New York City—ranked among the top 10 cities for tourists according to Kayla Zhu on Visual Capitalist— is known for many things, but above all, its energy. Often called “The City that Never Sleeps,” every corner and crevice holds a story of its own.
One of these special “corners” of the city many people know is Coney Island. To outsiders, it may just seem to be a popular tourist attraction in Brooklyn, with its amusement park, aquarium, popular food places, and beach, but it holds a certain significance in the hearts of New York locals, especially those who grew up here. The warm, sunny days where you and your friends can hang out, riding The Cyclone, enjoying the nice summer breeze you feel lying down in the sand of the beach, and remembering your childhood when tasting incredible flavors from Nathan’s Famous. Each one of these moments becomes a new memory–personal, lasting, and deeply rooted in the spirit of the city.
History of Coney Island
The history of Coney Island begins when the famous English explorer Henry Hudson made a voyage for the Dutch East India Company and founded and led to the Dutch colonization of New Amsterdam, later becoming New York City. At the time, Coney Island only had an indigenous farming community, not the lively and booming Coney Island that we know today.
The Dutch, fearing the English populations in other colonies were building their colonies faster, decided to establish a system of land grants. The Dutch government would give wealthy settlers or groups large plots of land in exchange for developing that land. However, during the mid-1870s, a powerful local politician of the time by the name John McKane saw potential, and with the communal land grant system, he was able to sell the land to others and slowly develop Coney Island from a quiet farming community into a popular seaside resort.
Marine Life of Coney Island
As Coney Island continued to develop into a big resort, one of the main attractions was installed in the late 19th century. From a growing interest in marine life and rising demand for public entertainment, The New York Aquarium, now one of the oldest running aquariums in New York City, was relocated to Coney Island and opened on June 6th, 1957. Originally, the aquarium was located in Lower Manhattan, but was moved due to the construction of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.
The sound of running water, tanks filled with a wide variety of animals, The New York Aquarium offers many unique experiences and exhibits to see, including an interactive show called the Aquatheater to showcase the bonds built between trainers and sea lions and an indoor PlayQuarium, which allows young children to get hands-on experience with some of the marine life there.
Coney Island’s Rise of Amusement
With its continued development, a major attraction of Coney Island opened on May 16th, 1903, called Luna Park, also referred to as “The Heart of Coney Island.”
Luna Park was founded by Fredric Thompson and Elmer ‘Skip” Dundy. Thompson, originally from Tennessee, was a great architect with creativity and was paired with Dundy, a businessman from Nebraska to handle the finances. Both men had skills the other lacked, which made them excellent partners in building the famous Luna Park.
Thompson and Dundy first met in 1898 at the Omaha World’s Fair, where areas lined with various entertainment options like games, rides, food stands, and attractions had just become a success, following the popularity of the Columbian Exposition in 1893. Dundy was a new graduate from a college in Nebraska, employed as a law clerk. The fair had impressed Dundy, which led him to agree to finance Henry Roltair’s amusement concessions “Havana and the Maine” and “The Mystic Garden.” Thompson was soon involved in the design of the attractions and had even transformed one of the underground rides into his own show, “Darkness and Dawn.”
The second time Dundy and Thompson had met was in Buffalo, New York, where unlike the first meeting, the men did not hit it off. Dundy was going to submit a concession bid, using the show Thompson had created back in the Omaha World’s Fair. This enraged Thompson. After the two men fought, Thompson had realized that Dundys’ abilities would be beneficial to him if they were to collaborate rather than go against each other.
In 1903, with the opening of the original Luna Park, Thompson and Dundy had put together their efforts and successfully made an amusement park, including the famous ride, The Cyclone. Unfortunately, a fire had broken out in 1944, with a few attractions surviving, including The Cyclone. Despite efforts to recover from this disaster, the site eventually was abandoned and abolished in 1946.
However, this was not the end of the Luna Park legacy of Coney Island. After the tragic destruction of the original site, a new amusement park was constructed by the Zamperla Family, through their company, Central Amusement International Inc. Right next to the site of the original Luna Park, the revived amusement park opened in 2010, with larger-scale rides including the 125 feet tall roller coaster, The Thunderbolt.
Luna Park offers a variety of rides for visitors to go on, but these two rides particularly stand out to visitors.
