Coney Island officially opens for the season, celebrating the Cyclone’s 90th anniversary

Sure, it’s still pretty cold despite being a few weeks into spring but that doesn’t matter because Coney Island has officially opened for another fun-filled season. The iconic park has returned to life after sitting dormant for the winter and all of Luna Park’s rides and games are ready for action. The official kick-off to celebrate the season debut will take place on Sunday, April 9th at 11 a.m. with the traditional “Blessing of the Rides” at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, reports Bklyner.

This marks a special time for the iconic amusement park, as the Cyclone roller coaster will celebrate its 90th anniversary. The wooden roller coaster first debuted on June 26, 1927 and became a New York City landmark on July 12, 1988. Three years later, the Cyclone was declared a National Register designation on June 26, 1991.

The coaster’s 90th birthday is something to celebrate, especially if you recall that the fate of the attraction once stood uncertain. In 1972, plans to redevelop the site and demolish the Cyclone, in order to expand the New York Aquarium, were announced to the public, leading to a “Save the Cyclone” campaign that eventually forced the city to change its mind. In 2009, the campaign resurfaced as news spilled out about former Mayor Bloomberg looking to get rid of the amusement park to make space for new developments.

So to kick the birthday celebration off, let’s take a look at a few historic photos of the Cyclone in its younger days. The official 90th birthday celebration will take place on June 25 with more details to come soon.

Courtesy the Museum of the City of New York Digital Collection.

Courtesy the Museum of the City of New York Digital Collection.

Courtesy the Museum of the City of New York Digital Collection.

• Come One, Come All! Coney Island Opens For The Season on Saturday [Bklyner]