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Coney Island Roller-coasters

1930’s, in New York city, locals began visiting Coney Island.  The island had been divided into two sections since the 1870’s.  To the east, Brighton Beach.  The upper class traveled to this area and many luxury resorts and 4 star hotels New York high society demanded, were built during this time.  On the west end, bath-houses, brothels and card players filled the streets.  Even on the west end, the bathing suits of the time covered ones’ entire body, weighing several pounds when they attempted to go into the water along the beaches.  It was during this span of 60 years, that Coney Island became what it is remembered for to this day, the most influential parks of amusement in the world.  New designs for roller-coasters were erected here and it became known as a battleground between the designers as to who could create the most exciting and wild of rides.

One of the most famous of the coasters, was Drop the Dips.  This was designed by carpenter, Chris Feucht, and was actually inspired at the dentists office.  This was a thrilling and extremely terrifying adventure that left riders coming back again and again. Feucht was obsessed with his coaster and spent the rest of his life making adjustments to the structure, re-working the tracks and being the caretaker.  He is also responsible for what is now standard in rides from a local carnival to those in Disneyland, which is the lap bar, safely securing riders in their seats.  Up until that time, there had just been small straps or chains.  The Thunderbolt, another ground breaker in the amusement park world, was the first that was set upon a steel armature .  It was a beloved coaster with wooden tracks often having cameo roles in movies shot on the island.  It was shut down in the early 80’s, and sat as testament to a different era, an historical reminder and sculpture in its own rite.  It was torn down seventeen years later, in 2000, and remains now as just a nostalgic memory for those who were once lucky enough to partake in the dips and flips and the thrills that once was Coney Island.

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