Coney Island (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Coney Island Logo
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| Slogan | We're open for fun |
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| Location | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°03′15″N 84°25′12″W / 39.054268°N 84.420040°WCoordinates: 39°03′15″N 84°25′12″W / 39.054268°N 84.420040°W |
| Owner | Brenda Walker |
| Opened | 1886-1971 Reopened in 1974 (Sunlite Pool remained open during the three-year gap) |
| Previous names | Parker's Grove (1867-1885) Grove Park, The Coney Island of the West (1886) Coney Island (1887-1975) Old Coney (1976-1985) Coney Island (1985-) |
| Operating season | May through October |
| Rides | |
| Total | 24 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
| Water rides | 4 |
| Website | Coney Island Web Site |
Coney Island is a small amusement park and waterpark located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Anderson Township, on the banks of the Ohio River 10 miles (16 km) east of Downtown Cincinnati. The park is currently owned by Brenda Walker.
Coney Island's beginnings date back to 1867 when an apple farmer by the name of James Parker purchased 400 acres (1.6 km2) of land along the shores of the Ohio River. James soon realized in the early 1870s the popularity of the farm's location, and that renting it out was more profitable than his apple orchard. He eventually added a dining hall, dancing hall, and bowling alley. He later sold the land in 1886 for $17,500 to a company called Ohio Grove Corporation headed by two steamboat captains. In time for the opening on June 21, 1886, the name was officially changed to "Ohio Grove, The Coney Island of the West" in an effort to link the park with the famous New York destination. Fortunate enough to be on a riverfront location, riverboat soon became the most popular method of transportation for park visitors. In 1887, "Ohio Grove" was completely dropped from the name as the park became known simply as "Coney Island".
Over the years, the park became a full-fledged amusement park, complete with rides and carnival games. In that capacity, Coney Island was a Cincinnati institution. However, the park's proximity to the river made it prone to frequent flooding. In 1968, park management entered into talks with Taft Broadcasting for the purpose of developing a new park on higher ground. Taft responded by buying Coney Island outright in 1969, and construction began the following year on a new site located in Deerfield Township of Warren County 25 miles (40 km) north of Cincinnati along Interstate 71. Coney Island closed its amusements on September 6, 1971, as most of its rides were moved to the newly completed Kings Island theme park.
After Kings Island opened in 1972, Taft Broadcasting intended to sell Coney Island's land for redevelopment. However, with the company's decision to open another theme park in Virginia (Kings Dominion) and its acquisition of Carowinds on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, the property's redevelopment became a low priority. Less than two years after closing, Coney Island would reopen permanently in 1973. The park was only a shadow of its former self but still featured several popular attractions. The Sunlite Pool — still the largest recirculating swimming pool in the world — was one of those attractions that helped Coney Island remain a popular summertime destination.
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Wikipedia