Can you believe a house once stood beneath this very spot? Right here on this ground now occupied by KeySpan Park once stood the legendary Thunderbolt. This wasn’t just any roller coaster. It was a Coney Island icon a wooden behemoth built in 1925. Its tracks climbed the Kensington Hotel a late 19th-century structure. Alvy Singer Woody Allen’s character in Annie Hall even called this place home. The Thunderbolt was one of three classic wooden coasters at Coney Island. Its two siblings the Tornado and the Cyclone shared this legendary status. The Tornado sadly burned down in 1977. The Cyclone however remains standing a New York City Historic Landmark since 1991. The Thunderbolt’s reign ended in 1983. Sadly demolition came in 2000. The house under the coaster which was occupied until the very end was demolished too. The site remained empty until KeySpan Park opened. The park’s arrival marked a new chapter in Coney Island’s revitalization efforts. A federal jury ruled that the city had no right to demolish the Thunderbolt without proper notification. This was a case of deliberate indifference. The Thunderbolt’s legacy lives on. It’s featured in several movies including Annie Hall Requiem for a Dream and He Got Game. A new steel Thunderbolt opened in 2014. This newer coaster stands in a slightly different location. It’s a testament to Coney Island’s enduring spirit. A spirit of thrills rides and captivating stories. Today we stand on the site of a legend. A reminder of the past and a promise of exciting adventures to come at Coney Island.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to