A look at the rise, fall, and rebuilding of a summer wonderland.
There’s no place inNew York Citymore synonymous with summer than Coney Island.
Thankfully, not all was lost during that time, but much has changed.
The beach at Coney Island, New York City, circa 1960.Harvey Meston/Archive Photos/Getty Images
But by the 1960s, each of the three amusement parks had permanently shuttered.
Development continued at a steady pace.
The Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster constructed in the 1920s, was refurbished in 1975.
Vintage souvenir color postcard from 1944 depicts the historic Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York City. The sign for the historic Cyclone roller coaster reads ‘Faster Than Ever’; and still operates today.Nextrecord Archives/Getty Images
Throughout the following decades, the landmark was upgraded with new lighting and an updated pavilion at the base.
People walk on a street at Coney Island amusement park, with the Virginia Reel and the Wonder Wheel in the background, Brooklyn, New York City in 1935.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Nathan’s Famous restaurant on Coney Island, New York from April 1976.Peter Keegan/Keystone/Getty Images