Cyclone Coaster
Category: Amusement Parks [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Coney Island834 Surf Ave
(between 10th St & 8th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11224 (718) 266-3434
- Good for Kids: Yes
49 Reviews for Cyclone Coaster
So I basically live for thrill of going on rides that could actually result in my serious injury. Well the Cyclone was definitely not a disappointment by any means. I love Coney island because it is an escape from the business of the city and even though it has a slightly creepy atmosphere, its a great place to go get drunk and talk your friends into risking their lives to fulfill your addiction of danger.
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I knew that little punk hated me. My bf and sons were going to ride the cyclone, I was going to wait. But after looking at the ride it didn't seem that scary - the drops weren't that high - just looked like a lot of twist and turns. After hearing that little jerk say it was a baby's ride - I acquiesced. Big mistake, huge! Those drops were so steep I had to keep grabbing my sunglasses so I wouldn't lose them. The turns were so jerky and sharp that three days later my neck finally has full range of motion without causing me pain.
Yeah yeah it isn't scary - you little sh**
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I don't to roller coasters, in fact I barely do rides, but I really wanted to experience this Coney Island legend and landmark, especially before they completely change Coney island in the years to come (they're not getting rid of the coaster but the Coney island area will be different I'm sure).
Anyway this is a terrifying roller coaster full of nothing but drops in the nearly 2 minute ride. The seats look and seem comfortable when you first get put in and then you realize why, this old wooden coaster bumps you around so much that my girlfriends arm ended up with 5 massive black and blues afterwards. I lucked out with only 1. No matter where you "secure" your belongings whether it be wedged next to or under you, you will nearly loose them so if you can let someone on the ground hold your stuff, just not bring anything, or put it in your pants you'll be all set.
I've talked to 3 or 4 people who do roller coasters and have been on the Cyclone and they all say its a scary terrifying ride that they wont be doing again (I understand some people like terrifying so this might be your cup of tea so check out this landmarked ride).
The ride is $8 and if you dare ride again its $5 for re-rides. I think this is expensive for such a small ride. They guys running it know its an American icon and that people will pay this so they continue to charge for it, disappointing, especially when I read reviews from less than a year ago with people saying they paid $4, oh well.
The Cyclone roller coaster is NOT going anywhere when they demolish and rebuild Coney Island. As part of the agreement with developers they agreed to keep the coaster up and running.
This coaster is the only one that gives me white knuckles when its going up and down on the track. In an age of so many electronic smooth running coasters, it is nice to have this gem 10 minutes from my apartment. $1 a ride!
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the best part is thinking that you're going to die while actually acknowledging that it may be a real possibility. And, I'm not talking about batman the robin at six-flags kinda fear, i'm talking about "i think i remembered 5 folks got killed in some roller-coaster nearby..."
Yup, the fear alone makes this an insane adrenaline rush that keeps me coming for more!
Also, sit in the front. even if you have to wait; sit in the front! let them haggle you if they must the second time around, but for crying out loud- sit in the front!
i look down on those who sit in the back, but that's just me and everyone else I know. So, unless you got no time---- remember to waaaaait for it!
Sit in the back.
That's all ;)
The old-school terrifying coaster. Let me preface by saying that I HATE ROLLERCOASTERS. I hate being on them, I have a fear of heights and I hate the feeling of falling. I still go on them because of the thrill and anxiety AFTER I get off. I feel like I conquered my fear and did what scared me the most.
Anyway, I had never been to Coney Island and it was kind of raining and foggy in the morning. We came out here and were walking around. My friend insisted that we go on it, as it was actually open, and he literally dragged me into the line and made sure I got into the car.
The next 3 minutes or so were sheer hell for me, as the ride progressed. Not only was I scared of the heights and the drops, I couldn't help but thinking that I'm on a wooden roller coaster, right by the ocean, and there's probably been a lot of erosion of the soil underneath and the wood's probably rotting and we're going to die and etc.
Well I'm still here and writing about it, so I guess I survived. Amazing coaster, well worth the terror.
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As far as I know...the Cyclone is not going anywhere...is it???
Every scheme I have seen still has it in place...
Anyway, It's great. Your ass is sweating and shaking in the very same seat as millions of people for thousands of years, or something.
Fun!
