global Gaming Solutions, Legends Hospitality Group, and Thor Equities, says the casino resort would bring new life to the area, give a new reason for visitors to visit, and create thousands of good-paying, full-time, year-round jobs.

Coney Island’s unemployment rate of roughly 10% would be reduced, and the casino consortium says it’s committed to becoming a community partner by supporting local businesses by allowing rewards members to redeem points at neighboring restaurants and shops. The development group has also pledged to invest in infrastructure to ease congestion and work with NYC’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority to establish express subway service and expand ferry routes to and from Coney Island.

Local Opposition 

Despite The Coney’s economic and community upgrade pledges, Community Board 13, which represents Coney Island in an advisory role on land use and zoning issues within the New York City government, opposes the $3 billion investment. In May 2023, Community Board 13 passed a resolution formally opposing the casino by a 23-8 vote.

Board members cited typical concerns associated with gaming developments, including the possibility of increased crime and other societal drains like problem gambling and bankruptcies. CB13 Chair Lucy Mujica Diaz also questioned whether The Coney’s jobs would pay too much and result in some community members losing their housing subsidies and rent vouchers.