The Exciting New Rollercoaster at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

A historic Coney Island amusement park is planning to debut a new adrenaline-inducing rollercoaster later this year. It will be named after the mythical bird, the Phoenix, which is particularly fitting as the park has been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park has revealed that the Phoenix will be 68 ft tall and will travel along its tracks at 34mph, leaving passengers’ feet dangling below as they soar through the air. The $6m (€4.93m) coaster was initially planned in 2018 and financed before the pandemic. Although it doesn’t technically go upside down, the Phoenix will twist passengers 115 degrees, making it suitable for families of all ages.

According to the Vourderis family, which has owned the 100-year-old park since 1983, the suspended coaster family ride is themed around the flight of the Phoenix, symbolizing a rebirth into a more accepting and loving world. “New York is known for its ability to take a punch and bounce back,” they state. “Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park believes that although these times are painful and trying, they are also critical, and together, we will most certainly rise from the ashes and give birth to the best of times.”

The park initially began with the Wonder Wheel, invented by Charles Hermann and built in 1920. It was designated an official New York City landmark by the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1989. Standing 150 feet tall and weighing 200 tons, the Ferris wheel is the centerpiece of the park, featuring 24 cars—16 of which are swinging and eight are stationary. Impressively, it has maintained a perfect safety record throughout its entire history.

For those interested in more details, additional information on Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park can be found on its official website here.