Scary in the " I hope it doesn't malfunction" way. That initial drop is enough to make your fried clams and pina colada want to come back up.
Salty Carney operator and weird rollercoaster gnomes tinkering around on the side. I love the Cyclone!
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If you're gonna get black n' blued in Brooklyn . . . . this is the way to do it!
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If you want the full Coney Island experience, I can't stress enough the consumption of two jumbo dogs and extra large coke from Nathan's BEFORE you get strapped to the rails known to Brooklynites as "The ass whacker"
^Jaq S. is still picking Cyclone shrapnel out of mine (aRs).
Unfortunately, there wasn't a freeze flash to capture her distorted coaster face - *picture Robert De Niro in all his Cape Fear iniquity.
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I haven't cussed this much in a 2 minute window since I was in high school.
Feel like a fat ass though weightless in one fell swoop. About 15 seconds into it, you think: "whoever the bleep built this was an evil, sadistic genius I'd like to stab repeatedly!" Laugh hysterically while both you and your seat partners' coccyx fractures into mosaic art. You notice crazy "No-thumbs" Gideon (not staring too long) manning the main switch upon your boarding and think: "$4?--this ish better be good."
I've never seen, heard, or felt as a child quite like those fleeting moments my life flashed before my eyes blurring through a humid gray backdrop of Brooklyn.
Skydiving 2 yrs prior invoked half as much pleasure and terror.
Hurts so good.
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My dad came out to New York to help my brother move into his college dorm. After a day of moving boxes, I suggested a trip out to Coney. My brother declined (maybe he's too cool for these things) so just my dad and I went.
I want to give the Cyclone 6 stars for taking us both back 20 years. I was about 10 and my dad 40-something. Riding on the Cyclone, we were both a little terrified and a lot happy. It's rickety. It's old. It's fast. If you're not careful, you might get whiplash. Pay attention to all the warnings, 'cuz they're true.
On a warm summer day, this might be heaven. The rest of the boardwalk is fun, too.
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While I was on the machine, I felt myself flying upward and off of the seat and smashed my chin down on metal when I went flying back down. My friend chose to grab me toward her at one point and the coaster swung that way and sharply back the other way so that I had a crik in my neck for a week.
Even with the pain, tt wasn way AFTER I got off the rollercoaster than actually riding on it.
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It was everything I ever wanted it to be and more... I laughed, I cried, I kept my Nathan's down... only thing not covered in gold chains and hair gel at Coney Island.
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A Must Stop! I did a review on the "Giant Dipper" in San Diego, and this is next on my list of "Old Wooden" Coasters. How can one review a wooden coaster and not put this on the top of the list! The "Original" in my opinion! You have to do this in the "Summer". Like most Beach Coasters this one is dead in the Winter, but in the summer it's still slammin' and worth the trip out. It bangs you, twists you, makes your body hurt! Yup, all that and when it's all said and done, your like hmmmmmm, did really like that ride, give it a week, and even better give it a month when your back home! You'll be like ya, that was cool, I liked the fact that I know, one of the things I did in my life time was ride the "Coney Island" Cyclone wooden coaster!
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The older you get, the more it HURTS. I went on again over the summer for memory's sake, but I quickly regretted the decision. I walked away with bad whiplash and excruciating bruising in at least five places. It's a great ride overall (and long!), but the safety bar does more damage than it's supposed to save you from, and god HELP you if you sit next to someone wildly varying in body size from you.
It's the only coaster I know of that employs a full-time nurse.
I don't think anyone's ever died riding the Cyclone, but god damn do you feel like you're going to. It's worth the pain at least once in your life for the experience and the shits-and-giggles factor, but keep the pregnant women, faint-hearted, and easily-bruised away from it. Far, far away.
CYCLONE FACTS:
Height: 85 feet
Length: 2,640 feet
Length of First Drop: 85 feet at a 60 degree angle
Speed: 60mph
Ride Length: 1:50
Trains: 3 trains, 3 cars per train
Capacity: 24 Passengers per train (2 across in 4 rows per car)
For the curious or uninformed: no, the Cyclone does not go upside down. It's one of the oldest operating roller coasters, and at the time it was built the inversion technology wasn't around yet. It still gives you the same high though, albeit it's a high from seeing your entire life flash before your eyes. Good times.
