Coney Island Rides Still Running In Honduras

Zipper heads for Honduras; via yanger's flickr

Even if Coney Island is slowly disappearing in front of our eyes (or at least morphing from what it used to be), some evicted amusement rides have gotten a new lease on life... in Honduras!

Filmmaker Amy Nicholson found the Zipper and the Spider in the beachside town of Tela, reports the Daily News. The rides were both tossed from Coney three years ago, but the 46-year-old has been busy documenting them in their new home. Her documentary (out this fall) is called Last Day of the Zipper, and uses the rides as a centerpiece in telling the Coney Island redevelopment story.

So how are they doing down there? New owner Jose Montoya says, "It's very important for us. Everybody knows Coney Island. Since you're a child, you see Coney Island in movies and even [video] games." Nicholson agreed, telling the paper, "They're very proud that they have these two because they're from Coney Island. They're very aware that they have a little piece of Coney Island's soul" (and Joe Sitt has the rest).

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

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on April 13, 2010 5:55 PM

Comments [rss]

Harold

Although it is great to see that these Coney rides have a nice new home, I wish the writer weren't so down about the present condition of Coney Island.

Coney Island is gearing up for one of it's best summers in decades. With opening of the new Luna Park there will be 19 new and cutting edge rides from the Zamperla corporation. Construction is going on night and day to meet the goal of opening on Memorial Day weekend.

Everyone in Coney is excited and can't wait for opening day. This park is going to be awesome!

In addition to that Ringling Brothers Circus returns this summer. I attended two shows last year and it was marvelous.

In 2011 the Zamperla company opens a second park in Coney called Scream Zone. It will features the first major new roller coaster to be built in Coney in decades. In addition Scream Zone will feature a human sling shot ride and go karts.

With 23 new rides and a circus, I would say that Coney is reappearing rather quickly as the world's playground again.

And let's not forget Denos Wonder Wheel park, Coney Island USA, the Mermaid Parade, Shmaltz Brewing Company's mini brewery, Nathans, The Cyclone Roller Coaster, the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team, a refurbished boardwalk, the return of Lola Staar's Souvenir Shop on the Boardwalk, Dreamland Roller Rink in the old Child's restaurant building, the Coney Island History Project under the Cyclone, The NY Aquarium, and of course, one of the most magnificent beaches on the East Coast.

It looks like we may be witnessing the second coming of Coney's heyday.

I, as a lifetime New Yorker whose family used to own and live under the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster (RIP), can't wait for it's return. It's been a long time coming.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

(Stitt and Bloomie has the rest) who bought part of C.I. with our money. Something else for him to play with, like collecting Lionel trains (only bigger).

I still hope they build hurricane proof buildings with an escape plan.

Oh, did I say I hate Bloomie? lol.

gawkthis

Maybe we should dump some more of our cultural heritage on Honduras?

The Statue of Liberty isn't doing anything anymore, and developers could be building luxury condos on Liberty Island instead of developing that dump Governors Island. Evict Lady Liberty and make the island productive! King Mike could build a vacation palace there with river views on all 4 sides.

Short sighted assholes selling off the country, and NYC's history.

Caleb

Lots of American stuff finds new life in South America. Most of the public transportation buses in Nicaragua are retired American school buses- some even still have school district names painted on the sides.