Astroland Amusement Park

Good riddance to greedy rubbish. I loved the dramatic way the owner shut off the rides one by one on Sunday. Wondering if she shed a crocodile tear or two as she closed this last bastion of a link to the era when the scope of Brooklyn was changed for the better. More likely she was thinking of a new ivory backscratcher.
So what will beachgoers do next year besides sit with their backs against noisy construction? Will little kids be relegated to those coin op machines outside local supermarkets? Do you think you’ll fit on those rides too, or will you have to damn the expense and go to Splish Splash or Great Adventure? How awesome will the backdrop be for the mermaid day parade, what with the metal girders foreshadowing the looming gaudiness of hi rise (and higher priced) condos? Will we hear the pounding of pilons being hammered through the ground during the hot dog eating competition? Answer: No one, the former owner, the new owners, the city itself, gives a f*ck about that or about you, unless you’re looking to buy. Figure it out on your own.
Even before this year, when all efforts to literally clean the area up were abandoned, we should have seen this coming; several years back, when the salt-​water taffy store — a landmark! — was shut down despite massive protests, simply to make a bigger train station which has served to only have more room for people to puke on, that this station was not built to bring the plebs in, but to make it more attractive for potential buyers. There’s no reason to believe that the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone, even Nathan’s, won’t be shut down, or at least moved, to accomodate people who don’t care or know the area that they are displacing, only that they have a good view and no noise, while the rabble can go play somewhere else.

This is one of those rare places in the world, where if you slow down for a second and take a look around, you realize that there’s just no other place on the planet like it. It’s pure Brooklyn. Pure fun. Sure, it’s gritty, it’s loud and the garbage cans are usually over-​flowing by noon. But where else can you hear 15 different languages being spoken at once? Where else can you dance on the boardwalk under the hot sun to great house music on a Sunday afternoon? Where else can you see old Russian men in teeny tiny little speedos eating Nathan’s cheese fries and people wearing Puerto Rican flag swim trunks waiting on line for the teacups ride? It was a place for any one in any borough to enjoy and get away from urban life for a little while…
I’m gonna miss this place… Coney Island won’t be the same without it. Yet another place taken away to make room for more luxury condos, more hotels and of course, the almighty tourist dollar.
Goodbye Astroland and thanks for the memories!

25 cents to use the bathroom. Teacups. That viking ship thing. Vendors trying to get you to pop balloons. Astroland is the amusement park of amusement parks; small, run down, slightly disgusting, full of people and, depending on your mood, it can be a lot of fun.
Which is a shame to see that it is closed.
I don’t have a lot to add to this, sadly. But it is a shame to see it go. Even though it was pretty shady and craptastic, I’ll miss it.

It’s kinda run down, it’s kinda dingy, but it’s all Brooklyn. Bf and I came here two nights ago to experience the last of Astroland (it closes Thursday if no new lease is signed). We didn’t ride any of the rides, but we took tons of pictures of the rides and the area.
Thor has already ripped down some of the older attractions; I’m curious to see what actually happens in the coming year. I hope that this is a place that generations will continue to come to.

Astroland brings back so many memories. Growing up in Bklyn, in the 80’s and 90’s was wonderful. I would go to Astroland with my family and even with friends as I got older. We would go on the fun rides, or just hang out and ride the bumper cars. I keep hearing talk about them tearing this place down, but I’m pretty sure it’s just a rumor. I can’t see how they would tear down such a wonderful landmark.

This is pure history right here; oh god, does this place bring back memories of when i was a little tadpole getting on all the rides, and eating cotton candy until my stomach was in utter pain. I feel like Tom Hanks in his «Big» movie, i think i wanna be a kid again…

One of things I remember most about growing in the 80’s in Brooklyn was Coney Island. But especially Astroland. It was the more run down of the two but I always liked it better. Astroland had more cool rides, ones that my Mom would give me a hard time about. It had become a game to try and bribe my mom to allow me on certain rides. Fast forward 20 years astroland is still the more run down of the two but the one that you enjoy more. And now it has a looming extinction. Coney Island just won’t be the same without Astroland. You already broke my heart when you removed my merry go round just to put vacant property. And now you want to the same with my precious astroland. Damn you.

As a kid growing up in the Rockaways, I would make yearly visits to Astroland. While I found the park to be fun, it was hard to compare it to the mega parks like Great Adventure and Rye Playland. Yes it has history, and yes it is sad to see it go. I have the memories, and that is worth more to me than seeing this park become even less attractive due to bad management.