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First off, I have to admit, I hate roller coasters. The sensation of repeatedly being taken very high and dropped to a free fall at a sharp slope trajectory is stuff that nightmares are made of. That said, I do things, just like you, that scare the freakin' bejesus out of me just because. I mean, what is life without a little AHHH! F-ING HELL!! in it?
Before you get on this roller coaster, divulge yourself of your bags and any belongings that will not comfortably fit in your pockets. Not your shirt pockets either unless they have a closure to keep the items in. There is a handy bag check right before you get into your seat.
Do not bother to bring your camera on the ride. The idea that you might actually be able to take a picture while on this creaky wooden death machine is absolute foolishness. I brought my little camera and had to tuck it under my butt cheeks once the ride got going. It was like having a doody hanging out in my drawers, a discomfort that was only fleetingly experienced since most of my mind was busy screaming a death cry.
My third bit of advice is to not have eaten too much boardwalk fun food. Ice cream, fried funnel cake, fried seafood whatever and lots of beer make for discomfiting playmates when you're being twisted like a pretzel through the sky.
These swerves and drops are totally scary shit. It feels like you are the dice in the hand of G-d and he's working it hard for baby's new pair of shoes.
The best thing to do is just Zen. On the first drop I learned that lesson. I was so freaked out, I was as tight as on of those rubber band balls you make when it gets really boring at the office. Well, that first drop doesn't fall from a level placement. It goes forward and then just a bit up and then straight down so that you actually lift upwards from your seat, suspended in air as the car begins hurling earthbound at mach speed.
When you finally, thankfully, bottom out, it is possible to slam the bottom of your chin on the rail bar. Fortunately the rail bar is padded.
Do not be screaming with your tongue out of mouth as this could result in very serious injury. It's a blessing and a surprise that I didn't yak myself.
It helps to have your friends next to you screaming bloody murder. I had a sore throat from drinking and partying my way through Germany for 10 days and couldn't scream for myself. My friends screeching was horrifically cathartic enough to effect an emotive release for me.
The crazy ride experience hearkened me to the natal birth process. Remind me to call my Mom and tell her how great she is.
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Between the dropping and the lurching and being thrown from side to side and saying, shit, shit shit through this entire ride, I LOVED it. I just kept telling myself relax, or my chiropractor was going to be a rich man for the next month! Thank god no one was sitting next to me since I would have squished them as flat as a pancake! Man, this thing is old and rickety and wonderful! I came out of there looking like I had just had circus sex. Don't ask! :)
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Every summer I take a ride on the Cyclone to remind myself of my own mortality. Life seems so much more worthwhile after being reminded how short it is. Seriously, not only will you think you're going to die, but it could probably actually happen.
Warning: Even though there is a very nice ice cream stand about 50 feet down from here, don't even think about trying to eat ice cream until at least 10 minutes post-Cyclone. Same goes for hot dogs, though usually the walk over to Nathans is enough.
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You know that expression, I threw up in my mouth? Well, this ride made me throw up in my mouth. It took a lot of effort to keep the throw up in my mouth since all I wanted to do was scream.
I don't know how my friends talked me into going on this ride. Be warned. Anyone who convinces you to do this is not truly your friend. I don't even talk to those crazy people anymore.
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I've been on a lot of roller coasters in my time, but this one tops the list in several categories. First, the creaking and shaking of the wood as you climb the first hill makes it hard to believe that there is not at least a little chance that the entire ride might fall apart. Therefore, pretty much one of the scariest I've ridden. Second, the Cyclone holds the distinction of being the only roller coaster rough enough to actually break my cellphone. I came off the seat so hard that my phone was literally crushed by the restraint bar, breaking the front screen. Needless to say, I payed the $4 to ride again.....guess I'll never learn. Beware, however, of the last car. It gives you the wildest ride, but possibly too much for some people.
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Anyone who gives this marvel of engineering fewer than five stars can go mope around in mouse ears at Disneyland. Enough said.
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I went on the Cyclone strictly for nostalgic purposes and also wanted to disclose to my children one day of the horrible whiplash you received while on this ride. I must admit, this ride was a lot longer than what I bargained for, but we did take a picture while we were on the ride! All I have to say is make sure you go on this ride with someone who is close to you in size or else! My neck was sore for two weeks following this shabby ride.
