This morning Coney Island's roller queen Lola Staar (real name Dianna Carlin) announced on her blog, "Dreamland Roller Rink will not be celebrating our third season inside the beautiful Childs Building in Coney Island. To my surprise, I just found out that the owners of the building have decided not to allow Dreamland Roller Rink to continue" in their space on West 21st Street. more ›

Just two days after diver Gene Ritter recovered it from the ocean floor, the Dreamland bell that sunk during the iron pier fire of 1911, was being rung again. Temporarily displayed at the Coney Island History Project, where it will remain through September 13th, you can pay $1 to give it a ring yourself—and it still sounds good after nearly a century underwater! They explain that "a hose system was set up to keep the bell constantly wet since it has been underwater for 98 years." Also on display are old images of the bell as well as other artifacts Ritter has recovered, including bottles, china and lamps. See more images here. more ›

Very recently Thor Equities' Joe Sitt shut down Dreamland, Coney Island’s biggest amusement park, after a rent dispute with the park’s operator Anthony Raffaelle. Sure, half a million dollars is nothing to scoff at, but the summering masses want their amusements! So Councilman Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. has stepped in, and his intervening has gotten the padlocks taken off the site. In a statement we received this afternoon, he says, “Dreamland provided jobs to the community and was a big attraction for visitors. After discussing the issue with Thor, they agreed to reopen for the Labor Day weekend. I would like to thank Thor recognizing the importance of Dreamland in Coney Island. Thor and the site’s operator have agreed to work out their rent issues in the coming weeks." Upon the closure, Raffaelle had told NY1, "First of all they came down here, they quadrupled everybody's rent in Coney Island. Nobody in Coney Island can pay their rent now." more ›

Back on May 27, 1911 Coney Island was doing worse off than it is today, with Dreamland Park in flames for a full 18 hours, burning to the ground and never again being rebuilt as it was. But a piece of the glory days was just found underwater; the NY Post reports that local divers are bringing up a piece of the past: a massive 500-lb bell that sunk to the ocean floor with the rest of the pier. Diver Gene Ritter told the paper, "I knew the bell existed, but I never dreamed I would find it. I thought it would be buried in mud. I was stunned, especially over the incredible shape the bell is in." more ›

If Thor Equities was hoping to win over public opinion, we're not sure this is the way to go: The developer which owns the land where Dreamland Amusement Park sits (the former Astroland site) has shut down the amusement, claiming non-payment of rent. Thor spokesman Stefan Friedman tells the Post that Dreamland has only paid $30,000—and owes $600,000, "We are hopeful that Dreamland will soon pay its rent, so it can quickly reopen the rides." But Dreamland president Anthony Raffaele told NY1 he has been paying rent, "First of all they came down here, they quadrupled everybody's rent in Coney Island. Nobody in Coney Island can pay their rent now. And now they come down here and cut all the locks. Why'd they wait till now, if I haven't been paying the rent, it's two weeks away from the end of the season." City Councilman Domenic Recchia criticized Thor owner Joseph Sitt as "a heartless person who only cares about money." more ›

You can ride on a piece of Michael Jackson history right on Coney Island! That sounds weird, but it's true. The Dragon Wagon Kiddie Coaster is the very same one that used to reside in Michael Jackson’s private amusement park at Neverland Ranch. Reportedly Earl “Butch” Butler, CEO of California-based Butler Amusements purchased the ride last year. Butler is old pals with recent Coney addition John Strong "whose sideshow has been operating in Sitt’s would-be Dreamland since April. Strong kept calling him and said they were having trouble getting rides. Butler agreed to fly out and see the situation. His impression: 'Coney Island needs upgrading.'" And that's how a piece of Neverland ended up in Brooklyn. [via Amusing the Zillion] more ›

The battle of the freakshows continues on Coney Island, as Mr. John Strong III (Coney newbie) and Mr. Dick Zigun (Coney mainstay) unleash the freaks for the season. Zigun told the NY Times last week that while Strong claims to run the world’s largest freak show, "It’s likely you’ll see a lot of strange animals and only one live person. We’re a classic 10-in-one circus sideshow with a cast of sword swallowers, fire eaters and other freaks. No animals.” more ›

The new, third retail spot for the Red Hook Ball Field Vendors—hinted by executive director Cesar Fuentes to be a “historic Brooklyn location that will soon promise to be one of the most talked about events in NYC” —is looking more and more to be Dreamland on Coney Island, a two-dozen rides strong amusement park hoisted on the burial grounds of former Astroland site. Dreamland, named for a Tammany-era Coney Island attraction that burned down in 1911, will also feature wide variety of food stalls. UPDATE: A press release from Thor Equities confirms that some Red Hook Ball Field Vendors will be part of a large "Foodie Tent" (cringe) at Dreamland this summer. Per the release: "Hundreds of vendors from across the City and State, ranging from some of the City’s best artisans and designers...will be setting up shop," as part of a summer-long "Festival by the Sea." more ›

After lots of partying and posturing, Lola Staar has achieved her goal of re-opening Dreamland Roller Rink on Coney Island. Kinetic Carnival reports that an official announcement is expected soon, but expect the rink will be open July 19th through mid October (from 12 noon to midnight every weekend). Only fleetingly opened last year after she won a contest, Staar (real name Diana Carlin) has spent her waking hours trying to make her dreamland a reality. Hopefully it will be a permanent, or at least seasonal fixture at the historic Childs Building. more ›

The hearing held to Save Coney Island on June 24th was well attended, but lacked some of the area's supportive characters. Rosie Perez, Murray Hill, Dreena De Niro and others were all showing their support in a different way at the (poorly scheduled) premiere of a Lola Starr's short documentary. Starr is currently trying to make her Dreamland Roller Rink a permanent fixture on the island. Below is a video of testimonials by those who attended the screening instead of the hearing. more ›

On March 22nd Lola Staar opened up her Dreamland Roller Rink inside the historic Childs Building on the Coney Island Boardwalk. The temporary rink was paid for by Glamour and Tommy Hilfiger, who sponsored a contest Staar won. more ›