April | 2012 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for April, 2012

Astroland Bumper Cars Return Home to Coney Island

Posted in Amusement ride, tagged 50th Anniversary, Astroland, Bumper Cars, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park on April 14, 2012| 1 Comment »

Easter Bunny rides former Astroland Bumper Cars at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. April 8, 2012. Photo © me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

On Coney Island’s Opening Day, while others were lining up for the first ride of 2012 on the landmark Cyclone and Wonder Wheel, we went for our first spin in a long time on Astroland’s Bumper Cars! Last time we drove one of these sparkly cars was on September 7, 2008 when Astroland closed forever. Astro fans will be happy to know that the ride, along with its psychedelic artwork and rainbow-trimmed pavilion, has come back to Coney Island. The refurbished Barbieri bumper cars have found a new home next to the Wonder Wheel in Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.

Bumper Car Pavilion and Wonder Wheel, Coney Island. April 1, 2012. Photo © me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

We happened to be walking by the ride on Coney Island’s Opening Day as it was about to go for its inaugural spin in Wonder Wheel Park and jumped aboard. With 24 cars and a huge floor, it’s the largest bumper car ride in Coney. Totally appreciated how big it was when a bunch of kids who didn’t know how to steer immediately created a major traffic jam. Since there’s no central island, we were able to spin around and drive at full speed until the bumping and thumping resumed.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Astroland, Coney’s Space-Age theme park. The iconic Astrotower remains a part of Coney Island’s skyline, but is no longer operable. The Astroland Rocket, the very first ride to arrive at the park, was donated to the City of New York in 2009 and is in storage. The Bumper Cars at Wonder Wheel Park are the sole survivors of Astroland that you can ride today at Coney Island. Here’s a video from 2008…

Photo of the Day: Catch 1 Ball Win This Prize

Posted in Amusement Game, Carnival Games, Photo of the Day, Photography, tagged ball game, big prize, plush, white tiger on April 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Prize at Game on 12th St, Coney Island. April 8, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

This white tiger is one of the big prizes at the row of new games on West 12th Street under the Wonder Wheel!

Cat Photo of the Day: Pretty the Cat Visits the Thunderbolt

Posted in Animals, Photography, tagged cat, Coney Island on April 12, 2012| 3 Comments »

Pretty is the skittish companion of the friendly Target, the world-famous Coney Island Arcade cat. The precincts of the Thunderbolt are a favorite place for them to sit in the sun. The cats make their home in Manny’s carnival games across the Bowery from Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.

Pretty is not to be confused with Tiger, a tortoiseshell who lives on the west end of the Bowery and was recently spotted in “An Eerie Tour Of Coney Island Before It Opens.”