Rocket to be removed
A new home is being sought for the famed Astroland Rocket Ship on Coney Island’s Boardwalk, one of the first and only surviving early amusement park simulators.
The attraction debuted in 1962 at Astroland Park as one of the first of the “imaginary” space voyage simulators constructed during the Space Race. The 26-seater rocket showed simulator films of “rocket rides” while the chassis “rocked” its viewers to outer space. Each experience lasted about three minutes.
Originally built as the “Star Flyer,” the Astroland Rocket, which is in excellent condition, currently sits atop the boardwalk hamburger/hotdog stand, Gregory and Paul’s. It is one of the first victims of Coney Island’s redevelopment.
While the City and Thor Equities continue to negotiate over ownership of Coney Island, Astroland Park must move off the property and either sell or take everything with it. Owners Carol and Jerry Albert have offered to donate the rocket and help with the costs of moving it, “but,” said owner Carol Albert, “we can’t find a way to store it, inside or outside, and there seems to be no place in Coney Island where it can find a home.”
Coney Island History Project and Astroland staffers have been contacting museums and other venues offering to donate the rocket. Astroland must vacate the property by January 31.
“The Astroland Rocket is an iconic piece of Coney Island’s history that must be preserved,” says Denson, a Coney Island native and author of Coney Island Lost and Found.
If you know of a good home for the Astroland Rocket, please contact Lois Colin at lscastroland@aol.com or phone +1 718 265 2100 ext. 13. You can also contact Charles Denson at the Coney Island History Project at info@coneyislandhistory.org
