New Yorkers turned out in power for Saturday’s reopening of Coney Island’s Luna Park, with some arriving lengthy earlier than any of the amusement park’s staff.
Bensonhurst’s David Zubin, 34, arrived exterior the park at 3:45 a.m., to ensure he was one of many first in line for the season’s inaugural experience on the park’s iconic wood Cyclone coaster.
Zubin was joined at 6:30 a.m. by his buddy Erik Knapp, 59, Brooklyn’s self-proclaimed “Mr. Cyclone.”
“Don’t lose your inner child,” provided Knapp, who has the Cyclone tattooed on his proper arm.
“Usually, I come here a lot earlier, but my mom is sick. She’s 83, and I am actually riding for my mom today.”
Knapp, who has ridden the coaster greater than 2,000 occasions, mentioned that for the earlier 22 years, he’d been the primary in line for the coaster.
However this 12 months, it was Zubin’s flip.
“All I gotta say is, if you love something in life, do it,” mentioned Zubin.
Behind the 2 pals in line have been Sarah, 21, and her mom Marcela Infante, 46.
The Queens girls awoke at 5 a.m., hoping to be the primary in line for a coaster they’d by no means earlier than ridden.
“[Zubin] was already here, and we started talking and now, we have new friends,” mentioned Sarah Infante.
“The weather has been super and we’re super excited for the ride. We are big rollercoaster fans and this will be our first time on the Cyclone.”
State Rep. Alec Brook-Krasny, a Republican, was additionally readily available for the opening day festivities.
“I’m at all times saying, ‘If you’re in an excellent temper, come to Coney Island,’ Brook-Krasny instructed The Publish.
“‘If you’re in a bad mood, come to Coney Island — you’re mood will become better.’”
Parkgoers have been welcomed to Luna Park Saturday with new arcade video games, up to date retail retailer and a brand new patio at open-air eatery Salt & Sizzle.
Coney Island’s unofficial mayor Dick D. Zigun mentioned the climate was excellent for opening weekend.
“I think this must be the most gorgeous opening day in the entire history of Coney Island, which goes back over 160 years,” Zigun mentioned.
Alessandro Zamperla was in attendance along with his mom, Paula Zamperla, and brother, Antonio Zamperla. The native Italians have owned and operated Luna Park since 2009.
“There are people in the United States who have a list of dreams of their lives,” Paula Zamperla mentioned.
“And a lot of people come here with the list that they show us. And they say, ‘I go to the Cyclone because its on my list.’”
For Alessandro, using the Cyclone won’t ever get previous.
“Every year, it gets better,” he mentioned.
“Its almost like a good wine: it gets more flavor, more emotions, more energy from the people. Just imagine the hundreds of thousands of people who have been riding it since 1927.”