As far as wooden roller coaster go, I prefer the American Eagle at Six Flags in Illinois since you don't feel like it's a scene from Final Destination 2. I guess this sums it up...
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With your ticket comes a legendary ride on the Cyclone roller coaster located in atsroland of coney island, brooklyn and that nagging thought in the back of your mind "Am I going to die?"
When was the last time this thing passed inspection? Are you sure this rusty bar pushed up loosely against my stomach will keep me from flying out? 100% of the last group that went on made it....
So you're finally moving..
Wow this thing is realy made completely out of decades old wood!!Haha its like the little roller coaster that could rattling up the first hill!Ok here we go....TURN TURN TURN..WE'RE GOING TO RUN OFF THE COASTER...WE SHOULD BE TURNING BY NOW!!!..and rinse and repeat till the ride comes to a stop!
Come to astroland, hold on for dear life, and see the cyclone and ask these questions for yourself before threy are both gone forever... is it true this is the last summer??
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This is an NYC summer staple. It looks smallish but it has enough momentum to raise you out of your seat. I always feel like puking or passing out when I get off though. Definitely eat your corn dog after, not before, you ride.
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Since the last time I was on this thing was in 1975 when my mom was pregnant with me (sure explains a lot), I am sure that it isnt fair that I review it.
However, I'm a review whore, so I will do it based on the legend...
... or maybe I wont, since the bastards will be tearing it down soon!
Screw you guys for taking down a legend that has not only been around forever, but that has made people travel from miles and miles away just to be a part of that history!
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A great old wooden rollercoaster.
And it's fun to be on, unlike the very, very scary pirate ship ride which I still absolutely hate once I'm on it even after avoiding it for YEARS.
The rollercoaster is awesome, though!
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What a ride! The constant feeling that the car will come off the tracks or the wooden framing will fall apart any second just adds to the experience. The ride is actually longer than I expected, taking at least three loops around the lot with several good dips and curves. The drops are much more steep than I expected. One ride is $6. The seating is tight, but that's a good thing with all the rocking and rolling going on over these rough tracks. As long as you don't expect a silky smooth ride like new roller coasters at Great Adventure or Dorney Park, you will enjoy the Cyclone!
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The first time I saw the Cyclone, it was 1985, and I was seven and on a trip to the New York Aquarium with camp. The bus parked in the lot and there was this rumble and then earth shattering screams and the cars crested over the highest peak on the structure- the only part visible over the aquarium fence. I told my dad (a chaperone)- I needed to get on it and he dismissed my desperation, saying, "That's the Cyclone. That thing 'll kill ya." I settled with buying a plastic snow globe with penguins inside of it.
Years later, when I moved to Brooklyn, I hopped a train out to Coney Island every chance I could, with whomever I could convince, no matter how late- well at least until 2- I think on peak summer weekends, it only closes when people stop coming.
An unbelievable national treasure- you can't screamingly ride the Liberty Bell or the Lincoln Memorial- at least not in good taste and without getting arrested.
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The Cyclone isn't only a ride, but an experience.
Just waiting on line gets you giddy, knowing you'll soon be joining a New York legacy.
A dinosaur of a roller coaster at 80, you'd think it would be a piece of cake compared to say... Six Flags. But if you've ever been on the Cyclone, you know that it is one tough ride.
The Cyclone is a wooden coaster, and to say it's jerky would be an understatement. Also, the drops and force give you the feeling that this small bar to keep you in won't stop you from flying out of the car.
But the rattling rails, near whiplash and fear of imminent death are just the quirks that make the Cyclone so unique that it's stood the test of time. Once your done, you'll be tempted to ride it again.
Shame this might not last for more summers on the boardwalk.
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I got my last licks in over Labor Day weekend, and just in time; I am done for a while. It seriously makes your teeth and bones rattle. Now it's time to make an appt. with those chiropractors I rave about.
Scariest. Coaster. Ever.
Period.
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Not much of a coaster.
But wait.
Look closer.
See all those creaks and croaks and possible wood rot, safety hazards abound. You get that goosebump feeling.
Have fun with that Nathan's lunch you just had. And it might be a good thing to bring a torso brace, or elbow pads. Its a bit jerky. Kind of like that beef jerky bag that I couldn't get open in my University Gourmet Deli review.
