In Coney Island yesterday, we noticed that most of the structures left standing on the Astroland property, which is now under the control of Thor Equities, have been marked for demolition. The buildings include Gregory & Pauls, which fronts on the boardwalk and is the building upon which the Astroland Rocket sat. Unless all those orange “X” marks are decorative. Mr. Sitt has promised to have rides on the land for the summer and the thought is that a big ride operator will fill the property. The big question is whether Mr. Still will demolish the Astrotower and court further demonization. We heard one theory that even Mr. Sitt–who is arguably the developer with the reptuation as the most callous and mean-spirited in all of New York City due to a series of acts and public relations blunders worthy of a short documentary–won’t risk being known as the man who tore down the Astrotower and will leave it standing and light it up. It needs repairs to carry passengers again. But the passenger cabin can move up and down safely.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Shaun // Feb 8, 2009 at 1:56 am
Thank you for posting up to date information with what is going on at Coney… I have been looking everywhere to see what is currently happening.
2 Johnny // Feb 9, 2009 at 10:32 am
Shaun, you’ve been looking everywhere? How about straight to the source that every newspaper and blog looks at?
http://www.coneyisland.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi
3 Sonny // Apr 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm
There is a rocket similar to the Astroland rocket still in use at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster Pa.
It has been upgraded to show a modern DVD simulted space trip. It just proves that the rocket can still be put to use.
I am 50 years old and was born and raised in CI and can remember when the rocket still worked because I was in it in the 60’s.
I hate what’s happened to Coney Island in the last couple of decades.
I lived across the St. from the Alberts’ on W 35th St in the 60’s and my father worked for him at astroland
The Astrotower was also great fun on fireworks night when it was sponsored by Schaeffer brewery.
Looking at your site and the demise of Astroland just brought back some childhood memories.
4 joseph gonzalez // Jul 7, 2009 at 2:10 pm
trabaje en astroland en el local de gregory and pool del año 1999 hasta el año 2006 donde guardo lindos recuerdos de mis compañeros de trabajo de diferentes nacionalidades y un sentimiento de gratitud y amor a pool y su linda familia un chileno trabajador y muy agradecido. joseph. 07-07-09