95 years of thrills!

The legendary Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster has been thrilling riders for 95 years beginning on June 26,1927.

This iconic wooden roller coaster is located on the corner of Surf Avenue and West 10th Street, the same location as the first modern roller coaster, La Marcus Thompson’s Switchback Railway, which opened in 1884. Its 2,640 feet of track includes 12 drops. The highest drop is an 85-foot, 60-degree plunge. Cyclone’s top speed is 60 mph, and it runs a train of three, eight-person cars with a well-padded lap bar.

Brothers Jack and Irving Rosenthal purchased land in Coney Island and hired the country’s leading coaster designer at the time, Vernon Keenan. Their mission was to develop a roller coaster to compete with Thunderbolt and Tornado, which were only a few blocks away. The Rosenthals spent between $146,000 and $175,000 on the construction of Cyclone, the equivalent of about $2.5 million today.

Cyclone was very popular as soon as the first train left the lift hill. On opening day, the cost was only 25 cents to ride, a significant amount for riders of that time. Many celebrities and dignitaries have ridden this coaster through the years. Charles Lindbergh, the first person to make a solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, was quoted as saying, “A ride on the Cyclone is a greater thrill than flying an airplane at top speed.“

Early success did not guarantee a smooth future for this coaster, however. Over the years, Coney Island as a whole fell into disrepair, and Cyclone suffered. The 1960s proved to be the hardest time for this treasured coaster. In 1971, New York City purchased the land and the roller coaster from its then owner, Silvio Pinto, for $1 million. New York City leased the ride back to Pinto for a few more years while deciding the future plans for the land.

Cyclone was nearly demolished owing to the economic decline of Coney Island’s amusement industry. The New York Aquarium wanted to use the land for a parking lot. A “Save the Cyclone” campaign successfully led the leadership of New York City to decide not to demolish this legendary coaster.

On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of the adjacent Astroland Amusement Park, entered into an agreement to operate Cyclone. The roller coaster was refurbished during the 1974 off season and reopened on July 3,1975.

After a campaign brought attention to how important Cyclone was to the area, it was declared a New York City landmark on July 12,1988. This recognition was followed by placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Subsequently, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), declared Cyclone as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in June 2002, a distinction reserved for coasters of historical significance. Today, only 47 roller coasters have been granted this special honor. ACE also recognized the coaster as an ACE Coaster Classic since it operates in the classic wooden coaster design that includes a bench seat and a traditional lap bar, allowing for maximum airtime experiences.

For a brief period in the 1980s, Cyclone ran its trains backward during the weekdays. During this time, Cyclone was informally called “Back-fire.”

Astroland ceased operations at the end of the 2008 season. Carol Hill Albert, the wife of Jerry Albert, continued to operate Cyclone under a lease agreement with New York City for a few more years.

In 2011, Luna Park acquired the operations of Cyclone. Luna Park quickly realized that the coaster was in desperate need of repair. In 2012, Pennsylvania-based Great Coasters International, Inc. was hired to repair the legendary coaster and bring it back to its former glory. Track replacement was done in phases over a few years. This phased repair plan allowed Cyclone to continue summer season operation.

Today, the Coney Island Cyclone is in a tie with two other coasters as the 11th oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the world. The ride offers thrills just as great as those experienced on its opening day. Hopefully, with continued love and support, Cyclone will be around for another 95 years.

— Anthony Ubinas, ACE New York City Asst Rep

American Coaster Enthusiasts is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With 6,000 members worldwide, ACE is the largest and longest-running enthusiast organization in the world. Members of ACE receive exclusive park benefits, newsletters, magazines and the opportunity to attend national, local and even international tours at parks. You can enjoy the benefits of members today! Join at join.aceonline.org.