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Photo of the Day: The Scream Zone’s Rising Skyline

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Coney Island, Eric Kowalsky, Photography, roller coaster, Scream Zone, Zamperla on February 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, Zamperla Coaster Rises on Skyline. January 31, 2011. Photo © Eric Kowalsky

Coney Island photographer Eric Kowalsky, who valiantly documented Thor Equities’ demolition of the Henderson Music Hall and the Bank of Coney, finally got to take some photos of construction on Coney Island’s Stillwell Avenue on Monday. Amid the snow, sleet and ice pellets, construction crews for Central Amusement International are putting up Zamperla’s flying coaster. The blue steel supports for the Scream Zone’s Soaring Eagle joined Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the Astrotower and the Cyclone on the skyline.

Back in October, ATZ got a first look at renderings of the four rides set to open at Luna Park’s new Scream Zone in April. Two of the rides are Zamperla coasters: the American Eagle-themed Volare flying coaster and the Steeplechase horse-themed MotoCoaster (ATZ: Coney Island 2011: Zamperla Adding Steeplechase Cavalry Coaster to Scream Zone, October 4, 2010)

Scream Zone will also feature Zamperla’s Turbo Force and a SlingShot high thrill ride from Funtime. The newly re-themed Soaring Eagle was relocated from Denver’s Elitch Gardens, where it made its debut as the Volare, which means “to fly” in Italian, in 2002. The supports and track for the flying coaster arrived in Coney Island in November. New cars and a new computer operating system are being manufactured for the ride by Zamperla. Ride experts say the two coasters will go up very quickly, but the other two rides require deep foundation work. This year Palm Sunday, Coney Island’s traditional opening day of the season, falls on April 17. The date is just 75 days away!

Zamperla/CAI has a ten-year lease to operate amusements on the 6.9 acres the City bought for $95.6 million from Thor Equities. Zamperla’s Scream Zone will be located on City-owned parcels at Stillwell and the Boardwalk.

Photo of the Day: Coney Island Snowmen at Dawn

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Bruce Handy, Coney Island snow, Photography, snowman on January 27, 2011| 3 Comments »

Snowmen at Dawn on Coney Island Boardwalk. January 27, 2011. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via Android

When Coney Island photographer and resident Bruce Handy ventured onto the snow-laden Boardwalk at dawn, he was greeted by these two primitive snowmen. This month is now the snowiest January in New York City history, according to AccuWeather.com. The snow total for yesterday and today is 19 inches! If you’re heading out to Coney to take photos, be on the lookout for Polar Bears: Tom “Iceman” McGann says “snow swim = Thursday noon at Stillwell”!

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Photo of the Day: Coney Island Kiddie Park Snowed In

Posted in Amusement ride, Photo of the Day, tagged Jim McDonnell, Jimmy McCullough, Kiddie Park, Photography, snow on January 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Photographer Jim McDonnell got back from a walk in snowy Coney Island and sent us a link to his first photos of the 2011 season. Among our faves is this snowed-in kiddie park at Bowery and 12th Street. Seeing the grinning Bumblebeez always puts us in a happy mood.

Although Jimmy McCullough’s Kiddie Park doesn’t get photographed as often as its larger neighbors, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park and Luna Park, it has 12 kiddie rides packed into a surprisingly small area. McCullough is a cousin to the Tilyous and has owned and operated rides, including the B & B Carousell, in Coney Island for many years.