April 21, 2011
Scream Zone opening delayed at Coney Island
 Coney Island’s new amusement park isn’t quite ready for its close up.
Despite Wednesday’s media circus, the new Scream Zone will not open to the public today as planned. “CAI is putting the finishing touches on Scream Zone and hopes to open to the public this weekend,” a Central Amusement International spokesman confirmed to NewYorkology via email this morning.
April 23 update at 11 a.m.: Luna Park has updated its Facebook page to state “Due to inclement weather Luna Park, Cyclone and Scream Zone will be closed for the day, April 23, 2011. We will reopen on Sunday April 24. …”
Update as of April 24 at 1 p.m.: “Scream Zone is officially open!” Luna Park’s official Twitter account tweeted shortly after noon on Easter Sunday.
The April 21 debut date has been removed from the park’s website, but traces remain on its Facebook page, including the logo, pictured upper left.
The Scream Zone will add four new rides to Coney Island: the Soarin’ Eagle and Steeplechase roller coasters, the Sling Shot and the Zenobio.
“Last summer was Coney Island’s biggest in nearly a half century, and this year – with the addition of the first new roller coasters since the Cyclone opened in 1927 – it’s going to be even bigger,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the press conference Wednesday.
However, the roller coasters are actually the first new roller coasters at Coney since … 2010.
The Tickler roller coaster opened last year at Luna Park, the new amusement park opened by Central Amusement International after Astroland closed.
The difference? Sometimes the Tickler is referred to as a “twister” coaster (although the Luna Park site currently calls it a roller coaster.) The mayor’s press release about the Scream Zone’s opening refers to the “the first major roller coasters in Coney Island” since 1927. And as the Scream Zone spokesman said, The Tickler is not major.
Update as of 1:50 p.m.: Coney Island chronicler Amusing the Zillion counts at least three others built since The Cyclone: the Jumbo Jet (1972-2002); the Flying Turns (1934 – 1939) and The Bobsled (1941 – 1974.)
Last weekend marked the traditional seasonal opening of Coney Island, with Deno’s Wonder Wheel, Luna Park and The Cyclone open for Spring Break. Many of the attractions will then open weekends only until Memorial Day weekend when the rides will open daily.
Central Amusement International currently operates Luna Park, the Scream Zone and The Cyclone. At the end of this season, CAI will release plans for its phase III at Coney Island, the spokesman told NewYorkology.
Picture credit: The Tickler was still under construction on Luna Park’s opening day in 2010. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
Earlier: Luna Park opens at Coney Island: pictures and video
April 21, 2011 10:20 AM in Kids, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology
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