Coney Island Colorado Diner, Bailey, CO. Photo © RoadsideArchitecture.com
November 8, 2015: The Coney Island Boardwalk Hot Dog restaurant in Bailey, Colorado, is up for sale again! The asking price is triple what it was in 2011. Scroll down for update…
Hey, wanna buy the Coney Island Boardwalk? The historic hot-dog shaped “Coney Island Boardwalk” diner, in Bailey, Colorado, is being offered for sale by its owner. It’s all yours, including stucco bun and mustard and relish toppings, for just $499K. According to the listing, the bun is 35 feet long and the hot dog 42 feet. Made of concrete-and-steel, this fine example of novelty architecture weighs a hefty 18 tons. But the buyer will have to move the 1960’s eatery from its current location on the South Platte River about 30 miles southwest of Denver.
Inside the Hot Dog. Photo © themickeyd/RonMcdonald via flickr
“Truly my dream was to have a beautiful location,” said Ron Aigner, the diner’s owner, in a phone interview with ATZ. “Now I can’t even walk the dog.” Left disabled with a broken back after an altercation with local authorities, Aigner closed the diner and advertised it for sale. Aigner told ATZ he wouldn’t mind if somebody bought the diner and moved it from Colorado to the original Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York! Now that would be an unusual move: New York City has been losing its historic diners since the Moondance was sold to new owners in Wyoming and the Cheyenne went to Alabama.
Once Coloradans find out about the listing, we think they’ll rally to save their Coney Island, which was built in Denver in 1966. Its designer Marcus Shannon of Lakewood, Colorado, planned a chain of hot dog diners and filed a patent for the design in 1965. The eatery was originally located on West Colfax in Denver. Since 1970, the Coney Island Boardwalk has been on scenic US Highway 285, first in Aspen Park and then in Bailey.
The building has been hailed as “the best example of roadside architecture in the state” by Thomas J. Noel, a Professor of History and Director of Public History, Preservation & Colorado Studies at the University of Colorado. In reply to ATZ’s email, Noel (aka “Dr. Colorado”) wrote: “We Coloradans should rally to save one of our greatest culinary landmarks, a most delicious morsel of pop roadside art. Hot Dog! Don’t let the Coney Island die.”
Under the Dog. Photo © themickeyd/RonMcdonald via flickr
The delightful interior of the hot dog, which was lovingly restored, includes two booths and a diminutive counter with a few stools. “I moved it and renovated it. It does a huge business,” says Aigner, who offered to provide sales figures to prospective buyers. “I put out about 20 to 30 tables for people to sit by the river.” Indeed, restaurant reviewers mention an hour-long wait for a wiener during the busy summer season, though they say it was worth it for the Chicago-style dog. But Aigner says the location was not suited for year-round business: “We’re on the road to Breckinridge. It’s the second busiest highway, but not the ski traffic highway.”
The first photo in this post was taken by our friend RoadsideNut, a New Yorker who has extensively documented America’s roadside architecture on her website. Check out the Burgers and Hot Dogs page, where the Coney Island in Colorado appears along with Top Dog, Giant Burger and other architectural wonders.
UPDATE November 8, 2015:
The Coney Island Boardwalk Hot Dog restaurant in Bailey, Colorado, is up for sale again! According to a local news report, owner Ron Aigner is retiring and has listed the property for $1,495,000. Broker Jim Urban has posted a video tour on YouTube:
UPDATE August 14, 2011:
ATZ is happy to report that the diner reopened for the summer. The person whom we spoke with on the phone was unable to confirm fall/winter hours. Call in advance. A Yelper reports that the elk dogs are terrific. The diner’s address is 10 Old Stagecoach Rd, Bailey, CO 80421. Phone (303) 838-4210.
