Thor Bringing Petting Zoo, Side Show, 'Dreamland' to Coney
Coney Island land owner Joseph Sitt is giving Astroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel a run for their money this season by bringing an amusement park named after the fabled Dreamland to Stillwell Avenue. In addition to setting up more than two dozen rides with names like “Swinging Fire Ball” and “Giant Gondola” on his vacant…
Coney Island land owner Joseph Sitt is giving Astroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel a run for their money this season by bringing an amusement park named after the fabled Dreamland to Stillwell Avenue. In addition to setting up more than two dozen rides with names like “Swinging Fire Ball” and “Giant Gondola” on his vacant land right outside the subway, some for the entire summer, he’s upping the ante with a petting zoo and side show. His spokesman pointed out that the embattled developer is bringing in the most new rides in decades, and million dollar ones at that. The “family-friendly side show” will feature the world’s smallest woman and the world’s smallest horse (apparently there are many because Thumbelina is booked). Some of the rides, like the Crusty Crab Funhouse, Tidal Wave and the “largest bumper car in Coney Island” will only be in town from May 22 until June 3. Others like the Zipper and bumper cars will stay until Labor Day. Sitt, founder of Thor Equities, ran a two-page ad on his “summer of hope” in the Bay News, pictured on Coney Island USA. He said in a statement, “Thor is fully committed to the amusement industry in Coney, and from the Ring of Fire to the world’s smallest woman, we’re sure the Summer of Hope will be a Summer to remember… Do you think he’s trying to prove to the city that he really can operate an amusement park? Because the Bloomberg Administration said he’s just a shopping mall developer. Update: We just recieved a press release that also listed the world’s largest alligator and the 100-pound rat as sideshow attractions. See the full list after the jump…
City Wrestles Sitt for Coney Island Control [NY Observer]
From the press release: The festivities kick off with a 10-day limited engagement with the oldest traveling amusement show in the country—the Reithoffer shows—and won’t stop until Labor Day, as Thor debuts a new, summer-long version of Dreamland Park. All rides will be located off Stillwell Avenue Between Surf and The Boardwalk.
Rides coming in with Reithoffer from May 22 to June 3 include: The Tidal Wave, Swinging Fire Ball, the largest Bumper Car in Coney, Giant Power Surge, The Storm, Giant Century Wheel, Crusty Crab Wheel, Demolition Derby, Super Fun Slide, Mini Indianapolis, Giant Avalanche, Starship 2000, Drive in Go-Round, Rocking Tug Boat, Crazy Bus, Tilt-a-Whirl and Bumble Bee.
Rides that will operate in Dreamland all summer include: Majestic Himalaya, Ring of Fire, Spin Out, Giant Gondola, Wacky Worm, Zipper, Mind Scrambler, Bumper Cars, Mini Himalaya, Mini Jet 6, and a Carousel. A petting zoo will also be located inside Dreamland.
Sideshow attractions the will alternate throughout the summer include: The World’s Smallest Horse, the World’s Largest Alligator, the 100-lb. rat and the World’s Smallest Woman.
I just walked by the petting zoo and felt so sorry for the animals, especially the ponies. Stillwell reaks strongly of animal urine and can be smelled from across the street. A sign tells people to wash their hands, but I’m sure its going to create a health problem in the hot summer months.
i had crusty crabs once and it weren’t no funhouse
Guest at 12:25 PM said it better than I could. Sitt is responsible for pummeling lots of rides to the ground, threatening owners of existing land and generally being a grade A “sweet fella”.
You know what would have been great for the 2008 season? The batting cages that were around for years… Until Thor’s hammer smashed them down. Ditto with the miniature golf course and the go-kart track.
Thor is a disaster for Coney. Just look at what he does to other property in NYC, like the Albee Square Mall and other buildings Thor has banners in front of all over the place. Empty, vacant and unused. Just waiting to be flipped.
Is that Hillary in that ad? Is she prepping for her career after politcs when she doesn’t get the nomination?
Thor Equities is simply renting out the space to look like they are interested in amusement parks. It’s a short term lease. Anyone stupid enough to think this has anything to do with their plans shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions for this city.
How come Sitt gets all the credit for these rides? Last winter Sitt leased all of his property to someone else who was going to use it as an all season flea market. It was that person who after getting letters of complaint from community members decided to discontinue plans for the flea market and instead book carnivals onto the property to sublet.
Let me repeat. Sitt got rid of a bunch of rides on his property that were there last year so that he could leas the land for non amusement use. He leased it to someone looking to run a flea market. That someone changed plans and went to the trouble of filling the space with amusements this summer.
If Sitt wants to take credit for allowing Astroland a 2008 season then fine. We all thank him for that. But he has no business taking credit for someone else’s work. Thor tried to remove amusements from cone this summer. They should not be praised because it backfired on them.