The Cyclone is a wooden roller coaster at Luna Park in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. Designed by Vernon Keenan and built by Harry C. Baker, the ride opened on June 26, 1927, at a construction cost of $175,000. For nearly a century it has delivered a raw, rattling thrill that modern steel coasters can rarely replicate.
Riders are hauled 75 feet into the Brooklyn sky before plunging down an 85-foot first drop at a near-59-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 60 mph on about 2,640 feet of undulating wooden track. The Cyclone’s cultural weight matches its physical presence: it was designated a New York City Landmark in 1988 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, making it one of the most officially celebrated amusement rides in American history.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
- Designer / Builder: Vernon Keenan / Harry C. Baker
- Opened: June 26, 1927
- Height: 75 ft (23 m)
- Drop: 85 ft at 58.6°
- Top Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
- Track Length: about 2,640 ft (800 m)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
From the moment the chain lift crests the 75-foot apex, the Cyclone lives up to its name. The first drop, 85 feet at nearly 59 degrees, sends riders toward the ground at 60 mph before a series of 12 drops and sharp banked turns fling trains through the tight wooden structure. The lap-bar-only restraint system — one bar per row rather than individual harnesses — gives riders a freewheeling sense of exposure that contributes to the coaster’s legendary ferocity.
The ride generates up to 3.75 g-forces and lasts under two minutes, but the intensity is relentless from first drop to brake run. With 27 total changes in elevation packed into a relatively compact footprint at the corner of Surf Avenue and West 10th Street, the Cyclone punches well above its modest dimensions.
Nearly Lost, Then Saved
After more than four decades of operation the Cyclone fell into serious disrepair, and by the early 1970s New York City planned to demolish it. Preservation efforts prevailed: in 1975 Astroland amusement park operators Dewey and Jerome Albert took over the lease, funded a $60,000 refurbishment, and reopened the coaster on July 3, 1975. When Luna Park assumed management in 2011, it commissioned Great Coasters International (GCI) for a major structural restoration completed in 2016, ensuring the ride’s survival for another generation.
The Cyclone’s landmark designations — a New York City Landmark since 1988 and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991 — reflect its status as both an engineering artifact and a piece of American popular culture. It has appeared in films, music videos, and works of art, and remains one of Brooklyn’s most visited attractions.
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Cyclone FAQs
Is the Cyclone at Coney Island still operating?
Yes. The Cyclone is actively operating at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn. It typically opens for the season in spring and runs through the fall, though hours vary — check Luna Park’s official site for current schedules.
How scary is the Cyclone compared to modern coasters?
The Cyclone is considered moderately intense by today’s standards but delivers a uniquely rough, classic wooden-coaster experience. Its 85-foot first drop at nearly 59 degrees and 3.75 g-forces still surprise many riders, and the minimal lap-bar restraints add to the sense of exposure.
When was the Cyclone designated a historic landmark?
The Cyclone was designated a New York City Landmark on June 12, 1988, and was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 1991 — one of the very few amusement rides in the country to hold both distinctions.
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Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.