Coney Island’s Cyclone Roller Coaster Temporarily Closes

The legendary roller coaster in New York City’s Brooklyn, the Coney Island Cyclone, was temporarily shut down recently due to damaged equipment, owners Luna Park Coney Island confirmed Monday. The shutdown of the iconic wooden roller coaster that has been operating for nearly 100 years came after mechanical damage to a chain sprocket in one of the ride’s motor rooms.

As a result of the damage, the roller coaster was stopped and several people who were on the ride were safely removed, the New York City’s Department of Buildings confirms. Despite the unexpected shutdown of the roller coaster, nobody was injured.

As announced by ABC News, inspectors from the Department of Buildings (DOB) issued violations to the ride’s owners due to the damaged equipment and the failure to notify the Department about the incident immediately.

Luna Park in Coney Island is only a few blocks away from a proposed casino project that seeks to revitalize the area. There, investors seek to bring fresh life to Coney Island, creating new jobs and helping local businesses.

In a statement on Monday, Luna Park spoke about the importance of safety, adding that the Coney Island Cyclone undergoes maintenance and testing daily. “The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily,” wrote the of the landmark roller coaster.

Luna Park explained that a mechanical problem encountered on August 22 resulted in the temporary shutdown of the ride. According to the company, the roller coaster is currently going through repairs. “We will reopen the Cyclone roller coaster when the repair is complete and the ride passes its DOB inspection,” wrote Luna Park.

The Casino Project Is Expected to Revitalize Coney Island

Coney Island is expected to be home to one of New York’s three new downstate casinos, provided that the bidder behind the casino resort project called The Coney wins. Several recognizable companies joined forces for The Coney proposal which is valued at a mind-blowing $3 billion.

Led by the Chickasaw Nation, Saratoga Casino Holdings, Thor Equities and Legends Global Planning, the effort to bring a casino to Coney Island seeks to help revitalize the area. Ultimately, the integrated resort is expected to create thousands of new temporary and permanent jobs.

At the same time, The Coney would boost visitation and tourism to the area, which in turn is expected to benefit local businesses. The large-scale project is likely going to play a key role in employment in the area and may even help increase the median household income.