The operator of the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster wants to stop the ride and get off. Carol Albert, who formerly operated the Astroland amusement park across the street, is five years into a ten year lease from the city, but she says that the costs of maintaining the ride are too great now that she's no longer running Astroland. The Cyclone is a city landmark, and so—unlike the Thunderbolt—it's in no danger of being demolished and turned into a Dave and Buster's by amusement giant Zamperla. But this could mean the seasonal roller coaster will miss its traditional Palm Sunday opening day.
Albert has already laid off the ride's workers, and tells NY1, "I'm not happy about it. It's not what I really wanted to do. The cars are very heavy so the wear and the tear on the tracks is enormous. It's very expensive to keep it up. There are a lot of fixed costs attached to it but if you're running an amusement park across the street, it all works out fine. If not, it's very difficult." She thinks it makes sense for Zamperla to take over the ride, but the city wants to open up the bidding to other operators.
The city will issue a Request for Proposals by the end of the year, and the lengthy process could result in the Cyclone staying dormant for part of the spring and summer. "It would be very difficult to issue it, get it back, do the negotiations, get the repair work done and open in time for the season," Albert speculates. A source at the Mayor's office says, "If it has to open a little later than normal so the work can be completed, we'll do that. But we're also hopeful it will remain open later into the season than in previous years."
However, there is a bit of good news coming out of Coney Island, which is consumed by a bitter battle to preserve eight beloved bars and eateries facing eviction from the Boardwalk. Amusing the Zillion reports that Eldorado Auto Skooters, Coney’s famed disco palace of bumper cars, will reopen in 2011: "It’ll be 'Bump, Bump, Bump your Ass Off' at 1216 Surf Avenue in memory of the Eldorado’s heart and soul, Scott Fitlin, who died in October."
