Landmark New York roller coaster is still ‘thriving’ after all these years

The Coney Island Cyclone is more than just a roller coaster – it’s a piece of history.

Built in 1927, the Cyclone has survived natural disasters, park closures, rapid urban development, and numerous other existential threats. It remains one of the oldest continuously operating roller coasters in the United States and can still be ridden at Coney Island’s Luna Park.

“No trip to New York is complete without riding the world-famous Cyclone,” Derek Perry, director of public relations for American Coaster Enthusiasts, told Fox News Digital in an email.

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But what makes this coaster so special? Read on.

1. It’s a famous landmark

The Cyclone is recognized as significant not only by roller coaster enthusiasts but also by state and national authorities.

According to the American Coaster Enthusiasts Association’s website, the association designated Cyclone an “ACE Roller Coaster Landmark” on June 2, 2002.

The designation is given to “historically significant vehicles,” the company said.

“For generations, when people thought of roller coasters, they thought of the Cyclone at Coney Island,” Perry told Fox News Digital.

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In 1988, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Cyclone a landmark, stating that the ride is “often cited as one of the best-designed roller coasters in the United States” and that it is one of fewer than 100 wooden-rail roller coasters remaining in the United States.

Three years later, the National Register of Historic Places added the Cyclone Roller Coaster to its database, one of only five roller coasters to have received this honor.

“The Cyclone Roller Coaster still embodies the excitement of Coney Island’s once-popular roller coasters and remains a rare relic from a bygone era,” the National Register of Historic Places states.

The Cyclone was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

2. Not much has changed

According to the ACE website, the cyclone currently has a drop of 85 feet, is 2,640 feet long and has a maximum speed of 60 mph.

And it’s not all that different from when it first opened on June 26, 1927.

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In 1939, 12 years after it opened, the Cyclone was renovated to shorten its initial drop by five feet and “some of the coaster’s curves were realigned at that time to provide a faster, more impactful ride,” according to the National Register of Historic Places.

Since then, the coaster has only undergone routine maintenance to replace worn-out parts, and no major changes have been made to the layout.

The Cyclone, seen in this 1952 photo, is one of the few remaining wooden-rail roller coasters in the United States. (Bob Henriquez/Photo/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

“A lot of hard work and passion has gone into preserving this masterpiece and making it an experience riders will want to experience again and again,” Perry said.

3. Often imitated, never replicated

“Roller coaster manufacturers have tried to recreate Cyclone’s wild ride at other amusement parks, but none have been able to replicate what made the original so special,” Perry said.

The Roller Coaster Database lists eight tracks with the “Cyclone” layout, including the Coney Island Cyclone.

The Coney Island Cyclone has a drop of 85 feet and a top speed of 60 miles per hour. (Joanne Slatkin/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Aside from Coney Island Cyclone, the only other coasters with this layout currently in operation are Bandit at Moviepark Germany in Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and Viper at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

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The Cyclone’s “power continues from the first drop, through every curve and into the final brake run, making passengers feel exhilarated the entire ride. That level of consistent excitement just can’t be found on any other wooden roller coaster,” Perry said.

“The ride leaves passengers with an exhilarating feeling. That level of consistent excitement just can’t be found on any other wooden roller coaster.”

He said the ride’s history, its New York City location and “the dedication of the people who take care of this coaster” combine to make Cyclone “a ride unlike any other coaster.”

4. Survived

“The history of wooden coasters is filled with as many ups and downs as the rides themselves,” Perry noted.

“After years of being in dire straits, it is now thriving and the riding is as good, if not better, than it ever was,” he said.

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An incomplete list of what has threatened the cyclone in its nearly century of incursions includes the Great Depression, the sale and closure of an amusement park, multiple hurricanes and several fires.

5. The baseball team was named after him

Just around the corner from Luna Park is Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The Cyclones are the minor league affiliate of the New York Mets.

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The Cyclones played their first game in 2001. The year before, a contest to choose a name for the new team received more than 7,000 submissions, The New York Post reported at the time.

The Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor league baseball team, were named after the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Officials at the time said more than 1,000 of the 7,000 submissions were for the Cyclone.

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“Obviously, there were some people who wanted the team name to be Dodgers,” Steve Cohen, general manager of the Brooklyn Baseball Company, said at the time.

“We had all kinds of names, like Sweat Hogs, Honeymooners, but I think ‘Cyclone’ was by far the best name,” he said.