In light of a failure to come to an agreement between the past owners -- and current operators -- and its current owners, the future of Astroland, a classic amusement park on the foreshore of the Coney Island beach in Brooklyn, New York, has been in doubt in recent years. As the ongoing saga continues, the only thing that looks certain is that Astroland as it currently stands looks set to disappear.

In recent weeks however reports have surfaced that 'The Oliver Group', led by Sydney Matthews and Timothy Oliver, have been in discussion with the owners of the many rides that make up Astroland and have also engaged in discussions with Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke which the Group's own press releases describe as "successful". Their plans are to relocate the amusement park to give it a new lease of life on the Gold Coast, already home to Australia's five largest theme parks.

The iconic 81-year-old Cyclone roller coaster, which stands at Astroland looks to be safe from removal as it holds status as a New York City landmark, as well as being declared a National Historic Landmark. The bulk of the attractions that make up Astroland are not classic amusement attractions but rather more modern carnival-style rides.

The Group's press releases state that every single piece of Astroland that can me successfully dismantled and relocated and anything that can't be moved will be reconstructed. Despite the Cyclone's security in New York City, The Oliver Group wants to clone the roller coaster from original plans.

Perhaps most bizarre is the Group's intention to even relocate soil from Astroland for the sake of authenticity.

Likening the project to the sale of the London Bridge from England to the US in 1967, marketing manager Timothy Oliver stated: "We are stealing one of America’s true icons – from the city the proclaims itself the number one city in the world – and we are bringing the last vistages [sic] of Coney Island to Australia!"

The Oliver Group's plans were briefly documented in the New York Daily News in November.

Specific information regarding the proposed location or project timeline is not provided, nor are the projected costs of such an undertaking. They suggest there will be as many as 350 full time employees.

Comments

Posted by AlexB at 11:04am, 23 Dec 08

So effectively another luna park - a bunch of modern carnival rides, and an historical coaster clone. I tell you what - they will need to bring a lot of soil, because the only way this will work is if they build it 40 nautical miles out to sea, and have a man-made island like in dubai's palms... because sure as hell they build this near anything residential and the residents are gunna kick a stink... and they will have the upper hand this time, because unlike the luna parks - they WEREN'T there first...

Posted by mattcrombie at 10:32pm, 8 Jan 09

There was another article in the paper yesterday saying its unknown if it will make it to the Gold Coast and Major Ron Clarke woulndnt mind it. All the rides are being all dismantled and stored away and could be coming our way if all goes to plan...

Astroland on the Gold Coast... I wonder where though...........

Posted by AlexB at 10:37pm, 8 Jan 09

I know a place in coomera that could do with bulldozing...

Posted by cadboy at 11:43am, 9 Jan 09

Well I wouldn't mind if it came to Australia. We would get our first wooden coaster since Wonderland but the rest isn't all that great. I wonder though, how would they survive on the gold coast having to compete with 5 other large theme parks?

QUOTE

I know a place in coomera that could do with bulldozing...

Does the place start with a 'D'

Posted by Gold Coaster at 5:36pm, 12 Jan 09

Well, if we can't have a Wonder Wheel why not the park next door? Astroland's great but hopefully they'd recreate some of the historical stuff too (not just the coaster).

Forget "Hollywood on the Gold Coast"... Brooklyn on the Gold Coast! West AND East Coast flavours for us.

Posted by Gold Coaster at 8:09pm, 12 Jan 09

... or Broker, for all you GTA IV fans...

Posted by gclad at 11:55pm, 28 Jan 09

Do we really need another theme park here on the Coast? This coaster would be ideal for one of the pre-existing ones ie Dreamworld who still have plenty of room to develope and expand.

Posted by wondercam at 8:27pm, 29 Jan 09

Is there any chance it going anywhere else in Australia?
If so, sydney could do with a theme park. All we have is Luna Park......Joy!
Since Wonderland i have never been so bored

Posted by cadboy at 9:00pm, 29 Jan 09

QUOTE (gclad @ Jan 28 2009, 10:55 PM)

Do we really need another theme park here on the Coast?

Well not really but it would be good and keep compitition soaring. We might even get new additions every year.

QUOTE

This coaster would be ideal for one of the pre-existing ones ie Dreamworld who still have plenty of room to develope and expand.

Well so do the other parks

Posted by gclad at 12:27am, 30 Jan 09

Cadboy, as with my previous comments, Seaworld is at 98% for expansion. Dreamworld has plenty of room to the left of the park as you look at it and Eastward back toward the rail line to expand in a major way. Leaving only MW. Which is near to capacity for new attractions unless the Studio admin buildings, and buildings up behind it near to the Studio Commisary etc are moved over toward the of the Studios up the hill to make room. for a new attraction of this size.