Before Renovation: The Coney Island Hotdog Stand, seen here in Aspen Park, CO, before it was sold and moved to Bailey, CO in March 2006. August 16, 2005. Photo © mrivorey/Chris Moody via flickr
Related posts on ATZ…
December 4, 2010: Artifact of the Day: Vintage Coffee Cup from Childs Restaurant
November 21, 2010: Goodbye (Or Maybe Not?) to My Coney Island Equivalent of Proust’s Madeleine
October 17, 2010: Coney Island to Get Flying Coaster from Denver’s Elitch Gardens
January 19, 2010: Nathan Slept Here! Coney Island’s Feltman’s Kitchen Set for Demolition
Amusing the Zillion 
I Live approx 8 miles from Bailey,Co. I drive past the new site every weekend in the Summer,true it does a great business on the other hand this guy is Dreaming @ $499,000. This is more of a tourist attraction than an eatery. I grew up in Brooklyn ,Believe me this is Not even close to Coney Island..Nice try to get National Attention.
Small world! I’ve come across stories of this diner a few times when searching the web for “Coney Island” and thought it was just adorable looking. Hope it finds a new home!
I wish I had the $$ …. I would totally LIVE in that diner :)
yes, it would be a suitable home for a roadside fan/writer/foodie with $$$$$$ to spend!
Way too bad. I love Park County, but you don’t have anything there as long as someone else can take it.
Perhaps the building should go across the street from the WigWam Motel in Cave City, KY
http://www.igougo.com/lodging-reviews-b196917-Cave_City-Wigwam_Village.html
It is one of two WigWam motels left, the other in arizona. Shorter distance, but worse drive.
That’s an interesting idea, to put examples of roadside architecture in proximity to each other. It would no doubt attract fans. It’s too bad when a historic building has to be moved, but this diner has already been at three locations that I’ve heard about. Since it’s native to Colorado and the only one of its kind, I hope things work out for it to stay in its home state
Would be nice. If it must move, another place might be World Famous Bob’s Java Jive in Tacoma, one of my old favorite hangouts.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2977
I’m sure Colorado must have such a structure as this somewher, and Colorado is central to the whole country. Someone could build a giant museum shaped like a curio cabinet and we can store them all there.
That is essentially what the Shelburne Museum in Vermont is — except it is not in a building. Its features include a paddlewheel ship, a lighthouse, a train, several barns and a covered bridge.
If only the current bulldozers of what is left of Coney had the
foresight, taste and intellect to buy up such attractions and
put them along the boardwalk and throughout the amusement area we might have some semblance of a worldwide attraction.
Although I don’t have a crystal ball, it appears that we are going to get plastic plastic plastic-and all in the name of maximum profit-but not for the citizen.
This would be nice on our famous boardwalk in original Coney. A small taste of my original fantasy of having a two level neon-retro 24-hour diner right on the boardwalk in Coney Island.
That’s what I thought at first too! But Nathan’s, home of the hot dog, probably wouldn’t like the competition one bit. And Nathan’s will be expanding their space on the Boardwalk in the new Coney Island
I posted the story on the Facebook page of Colorado Preservation. They replied: ” It was a favorite lunch stop for staff on their way back to Denver, and always on the list of places to see for visitors. Our Saving Places Conference is this coming week, and I’m sure there will be plenty of discussion on how to keep this roadside treasure in Colorado.”
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Colorado-Preservation-Inc/120276120514
Thank you tricia for all the work you are putting into this when and where is that meeting is it posted on the facebook page?
You’re welcome, purplerose. It is a statewide preservation conference on “Saving Places”from Feb 2-4 in Denver. Registration info at http://www.coloradopreservation.org/
I can tell you I’ve frequented Coney Island quite a bit and I would love to see it preserved.
[…] appreciation of the diner on the Amusing the Zillion blog delves into the Coney’s colorful history and importance to fans of roadside architecture. […]
My now husband and I ate here on our first date , it was still in Aspen park . We were going to stop in and take the kids and found it had closed . If I had the money I would buy it and put it in Lochbuie , well you never know .
Kristy and family: Make Owner an offer, you never know.
Kristy: Make Owner an offer, you never know. I was looking up the place to recommend to a friend with a Tour Group, wanted to see if Tour could include this. Food was good, ice cream yum.
My friend has purchased the Coney!
WOW! Congratulations!
thats my grandfathers 1st diner marcus shannon was my grandpos step dad i still got the papers he signed for design
[…] we headed to the famous “Coney Island Boardwalk Diner” for some yummy dogs and fries. The wait was insane (45 minutes), but they had a bubble machine […]