NYC architect Ju-Hyun Kim has sent along these renderings he created after wondering if the city could have a "vertical-urban-amusement park" (maybe in Queens?). He came up with this sustainable Skyscraper Theme Park, which is split into five major areas: Vertigo World (carousel and observation deck), Fast Land (flume ride, rollercoaster), 360 World (Ferris Wheel, sky promenade), Abyss City (deep city diver), and the Elsewhere Universe (space exploration, science center). Just thinking about Vertigo World is giving us vertigo. Here's what Kim tells us about his idea:
Architect Designs "Skyscraper Theme Park" For NYC
Owner Says Return of Astroland "Seems Unlikely"
Though she was hoping to secure a lease, Astroland Owner Carol Albert told the Post that she will most likely never be able to resurrect Astroland Park in another area of the boardwalk. Rather than let Albert open a new park with both old and new rides, the city picked Central Amusement International to open up the new Luna Park. Albert has had her 22 rides in storage while trying to reach a settlement, but is now ready to sell them.
Zamperla's Coney Island Park Will Be Named "Luna Park"
The Italian amusement company reportedly tapped to turn the city's controversial Coney Island redevelopment plan into a reality will name its plot "Luna Park" after the legendary Coney Island amusement park. "The park will be called, Luna Park, like the first, the only, the inimitable one, the one created by Frederic Thompson and Elmer 'Skip' Dundy," Alberto Zamperla — President and CEO of Zamperla — apparently told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale di Vicenza. If that's the case, Zamperla will have some pretty big shoes to fill.
City Chooses New Amusement Operator For Coney Island
The city has selected a new amusement park company to operate rides in Coney Island. Following its purchase of a large chunk of Coney Island land, the city has tapped Zamperla USA to kick off its controversial plan to revitalize the neighborhood by bringing new amusements to the area between KeySpan Park and the former Astroland amusement park.
The Twilight of Astroland
Astroland closed its doors yesterday, and its owner, Carol Albert, says it's for good. She told the Daily News, "I want to make it clear that despite rumors to the contrary, there are absolutely no negotiations going on."
Rides Go Up for Sale as Astroland Closes Shop Today
Today will be the last ride for Coney Island's Astroland. That will leave park owner Carol Albert with two dozen rides and 16 trailers worth of items accumulated over 46 years to clear out by next January in order to avoid fines from land owners Thor Equities. In order to clear out ASAP, Albert has already put several of the rides up for sale online from a firm called "Rides-4-U." Rides such as Dante's Inferno and Top Spin can be bought for prices ranging from $200k-$500k.
Short Ride to a Bad Time with Astroland Set to Close
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."
Adventureland Skeleton Attacks Little Girl
A five-year-old girl suffered a cut on the back of her neck and a lifetime of nightmares when a ten-foot skeleton fell on her while she was walking through Adventureland Friday night. The girl was under a tightrope on which the skeleton rides a bicycle back and forth when the rope snapped and the prop tumbled onto her about 8 p.m. As the girl struggled to piece together the events, asking "What happened? What happened?" a witness told her, "Remember the skeleton you seen when you were walking before? Well, it fell and it hit you." The girl was treated at a nearby hospital for lacerations. In 2007, a 6-year-old boy's hand was mangled on an attraction called Super Raider at the Long Island amusement park.
Astroland Opens On Sunday For (Maybe) Last Season
Get ready to ride the Cyclone again - Astroland is opening up for the 2008 season this Sunday! There were worries, due to ambitious plans to redevelop Coney Island, that 2007 was Astroland's last season, but Astroland owners, the Albert family, and Thor Equities were able to come to an agreement last October.