Chris I need that jerky back, its a healthy low fat snack with the protein to make me Ah-nuld II.
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Easily the scariest coaster in existance. And it doesnt even do crazy loopy, upside down make you wanna throw up type stuff! Ther herky jerkyness of this legendary coaster is probably the best part....you never know if youre going to come off alive when its over. Or at least with all of your limbs.
im going today...because its 5 minutes away and its freakin NICE! holllllller! :)
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Great Coaster! Between the rattling, shaking, twisting, flying and build up of suspense on this thing, you'll have an experience worthy of telling your grandchildren.
Nota Bene: Keep loose while on the ride. If you tighten up you'll have a sore neck and back for the next few days. Just loosen up, go with the flow and take those curves, jerks and dips. You'll love it and come out still living just like every other NYer who's ridden this wooden railed rattle trap for the past multiple decades.
P.S. - While on Coney, don't forget to "shoot the freak" before they close them down and you can't do it anymore. Another thing to tell your grandkids you did.
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We did it!! Weeks before it's dismantling, we went and rode that living fossil of a rollercoaster; the ancestor of today's modern rides; the one, the only; CYCLONE!
Ok, so at first glance it's not impressive at all; the proportions look boring; I've been in Busch Gardens, Islands of Adventure, Knott's Berry Farm.... so I thought this was going to be a cakewalk, but I was wrong. As soon as we descended on the first slope, my gut gave me the reason as to WHY they are tearing this down; like I said, this is a FOSSIL, an ancestor of the modern rollercoaster, and as such, it preserves the experimental naivete entailed in it's construction. The slopes and turns are not swift and easy, they are rough like nothing you've ever experienced; you can clearly feel the impact of physics and design in the perfection of the modern rollercoaster when you ride the Cyclone. This Jurassic ride will make you squeal a scream of death when you hear the rattling of the rails underneath you as if they were ready to crumble; an all-wood rollercoaster providing you instant access to an earlier era, you can literally feel what the kids in the 50's felt when riding this, and btw, you can decide to stay and do multiple rides if you so choose, no extra charge.
Come and try it if you haven't already, soon enough the Cyclone will be gone and only his towering descendants will make tribute to your memories.
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I hate you, Cyclone! You are old and rickety and feel like you are going to fall apart!
OK fine, you were the best I've ever been on but did you have to scare the crap out of me the whole ride? I guess that's your thrill!
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Once, I paid the guy $10 and forgot to get my change.
Yep, that's how scared/apprehensive/flustered I was.
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I'm giving the Cyclone a four-star rating because of its historical significance, nostalgia, and the adrenaline-filled intensity that it's generated for so many decades. I've been to Coney Island many times over the last eight years. I've been to the Freak Show, relaxed on the beach, walked the board walk, admired the sunset from one of the long piers, watched the Brooklyn Cyclones stomp all over Tri-City in a blowout game, strolled through Astroland (once winning a few giant stuffed animals in one day playing some of the games, which I happily gave away to some children because, simply put, they were just too big to trek home on the subway). I've even been on a few non-spinning rides like the Wonder Wheel and the Pirate Ship (though I'd never do the ship again, since it scared the crap out of me and I almost had a serious coronary event thinking I was going to fly out it). In addition, I've also enjoyed other attractions like the batting cage, the bumper cars, and playing video games in the arcade.
Interestingly, however, and to be perfectly candid, I never once conjured up the nerve to ride the cyclone...although I'd gone with people who ridden it (and quite enjoyed) the rollercoaster repeatedly. Sorry to say, and I'm sure it's a perfectly safe ride, it honestly scared the crap out of me. I mean, just envisioning myself zipping down that contraption scared the bonkers out of me. At the same time, however, I wished that I had mustered up the nerve to have at least tried it once. I suppose I was just too damn chicken @*&^. I think it had something to do with the speed and steep drops (though I'm sure it pales in comparison to many of the more intense modern rollercoasters).
In any event, the Cyclone is a legacy that has for generations been a fabric of enjoyment at Coney Island. Even though I'd never been on the Cyclone, I've had the opportunity to photograph it, so check out some of the photos I took back in July 2007.
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Pretty much the greatest roller coaster ever built.
Definitely ride it if you wanna feel violated.
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