Astroland + Cedar Point?

For Astroland (Coney Island, NY), it looks like 2007 could very well be their last season of operation because the land they lease is just too valuable for other use. What if Cedar Point purchased and moved all of those classic rides that are there (i.e. Cyclone & WonderWheel) and put them in the aquastadium area? That would make it a real Boardwalk project, preserve history (talk about PR), and they would still maintain a modest improvement budget in the process. It's just a idea, but wouldn't it be great? Your thoughts?

Sounds great. but the stadium alone isnt big enough for a roller coaster and a wonder wheel. The wheel would be a bit out of place seeing as the ferris wheel is a mere 15 sec walk away. If anything, send them to a park owned by CF that could use rides and/or has land for them. [Michiagns Adventure? Worlds of Fun?] This would still be saying "look what we did!" and it would help draw people from out of the area to these lesser known parks.

From what I hear, Cyclone is an abomination of a ride. I think it's only being saved for "memories" because the ride itself sucks. One of the guys I travel with to visit parks loves rough coasters and he thought Cyclone was unbearably rough. There's no reason to even consider moving that to CP.

Would any of the rides at Astroland be worth moving? Do they have the same aura if they're not actually at Astroland? I'm not quite sure they do. What does everyone else think?

Cyclone will never as good as it is at Astroland anyplace else. If it moves it won't have that same feeling to it as it does now. Even if it is at a different parks boardwalk.

I wouldn't have any problem with Geauga Lake's Big Dipper anchoring a "Boardwalk" area at Cedar Point. I'd rather see that then a SBNO or demolished ride.

Yes, they have the Blue Streak but it wouldn't hurt to have another moderate woodie at the park.

Cyclone and Wonder Wheel are both historic landmarks. If I understand correctly, they're both owned by the city of New York, or some other quasi-governmental agency. They're not going anywhere.

I wouldn't want to see either relocated to CP. It would feel too much like theft of NYC's memories for me to really enjoy.

Yes, Cyclone is owned by the city, but the park land around it is owned by Thor Equities. The going rent is $3 million. That's a little steep, and doesn't count the purchase of the rides.

^^ Just because Cyclone and Wonder Wheel are landmarks doesn't mean they can't be torn down and/or moved.

Well in that case, why aren't we moving the Statue of Liberty to Put-In-Bay? And the Washington Monument could go into downtown Sandusky. Oh and don't forget relocating the Alamo to the Frontier Trail so the theming REALLY shines back there...

I wasn't advocating moving them to CP. I was merely pointing out their landmark status doesn't prevent them from being demolished and/or moved. That is all. I wouldn't want either one anywhere near CP.

Wonderwheel is in Deno's and will still be open next year.

If a landmark is moved or torn down i think it loses that status. When they updated/changed the trains on Bluestreak it lost its ACE title. The point of the "landmark" title is to attract tourist and keep it form going to total hell. isnt it?

IIRC Blue Streak didn't have landmark status, it was an ACE Classic Coaster. And there are specific criteria a coaster has to meet to get that title. Blue Streak lost is when it added the high back seats, seat dividers and individual lap bars.

Aside from that, even if a coaster is an ACE landmark, that isn't the same as being a national landmark.

*** Edited 9/19/2007 9:04:55 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

You could compare the two rides to Breakers though. It had a historic place/landmark designation at one time. Then Cedar Point decided to destroy all historic character of the hotel and it lost that status. Now it's just a really old building with a hideous addition. *** Edited 9/19/2007 9:33:03 PM UTC by halltd***

^ I agree.

What I was getting at was this. Where a National landmark may be protected, a Coaster with ACE landmark status isn't. Other than by the coaster nuts who may strap them selves to the ride. What I don't know is if Cyclone is a National Landmark, an ACE Landmark, or an ACE classic coaster.

I think Cyclone may be all of those things. :) I know it's on the national list of historic places/structures. I'm pretty confident it is an ACE classic too. I didn't know ACE had landmarks, so I'm not sure if it's that too or not.

They've been doing landmarks for a few years now. If I'm not mistaken, they dedicate one landmark at just about every national event. Spring Con, Coaster Con, and Preservation Con. Preservation Con this year included Astroland. I just looked back at the schedule of events and I don't think they dedicated any rides at Preservation this year. In addition, I don't think Astroland has been a part of any other national events since they started giving Landmark Status. So I think it's just a National Landmark and an ACE classic coaster.

Just for backup, THIS website indicates that:

The Cyclone was designated a New York City Landmark on July 12, 1988, and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since June 26, 1991.

So, it looks like it's on the NYC landmark list too. For being on so many "lists", you'd think they'd maintain it so people don't die from neck injuries.

The ACE status has asinine criteria. It helps perpetuate the equally asinine enthusiast notion that anything you can't get out of isn't any good. That's stupid.

Well, IMO the list will only continue to get shorter and shorter since no insurance company in there right mind would insure a new ride designed to those standards. Some parks will update there existing rides for the same reasons. And, others may simpley just disapear. I have no doubt that a few will remain for a long time to come. Like leap the dips and cyclone. But with Big Dipper at owned by cedar fair, is it only a matter of time before it is updated like Blue Streak was? Or will it disapear like some people imagine it will when the park gets "bulldozed". I have ridden 17 of the remaining 33 ACE classic coasters. Many of them are some of my favorite wood coasters to ride. Does this mean I wouldn't enjoy them if they had safety features added to them? Probably not. Although I don't remember if I rode Blue Streak before it was changed, I know I really enjoy ridding it now. So I guess what I'm saying is, if you can make changes to the ride and still have it be an enjoyable experience, that I'm not against it, but to drag out an old chiche, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

*** Edited 9/20/2007 2:46:22 AM UTC by Jason Hammond***