Astroland Amusement Park on the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, which offered rides and thrills to generations of New Yorkers, was sold to a developer planning to turn it into a year-round resort.
The park will close after the 2007 summer season as part of an agreement Thor Equities LLC, a New York-based development firm, according to a statement released by the sellers, the Albert family. Dewey Albert, father of the current owner Jerome Albert, opened the amusement park in 1962, the statement said.
Coney Island’s Astroland Sold, Will Close Next Year
Astroland Amusement Park on the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, which offered rides and thrills to generations of New Yorkers, was sold to a developer planning to turn it into a year-round resort.
The park will close after the 2007 summer season as part of an agreement Thor Equities LLC, a New York-based development firm, according to a statement released by the sellers, the Albert family. Dewey Albert, father of the current owner Jerome Albert, opened the amusement park in 1962, the statement said.
Thor, whose chief executive officer is native Brooklynite Joseph Sitt, is planning a $1.5 billion development, which is to include a 4,000 foot-long roller-coaster, an indoor water park with wave pools, and a multilevel carousel, said Lee Silberstein, a Thor spokesman. The plan also includes a hotel and an undetermined amount of residential development to “generate revenue to pay for amusements,” he said.
No price was given. The owners said they couldn’t afford to convert the park to year-round operation. The Alberts will continue to operate the landmark Cyclone roller-coaster, which will be 80 years old next year, under a contract with the city of New York, according to the statement.
Owning “Astroland will allow us to continue that project,” Silberstein said. “We’re thinking way out of the box.”
Astroland opened two years before Steeplechase Park, the last of Coney Island’s three classic early 20th century amusement parks, shut down.
Joshua
Its about time we start developing that part of brookyln, geographically a beautiful location for development.
pittyonthechildren they cant!!!!
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
no wayyy
you’re kidding right???? That’s been THE Chol Hamoed park for EVERYONE. It CANNOT close down!!!!!
oy vay!
more condos?
not nice
pleasssssssssssse no
noooooooooooo
baseball batting cages too? go carts?
Kingston Ave
Wow no more Asroland for Chol Hamoed?!!!
comunal member
iF THATS THE CASE i WILL BE MOVING OUT OF BROOKLYN
Zelig
The rollet coster was a graet ride
non-brooklyner
looks like one mean roller coaster… shame it’s closing down.
$$$$$$$$$
i wanna buy the cycloneee!!!!
J. Savino @ On Time Recording
More Condos ? What a shame. Coney is a place everyone needs. It’s been neglected for so many years. Coney Island is a GOLD Mine. If I had the money, I would restore Coney bigger & better. We need the attractions here in Coney Island. Before you jump, think of what you’re doing to Coney Island. It is not for the better. Keep it as an amusement park. The children to come will remember it, just like I have.
YOU ARE KILLING Coney Island!!!