I grew up going to Astroland as a kid. It wasn’t as awesome as going to Great Adventure or Disney World, but for a kid in Brooklyn being raised by a single mother on a limited income, it was a great place to go on the weekends. I was in Coney Island with my mother to get some Nathan’s this past Memorial Day weekend and we talked about what a shame it is that they’re going to tear down another local amusement park. A place like this is so important for low income families who simply can’t afford to rent a car or even pay for bus tickets to take the whole family to Great Adventure. Forget about going all the way to Florida for the Disney vacation.
Why can’t the developers revitalize the area instead of tearing down the only place in the boroughs where kids can be kids and go have fun on some rides? If the plan is to build condos on the site where Astroland is, I wonder who they think is going to buy them. The neighborhood in its current state will never be able to support the hipster lifestyle of the type of owners that I’m sure they developers are trying to attract. I’m all for revitalizing Coney Island, but part of it’s charm for all of these years has been the existence of an amusement park along the beach.

As an integral part of the community within Coney Island, this historical site will be missed if the makeover proves to be too much for those who know this place best. I was a little taken back during my first sighting of this place, mainly because it didn’t meet my expectations as a place well maintained or even inspiring. It looked old, was unimpressive from the mega-​rides I’m used to from out west and everywhere else, and the hip hop profanity laced music was an ironic twist while kids waved their arms in the air screaming for joy. However, it showed me that this is a spot that all locals and visitors have come to enjoy and accept as part of what makes Coney Island so special.
While its not Bush Park, Disney Land, or Six Flags, it was a giant in its own right so many years ago. Combine this with the beach, the hot dogs, and the cancerous skin in bathing suits, it still serves its purpose as a unique locale that is unlike anywhere else in any of the five boroughs. Take pictures here before another 100 years passes by.

Thankfully, according to recent articles, the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone will remain at Coney Island, even though the rest of Astroland will change over the next year or two. The Wonder Wheel is a slice of history and unique in it’s design. The view from the top cannot be beat and the swinging cars are fun. The bumper cars always put a smile on everyone’s face, as does the traditional Nathan’s hot dogs. Mmmmmm… Nathan’s Coney Island dogs…

Its sad such an antiquated landmark is going to be shut down, at least that is what I have been hearing about in reported updates. Many memories spent here in summer. The boardwalk with questionable rides (they look so old, and some are made out of wood planks!), food vendors, the cheesy but entertaining (sometimes shoddy) games, all reminiscent of the typical carnival-​like fun by the beach in its authentic form. I probably will never live to see another one like it, so people go hurry before it closes forever. I am typing this in July, we have about 1 more month left in summer. So don’t waste time, take a trip and bring a camera with you.
Whoever is responsible for the general area, well, I had hoped that would have taken care of this part of Brooklyn better in tip top shape. Perhaps that would have prevented from closing, the attraction would have gain more monetary benefits. New paint jobs, new entertainments, and more vendors for more business… but ah well, thanks for the memories!

Hands down my favorite photo of my son is age 4, coming off of the Jumbo Jet coaster at Coney Island. It captures the churning stomach and spinning head feeling we all treasure and crave from a rickety old roller coaster. Please say it ain’t so that this is the last season Astroland will be opening its pearly gates…
afterthought: I didn’t realize Jumbo Jet was sold and has been gone for years! double sad.

i mean… come on! we’re gonna rock– rock! we’re gonna roll– roll! ride the cyclone, loose control!
coney island-​astroland!

I love Coney Island mostly for it’s character and I get sad when I read articles about it being taken over and remodeled.
Some of the things I love are:
The Cyclone– so irresistably dangerous, but fun, sometimes painful
WonderWheel– you must try the swinging cars, so fun
Nathans– who can resist a hot dog and cheesefries. mmm
The gift shop on the boardwalk– I think it’s called Mermaid gift shop or soemthing, but they have lots of fun stuff
Lots of arcades
Go Karts
Batting cages
the mini golf is kinda lame, but minigolf nonetheless
and endless amounts of junk food.
If that’s not enough, Totonno’s, my favorite pizza, is a few blocks away.

aaahh, my beloved astroland, how to describe thee? the cotton candy, nathan’s famous franks, the wonder wheel, and OFCOURSE the cyClonE – you have it all. You are right there on the boardwalk – so inviting. Why is astroland so much fun? because some of the rides really scare the crap out of you – and let’s face it – it’s fun to be scared. The wonder wheel & the cyclone are history you must ride these & no one has died on the cyclone in like 20 years, so odds are you’ll be ok. Trust me it’s a thrill, i’ve been on bigger roller coasters, ones that wind, others that go upside down – nothing is scarier than this thing – i think it’s one of the last wooden roller coasters in the US – and the only thing that stands between you and the fatal drop is a lapbar – wild. This place must be seen & experienced. The water rides aren’t great – skip them, but the cyclone & wonder wheel are excellent!