Sad news comes out of Coney Island today, where neighbors are mourning the loss of Andy Badalamenti, a lifelong resident of the area and operator of classic rides like the Tornado rollercoaster, the Bobsled and the Himalaya. more ›

Coney Island's Scream Zone is finally open to the masses, which means that their newest roller coaster, the Steeplechase, is up and running. Do you like riding horses? Do you like doing so while strapped to the horse 50 feet in the air? Then do we have a ride for you: more ›

A church carnival in the Bronx turned into a house of horror when a roller coaster overturned and injured eleven people. Witnesses at the thirteenth annual St. Theresa Festival in Pelham Bay Park say that something was not right with the "Dragon Wagon" all day long, with reports that there was a clicking sound coming from the kiddie ride that stood no more than four feet off the ground. At around 9:30 p.m., the ride finally gave and ran off the tracks. Seven children were taken to Jacobi Hospital and one of the two adults injured was a pregnant woman, but all of the injuries were not considered serious, described as bumps and scratches. One elderly woman told the News, "I thought it was dangerous from the beginning," and when the ride finally did tilt over, the woman said that she thought "someone was shot." Police shut down the carnival for the night after the accident and continue to investigate what caused the malfunction. more ›

.The Coney Island Cyclone may be getting some competition. The NY Post reports that city officials want a new roller coaster added to the destination spot. That would be just one of many new amusements if a city-appointed panel gets their wish list. "The panel said 12 acres along the fabled boardwalk is sufficient space to build 30 new major amusements, including a roller coaster with a drop tower, water rides, a House of Horror, other thrill rides, and rides suitable for kids." And, uh oh, the panel also said that the city shouldn't get stuck on preserving artifacts from the historic Coney, but rather come up with ways to entice visitors. Still, might be better than leaving much of the area vacant as Thor Equities Joe Sitt and the city have their little turf war. more ›

With a deal to sell some of his prime Coney Island boardwalk real estate to the city stalled, developer Joe Sitt is moving to snatch up more land in an attempt to build a controversial entertainment-amusement-hotel complex. Kansas Fried Chicken king Horace Bullard tells the Post that he's "leaning toward" selling the former Thunderbolt roller coaster site to Sitt for $91 million. Those three acres would tighten Sitt's grip on most of the land stretching from Keyspan Park to the Cyclone. more ›

In defending the city against a lawsuit brought by the family of a San Francisco musician who died after riding the Cyclone last year, a city attorney is insisting that the roller coaster's potentially fatal dangers are "obvious." While riding the Cyclone on his birthday in July 2007, 53-year-old Keith Shirasawa fractured three neck vertebrae and died four days later after complications from surgery. In the lawsuit, his family contends that the Parks Department is at fault for not regularly inspecting the landmark ride. But city attorney Cynthia Goldman argues that "any and all risks, hazards, defects and dangers to the extent alleged are of an open, obvious, apparent and inherent nature known and should have been known to [Shirasawa]," according to court papers obtained by the Daily News. Shirasawa family attorneys blame the injury on a malfunction that made the Cyclone drop too fast, and an "antiquated" single position lap bar. more ›

On July 31st, 2007, 53-year-old Keith Shirasawa celebrated his birthday by riding the Coney Island Cyclone. Five days later he was dead. The San Fransisco musician fractured three neck vertebrae during the Cyclone's first 85-foot drop and later died after complications from surgery. His family has now filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the Parks Department is at fault for not inspecting the Landmark ride regularly. (The Parks Department contracts a private company to inspect and repair the ride; the contractor is also named as a defendant.) Lawyers for the Cyclone say the accident was caused by a malfunction that made the Cyclone drop too fast, and that's been fixed. In 2007 at least seven people were injured on the 81-year-old wooden roller coaster. more ›

Last summer was a rough one for some riders of the 81-year-old Coney Island Cyclone; the Post reports that at least seven people were injured throughout the season while riding the roller coaster. According to Astroland operator Carole Albert’s website, the ride “has the highest safety standards in the outdoor amusement industry,” and in order to maintain that perception, Albert’s been trying to quietly settle the ensuing lawsuits out of court. more ›

One positive addition to Coney Island recently took place, as Councilman Domenic M. Recchia Jr. dedicated the corner of Stillwell and Mermaid Avenues to Granville T. Woods Way. Woods not only invented some of the technology that keeps the subways running, but he also helped bring us the roller coaster -- an invention he debuted at Coney Island in the summer of 1909. A little bit more about the man:

In 1887, he patented the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph, which allowed communications between train stations from moving trains. Granville T. Woods' invention made it possible for trains to communicate with the station and with other trains so they knew exactly where they were at all times. more ›