As workers continue to dismantle Astroland and put rides into shipping containers (which could conceivably be brought back if there is some agreement to reopen the park next year), things are looking very grim. We got this email from the Save Coney Island group last night that the iconic Astroland Rocket might be destroyed and sold as scrap if a home can’t be found for it. Here’s what the email said:
Help us Save The Astroland Rocket!! We have to find a new location for the Astroland Rocket soon or it will be sold for scrap metal!! Astroland will pay to relocate the rocket if we find a space for it!! It has to be somewhere secure, where people can’t vandalize it. Any ideas??
We have one idea which involves shoving it someplace, but that’s not productive and sort of an ugly image. The threat to the rocket implies that the boardwalk stands could be demolished too. Hopefully, this will be sorted out quickly. The rocket was once a ride at the amusement park.
That’s Coney historian Charles Denson standing in the interior of the old ride from the 1960s.
5 responses so far ↓
1 cheryl // Dec 11, 2008 at 10:36 am
i would love to store it my back yard upstate. it could go there right now and come back when your ready for it. let me know.
2 Call Me the Hiphop-Potamus - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com // Dec 11, 2008 at 12:35 pm
[…] destruction continues. Save the rocket! [Gowanus […]
3 Call Me the Hip-Hop-Potamus - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com // Dec 11, 2008 at 1:03 pm
[…] destruction continues. Save the rocket! [Gowanus […]
4 Rubys Host // Dec 11, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This is very sad news for the boardwalk. As of to today we still have no word on if the establishments from Steve’s Grill House to the fence of Deno’s will be open next year. There are no negotiations currently with Joseph Sitt, Thor Equities. This Jan 1st – the Annual Coney Island Polar Bear Dip may be the last boardwalk party with Ruby’s Bar & Grill, Cha Cha’s & Steves Grill House, etc. Jan 1st is our D- Day to know one way or another……………
5 Jack // Dec 12, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Can’t the rocket be placed on the Cyclone site? In that yard behind the Cyclone and the Aquarium’s education center.
Heck, why not place it on top of the education center? Same height and same general location.