close
close

Coney Island's famous Cyclone has been closed indefinitely after a breakdown mid-ride

Coney Island Cyclone closed indefinitely after breakdown mid-ride

Photo courtesy of Luna Park

The Coney Island Cyclone has been closed indefinitely after a mechanical failure caused the iconic roller coaster to stop mid-ride. While the famous Luna Park roller coaster was reaching its descent on Thursday, an operator stopped the ride after noticing a damaged sprocket in the machine room, the Associated Press reported. The nearly century-old attraction is currently undergoing repairs and will reopen once the work is completed and the ride passes an inspection by the city's Department of Buildings (DOB), according to Luna Park.

According to AP, DOB inspectors visited the site on Friday and issued violations to Luna Park's owners for the damaged hardware and for not immediately notifying the department of the incident.

“At Luna Park at Coney Island, safety is our top priority. Ride maintenance and thorough testing is conducted daily prior to Luna Park's opening and throughout the day as needed. The Coney Island Cyclone is a 97-year-old roller coaster that is meticulously maintained and tested daily,” said a statement on Luna Park's website.

After the incident, all passengers were safely escorted out of the attraction without any injuries.

This is not the first time the famous roller coaster has experienced technical problems. On Luna Park's opening day in 2015, the Cyclone got stuck just feet from the highest part of the track after its drive belt slipped off the drum and the ride came to an abrupt stop, according to the New York Times.

The wooden roller coaster opened on June 26, 1927, in Coney Island. In the 1970s, the Cyclone was nearly demolished due to declining attendance, but a successful campaign saved the ride. The Cyclone was designated a city landmark in 1988 and later added to the New York City Register of Historic Places.

RELATED:

Get insider updates with our newsletter!

You may also like...