Author: Site Adminstrator

The breaks were pulled on the Coney Island Cyclone ahead of Labor Day Weekend, but the iconic Luna Park staple is back up and running as of September 7th.

A crack on the chain sprocket caused a pause in service, but according to New York City’s Department of Buildings (DOB), the fan-favorite has resumed rides after all necessary repairs were made and the ride passed an inspection. Additionally, leading up to the reopening, test rides were made without passengers.

“We are incredibly honored to preserve the legacy of the Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster and offer memorable experiences on this historic coaster, year after year. This American icon has captivated guests for nearly a century, and our dedicated team and attraction engineers continue to ensure that this legendary 97-year-old landmark continues to operate safely and smoothly,” Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International, Inc., said in a statement.

Why did the Coney Island Cyclone stop service?

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the Coney Island Cyclone was put out of service due to a crack in a chain sprocket within the ride’s motor room, according to the DOB. The ride operator at the time had stopped the coaster mid-ascent to riders’ dismay, as passengers had to evacuate the cars to reach safety. Luckily, no passengers were injured.

At the time of the shutdown, Luna Park faced two violations according to the DOB. The first was for not properly maintaining the ride. The second was for failing to immediately alert the city of the damage. Reps for the Coney Island attraction told us:

At Luna Park in Coney Island, safety is our number one priority and ride maintenance, and thorough testing happens daily before Luna Park opens and throughout the day as necessary. The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily. NYC’s Department of Buildings (DOB) inspected and cleared the ride to open on August 21, 2024. The Coney Island Cyclone is temporarily closed due to a mechanical problem that developed on August 22, 2024, and is currently undergoing repairs. We will reopen the Cyclone roller coaster when the repair is complete, and the ride passes its DOB inspection.

Was this the first technical issue on the ride?

This incident is not the first technical issue the Coney Island Cyclone has experienced in its nearly century-old history. The ride actually stalled in 2015 when cold temperatures caused the transmission belt slipped off the drum. The coaster was back and chugging the following weekend.

How old is the Coney Island Cyclone?

The Coney Island Cyclone, the prize ride at Luna Park, debuted on June 26th, 1927. That makes the wooden roller coaster 97 years old.

The post The Iconic Coney Island Cyclone Has Officially Reopened After A Brief Closure appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

We New Yorkers are used to seeing pigeons and rats on our daily strolls through the city. As for elephants…not so much. However that’s about to change as 100 magnificent Indian elephants are migrating to NYC!

They aren’t real, of course. But they are life size. Dubbed The Great Elephant Migration, the installation is “a global fundraising adventure to amplify indigenous knowledge and inspire the human race, to share space,” according to its website.

“We are humbled and proud to welcome these elephants from India to take up residency in the Meatpacking District for the next six weeks,” Jeffrey LeFrancois, executive director of the Meatpacking BID, said during a blessing ceremony on September 6th. “They’ll bring lots of smiles, and many a double takes, as they have already done.”

But the intention of the installation, which will be on view until October, reaches far beyond wowing viewers.

The Great Elephant Migration is a collaboration between indigenous artisans, contemporary artists, and cultural institutions, that’s set to raise millions of dollars to power human-wildlife coexistence projects and protect migratory animals.

“Despite the fact that wildlife are up against it right now, the message these elephants bring is all about positivity,” said Ruth Ganesh, a creative conservationist and philanthropist who conceptualized and produced The Great Elephant Migration. “We are hoping it is going to become an Instagram sensation and taking that message of human race and shared space to parts previously unreached.”

The elephants were created by 200 indigenous artisans living in Nilgiri Hills, Southern India, where humans and elephants coexist in the densest overlap on the planet. They were sculpted out of lantana camara, one of the world’s top invasive weeds that threatens the elephants’ habitat.

While we New Yorkers don’t come face-to-face with these massive creatures while we’re out and about, the population of the population of elephants, rhinos, lions and tigers has also doubled over the last 30 years. The Great Elephant Migration is a testament to the belief that humans and nature can thrive alongside one another.

“In fact, just the past couple of days walking along 9th Ave., as much as you quickly turn your head, there’s this immediate sense that they suddenly just belong here, too,” LeFrancois said.

After spending two months in NYC the elephants will pay a visit to our friends over in Miami in December before migrating to Browning, Montana in May and June of 2025. They’ll finally end their journey with our friends in L.A. in July 2025.

You can learn more about their  journey on The Great Elephant Migration’s website.

September 6 – October 2024

Meatpacking District

The post 100 Larger-Than-Life Indian Elephants Are Migrating To NYC And Across The U.S. appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here