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Astroland Skyride

Dear Mr. Coney Island...
I was 6 years in 1968 and I remember this ride - it's a bit difficult to describe, but I will do my best. The outside was like color ball and it was on a skyline writer. You entered, you sat down, and it traversed part of Coney Island. The exterior was round and it would accommodate 4-6 people. It looked very futuristic, like something out of The Jetsons. I remember this very vividly (so does my sister, who 4 years old at the time). Eventually, this ride or tram was torn down because of an accident. This MIGHT have been in the early 1970s. My husband and my brother-in-law believe I am imagining this, but I KNOW that this existed. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Coney Island and I hope you have a very nice holiday season.
- Viola

Hello Viola,

You are most likely describing the Astroland Skyride which opened in 1964 and ran from Surf Avenue to the Boardwalk.

The ride closed in the mid-seventies, but not because of an accident. It just wasn't exciting enough for most thrill-riders.

Comments

Submitted by Connie (not verified) on Sat, 02/09/2008 - 21:17

I too, was 6 years old in 1968, lived across from Astroland in the Luna Park housing project, and vividly remember the Astroland Skyride as well. It was a pleasant ride and did feel very futuristic to be traveling along in a bubble.

Submitted by Perry Sherman (not verified) on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 08:05

Hello,
I was about 15 yrs old, working in Astroland on the skyride during its final season. It must have been early 70's.... Your correct, there was no accident. It closed due to lack of ridership.
There was in fact an accident that same year at the diving bell tank. Park employees were swimming in the tank on a Sunday morning before the park opened for the day. One of the emoployees was caught on a cable and drowned.
Perry Sherman

Submitted by Michael Rocker (not verified) on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 03:24

I remember the Sky Ride as well. I believe if you rode it you had 2 options. One was to ride it one way in either direction or to do a round trip and get dropped off on the same terminal you let from.

Connie if you ever do come back here Luna Park was not a housing project. It was a cooperative. It was supposed have become one but due to Fred Trumps threat to the city about building a project close to his Trump Village and Warbasse co-ops the city opted out and it to became a co-op. However there is a plague in the community center dose say it was built by the NYC housing authority.

Submitted by robert johnson (not verified) on Thu, 04/12/2012 - 01:45

I WAS BORN IN BKLYN,NY IN 1959 AND I REMEMBER THIS RIDE FROM MY VISITS AS A CHILD W/ MY FAMILY IN THE 1960'S !!!! WE USED TO CALL IT ''THE BUBBLE RIDE'' BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THE CARS THAT YOU RODE IN THAT WOULD RIDE OVER TOP OF ASTROLAND--BACK THEN, THIS RIDE SEEMED SOOO FUTURISTIC & AHEAD OF ITS TIME !!!! ALSO REMEMBER THE LOG FLUME WATER RIDE,EATING AT NATHANS(BEST HOTDOGS & FRIES & I REMEMBER EATING FRIED FROG LEGS FOR THE FIRST TIME(WHICH ACTUALLY DO TASTE LIKE CHICKEN!!!!!!) THERE WAS A RIDE THAT WAS LIKE A DIVING BELL THAT TOOK YOU UNDER WATER.THERE WAS A PLACE CALLED THE ANIMAL NURSERY & ON THE SAME BLOCK THERE WAS A CAROUSEL THAT HAD RINGS YOU COULD GRAB AS YOU WENT AROUND. SOOOO MANY FOND MEMORIES OF CONEY ISLE---I'VE BEEN LIVING IN BALTO.,MD SINCE 1972, AND I SO WISH I COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND RELIVE THOSE HAPPY MEMORIES.....!!!!!!!! : ) HOPEFULLY I'LL GET BACK TO NY (HAVEN'T BEEN BACK SINCE 1995!!!)

Submitted by Jeanett Russo (not verified) on Tue, 01/20/2015 - 21:36

i went on the Skyride when I was about 7. I totally forgot about riding on it until I saw the picture of it. I only went on once. The other rides were more fun. I wonder if it's still in use some where or trashed?

Submitted by David Swank (not verified) on Sun, 02/21/2021 - 08:03

This ride was moved to Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts in the 1970s. Eventually Riverside Park was transformed into Six Flags New England in 2000. The sky ride operated until approximately 2015 or so when it was finally retired.

Submitted by AlAn (not verified) on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 23:00

Hello.

I have been looking for nighttime photos of the old 1970s and early 1980s SPOOK-A-RAMA.

Does Coney Island History Project have the two Cyclops entrances attractions at night both nighttime photos of the Cyclops Waterfall and Cyclops Laurel and Hardy at night?

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