Short Ride to a Bad Time with Astroland Set to Close

Photograph by jorgeq on Flickr

Astroland, the Coney Island amusement park that seems constantly on the brink of extinction in recent years, appears to be shutting down Astro-fast and will close down for good this Thursday. Owner Carol Albert, in a letter published by today's NY Daily News, wrote that property owner Thor Management "has left Astroland no choice but to notify its employees that the amusement park will be closing permanently at the end of the season."

Albert was looking for a two-year extension on the Astroland lease in order to provide stability to her staff. But Thor is not blinking and has only offered another one-year lease, saying that now Astroland will be replaced next summer by new "amusements, games, shopping and entertainment galore." With the mayor's proposed rezoning plan for Coney Island at least a year away, many were hoping Astroland would close the gap with a final summer in 2009.

When an eleventh-hour deal was struck last fall to avoid Astroland closing then, it was suggested that this would be its final summer open. The current lease runs until January, but Albert has decided to close early rather than remaining in limbo. Thor was not pleased with this saying, "We are extremely disappointed that Carol Albert has decided to give up on the future of Coney Island."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Billy Parker in News on August 30, 2008 6:10 PM

Comments [rss]

coney fan

I meant open NEXT weekend, Sept 6 and 7, not next next.

coney fan

the NY Post is a tool of Thor Equities. Don't believe anything you read in it about Coney Island.

Astroland is NOT NOT NOT closing next Thursday!

Astroland will be open next next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, for the last day of its season, as planned

Astroland is also open today Sunday and on Labor Day

sharpshoota

I will not spend a dime there in the future. More new fangled trash. When I want amusements I'll go out of the city.

thearidginality

fuck thor, i will be stabbing, this is disgusting what is allowed to happen

woodendesigner

It think it's time that people stopped supporting the crap that these big developers decide build in place of these old and historical businesses. I'll admit that certain parts of Coney Island need improving but buying it up and completely replacing it is just plain wrong and very narrow minded.

Wza

I agree with all that have posted so far.

Dam shame.

coney fan

Thor was not pleased with this saying, "We are extremely disappointed that Carol Albert has decided to give up on the future of Coney Island."

puhleeze, gothamist. I thought you were too savvy to be a sucker for this pr garbage from Thor. Thor Equities simply does not want to give Astroland another extension, but instead of saying so, they release this story to the press to make it look as if Albert is the one pulling the plug.

Thor wants to create another empty lot where Astroland is to add to their collection of empty lots and blighted property in Coney Island. They want to make the public believe amusements are dead in Coney Island and there's nothing left to enjoy here. Thor is pressuring the city to rezone and let them build 30 story high rises and retail stores.

The city's rezoning of the C-7 amusement area will determine "The Future of Coney Island." Wake up New Yorkers, there's still time to preserve "The People's Playground." Write Mayor Bloomberg and your city council member now!

99centmenu

Fuck. I've been going there since I was a kid. This is incredibly depressing.

Another part of Brooklyn to be packaged and sold. Wonderful.