Residents in the area are quite upset.
The beloved wooden dragon from Playland’s historic Dragon Coaster has been discarded, and park-goers are not pleased.
Westchester County officials explained that the decision was essential to replace the deteriorating dragon, a longstanding symbol of the park that has unfortunately become unsafe.
For devoted visitors of Playland, seeing the dragon in the garbage was particularly hard to accept.
“That should be in a museum,” remarked one frequent visitor.
Another noted, “I thought they were just fixing it. Did they really just toss the head? Why not auction it off?”
The Dragon Coaster, constructed 97 years ago, stands as one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the U.S. It’s recognized as an ace roller coaster landmark by enthusiasts.
Initially opened in 1928 along Long Island Sound in Rye, the coaster has served as a central attraction of the park. It even appeared in Mariah Carey’s 1995 “Fantasy” music video and in the film “Big” featuring Tom Hanks.
County officials assured the public that the discarded dragon would, indeed, be replaced.
According to county spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi, certain components of the old dragon had “severely deteriorated due to lack of maintenance” and posed safety hazards.
“Many of us feel a connection to these features, but it’s essential to remember that these aren’t original pieces,” Cioffi mentioned. “They’re mainly constructed from composite materials, fiberglass, and rigid foam. The actual original dragons were taken out generations ago.”
However, those who have fond memories of Playland are struggling with the change. In fact, one dedicated fan even went dumpster diving to reclaim some dragon scales.
“In our house, we never throw anything away,” she shared with the media. “I keep everything.”
