On this warm, bright, and beautiful Sunday, Smartmom, Hepcat, OSFO, Divorce Diva and her daughter decided to visit Coney Island in the park’s final season before a major redevelopment plan destroys much of what’s there now.

Thor Equities plans a $2 billion amusement with retail and
residential developments planned along the Boardwalk. From the sounds of it, they’re thinkin’ Las Vegas at the edge of New York City, with loads of new rides, a family hotel, indoor water park, retail, condos and timeshares.

Oy Vey.

While the Wonder Wheel and the Parachute Jump will survive the transformation, the Astro Tower, the best ride at Coney will be torn down, 

Say it isn’t so. The Astro Tower  is located in Astroland along with other more mundane rides like bumper cars, swirling teacups and a water coaster, that OSFO enjoyed immensely.

But Smartmom, OSFO and Divorce Diva were entranced by the Astro Tower, a chance to rise high above the park hundreds of feet in the air and enjoy a 360 view of the amusments, the surrounding neighborhood, Keyspan Park, and the ocean as the tower swirled slowly.

Needless to say, No Words_Daily Pix snapped lots of shots.

The ride of the twirling view was created for the 1963 World’s Fair and was moved to Coney Island after fair just like the Parachute Jump was created for the  1939 World’s Fair and moved to Coney in 1941. 

This is the stuff of history. At the 1963 World’s Fair the Astro Tower had an upper level and Hepcat was sorry to see that it’s not open anymore. In fact, it’s been painted over.

He did ride on the upper level in 1963 when he came east from California to visit the World’s Fair. It was his first trip to New York City — a cross country drive he’d never forget. The trip would leave an indelible mark on Hepcat and inspire him to go Eastward young man when it was time to go to college.

After college, New York City beckoned and as they say, the rest is history.

Before it’s gone, take a ride on the Astro Tower. It would be fun to have a party up there riding up and down over and over — drinking cocktails, enjoying the view, basking in the glory  that is the Coney Island of not much more.