Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

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Coordinates: 40°34′28″N 73°58′45″W / 40.574310°N 73.979182°W / 40.574310; -73.979182
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Previously known as Ward's Kiddie Park
Coordinates
40°34′28″N 73°58′45″W / 40.574310°N 73.979182°W / 40.574310; -73.979182
Public transit
Opened1920 (Wonder Wheel)[1]
1950 (other rides)
OwnerDennis Vourderis and Steve Vourderis
Attractions
Total22
Roller coasters3
Websitehttp://www.denoswonderwheel.com/

Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned

eccentric wheel built in 1920.[2]

The park overlooks the

New York City designated landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1989.[3][4]

History

The 150-foot-tall (46 m) Wonder Wheel predates the park, having opened in 1920.[2] It was designed by Charles Hermann, and created and built by Herman Garms in 1918-1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company.[3] Until the construction of the 250-foot-tall (76 m) Parachute Jump, it was the tallest attraction in Coney Island. It was a stand-alone attraction operated by Herman Garms. In 1955, Garms built Spook-a-Rama, an indoor dark ride.[citation needed]

Near these two attractions, Denos Vourderis opened a restaurant called the Anchor Bar & Grill. Also, next door to the Wonder Wheel, stood a small kiddie amusement park called Ward's Kiddie Park owned by John Curran. That area was built in 1950. Denos opened up a concession stand there in 1970. In 1976, Denos bought the kiddie amusement park from Curran. In 1983, Denos acquired the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama from Fred Garms and Walter Kerner Sr. Today the park still has predominantly children's rides along with several family attractions. Since Denos's death in 1994, the park has been operated by his two sons, Dennis and Steve.[5]

In January 2020, Deno's Amusement Park announced a major expansion to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Wonder Wheel. The expanded park would take over part of the abandoned West 12th Street amusement area, shuttered since 2017.

IAAPA Expo.[11]

Attractions

In popular culture

The park provides the setting for Woody Allen's 2017 period drama Wonder Wheel.

The park and its ride attractions are featured in The Silver Boulders' "Crazy Car" music video that appears in The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie.

References

  1. ^ Denson, Charles, "Coney Island Lost and Found," Ten Speed Press, 2002, pages 227–231
  2. ^ a b "Wonder Wheel History". Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "The Wonder Wheel" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. May 23, 1989. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  4. ISBN 9780747813590
    . Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. ISBN 978-0-8135-3805-1
    . Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Parks, Jessica (January 6, 2020). "Deno's Wonder Wheel owners expanding into dilapidated amusement park". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  7. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Parks, Jessica (June 29, 2021). "The Phoenix, Coney Island's newest roller coaster, opening July 1". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  9. ^ DeJesus, Jaime (June 30, 2021). "The Phoenix rises in Coney Island". The Brooklyn Home Reporter. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Marden, Duane. "Skyflyer  (Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  11. ^ "IAAPA Expo 2019 Wrap Up: Rides-4U Reports Brisk Sales; Mondial Introduces New Ride Concepts". CarnivalWarehouse.com. Retrieved December 31, 2020.

External links

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