Update: Coney Island rides find new home in town.
Coney Island announced Monday that it would be removing its classic rides after this season to focus entirely on Sunlite Pool and expand its ”water park experience.” This announcement understandably caused quite a response, from a petition to offers to buy the rides.
As of this morning, two of Coney Island’s rides have been rehomed.
Dave Willacker, owner of the Cincinnati Circus Company, will be buying two of the kids’ rides, Racing Rockets and Turtle Parade (pictured above). Willacker will be renting them to church festivals, company picnics and other events starting next year. Read more on Cincinnati Circus Company’s blog here.
In fact, Willacker said he’s considering buying more Coney rides and “creating a venue,” similar to Cincinnati’s Stricker’s Grove.
Coney Island’s Marketing Director Shawn Maus said the park contracted with Ride4U to auction the rides. Maus added that Coney would keep two family attractions: Storybook Paddle Boats and Cincy Mini Golf.
In other news, a petition on Change.org asking Coney to keep the rides has gotten roughly 4,500 signees as of Sunday morning. A second petition is asking Kings Island to take the rides if Coney won’t reconsider its decision.