The Cyclone was first opened on June 26th, 1927, and constructed by Harry C. Baker and Vernon Keenan. The ride is one of the most popular rides in Luna Park, one of the rides that was part of the original Luna Park, and one of the last with the old-fashioned wood track. The ride reaches a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour and has a total track length of 2,640 ft. The adrenaline rush you get from riding this coaster is unmatched, as it is the second steepest wooden roller coaster in the world; even after over 90 years of operation, the ride is still at the top of every tourist’s “to-do” list.
Another “must ride” at Luna Park is The Thunderbolt, which was first opened in 2014 as part of the new site. Its creation was extraordinary at the time, being the first major steel roller coaster in New York City. The coaster has many interesting characteristics, such as its’ 90 degree drop, that made the experience as a rider unforgettable. The feeling you may get from all the twists and turns, the speed, and the wind blowing into your face—it’s truly addicting. “Out of all the rides I’ve been on at Coney Island, the Thunderbolt has always been the one I went back to. Riding this coaster is definitely one of my most memorable experiences here,” says Raisa Khan, a native New Yorker who holds Coney Island close to her heart.
Luna Park brings fun and excitement to Coney Island, but it is much more than that. It’s a place to feel alive again and create unforgettable memories with the people you love. “Luna Park will always have a place in my heart. One train ride away to relive my childhood again,” said Tashfia Khan ’27 from DeWitt Clinton High School.
However, Luna Park alone is not the only reason Coney Island holds a place in so many people’s hearts. When I asked Raisa Khan what made Coney Island special to her, she explained how all the fun and thrill she would have during the day at Luna Park makes it perfect to lay in the sand, watching the sunset and relaxing after. The adrenaline you feel on the rides balances out the calmness you feel on the warm sand after, which makes the combination of the beach next to the amusement park perfect for visitors to enjoy their whole day.
Beach of Coney Island
Stretching along the coastline of Coney Island, the beach is much more than tides. The beach has a lively environment, with people always in the sand tanning or on the famous boardwalk laughing together. With the beautiful view as well, the beach attracts over a million of visitors every year. The entertainment Coney Island has to offer, along with the calmness and opportunities to create new memories, Coney Island has become a true treasure in New York City.
Not only is it a place to really enjoy your days, but the beach has a sense of nostalgia to New York City natives. One foot in the sand will make one remember all the sandcastles they made when they were little with their family, the time spent sitting on the beach, and watching the fireworks on Fourth of July.
Whether you are heading to the beach to play volleyball in the sand with family and friends or to enjoy the view and relax, it is the perfect place for everyone to destress and create new memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Flavors of Coney Island
While Coney Island offers fun and relaxation, it also has a wide range of delicious food spots that are sure to leave visitors completely satisfied.
A popular spot in Coney Island that many go to is Nathan’s Famous, known for their iconic hot dogs. It started with a man named Nathan Handwerker in 1916, who had borrowed $300 from his friends and had a special spice recipe from his wife. He started a simple hot dog stand on the corner of Surf and Stillwell in Coney Island, using his wife’s recipe and the little money he had. Today, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs are now known to be the best in the world, known for their intense flavors and satisfying textures.
The restaurant is not only good for its delicious food; it is in close proximity to the amusement park and other attractions, where visitors can recharge their batteries and enjoy time with their friends. As Sharley A. shares on Yelp, “Food was delicious, service and ambience was welcoming, and a chill spot to hang out and eat!”
The original Nathans’ Famous in Coney Island, starting off as a small simple stand on the corner of the street, to being the home of the world’s best hot dogs. Nathan’s Famous has become an iconic part of Coney Island, growing significantly over the years, adding to the uniqueness and specialness of Coney Island.
The Unforgettable Allure of Coney Island
Coney Island is much more than a tourist attraction; it’s a lively part of New York that serves importance to those who live here. Its history adds to the uniqueness and opportunities for one to connect and make friends. Coney Island offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors.
Along with the experience, Coney Island holds cultural significance, hosting events and various celebrations over the years, and continues to be a place full of spirit and a place for communities to get together and celebrate. From adrenaline rushes to places to calm down to remembering old memories and experiencing nostalgia, Coney Island offers a unique and wonderful experience to every person.
“Coney Island is one train ride away to relive my childhood again,” said Tashfia Khan