The Cyclone gets a facelift

When Coney Island’s summer season officially ended on October31, the city announced it was one of the most successful everrecorded.

With an increase in attendance of nearly 200,000 over last yearand visitors taking some two million rides, this summer at ConeyIsland was a spectacular success, Brooklyn Borough President MartyMarkowitz said.

And although those two million rides were tallied at the amusementparks Luna Park and Scream Zone – two recent additions to theBoardwalk – the Cyclone, one of the country’s oldestrollercoasters, still draws riders to Coney Island from around theworld.

Built in 1927, the Cyclone was declared a national landmark in1991. This winter, the ride is undergoing its first major repairsin years after a long-term commitment from Central AmusementInternational (CAI), the Italian company behind Luna Park andScream Zone.

It’s been quite a while since the ride has had a major renovation,and this will make the track safer and smoother, said CAIspokesperson Tom Corsillo.

According to Corsillo, in previous years the Cyclone had receivedthe minimal maintenance to keep it running safely throughout thesummer season. But with CAI now onboard to lease the property fromthe city for the foreseeable future, the company is planning arepair project the likes of which the Cyclone has never seen.

It’s going to be a multi-year restoration, and the focus this yearis the first drop, Corsillo said, referencing the 85-foot dip forwhich the ride is known.

And for those worried the facelift may signify the end of the oldCyclone, he says not to worry.

It’s going to be the same Cyclone experience, Corsillo said.It’s not going to change the ride dramatically. It’s just toimprove the safety of the ride.

It all sounds pretty good to 17-year-old Gravesend residentPriscilla Consolo.

I definitely think it’s a good thing, Consolo said, adding: Ifit brings in tourists and revenue for the city, especially if thecity uses that revenue for things that are necessary like services,then it’s a good thing.

Although she admits to having never ridden the Cyclone due to afear of rollercoasters, Consolo says her mother was a fanatical fanof the ride some years back.

The 1970s or 80s was a time when you could ride backwards, and mymom went on 14 times in a row, she said.