ThrillRide! Special Features

Our primary reason for stopping by at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park was this:

As a kid, I remember how they pimped Spook-A-Rama as the "world's longest dark ride," which it probably was, but only because of one very long, nothing-really-happened stretch that was entirely in broad daylight. That utterly useless section is gone, and so are the hyperbolic statements. What's left? Classic spinning Pretzel cars that no longer spin. Way too many stunts that are so poorly lit, you aren't quite sure what just jumped at you. An exterior that has seen better days.

Still, it's Coney's biggest and best dark ride right now, and it's a piece of history, AND one scare got both of us real good. So much potential there, so much.

I am not sorry I spent $6.00 to ride Spook-A-Rama. Not at all.

If people in charge are reading, I make this bold offer: give me $50,000 for materials and hardware, a couple of weeks this winter to get in there and go nose to the grindstone, and we can make Spook-A-Rama something really fun and scary and neat again. Puttin' that out there...

After getting Spooked, it was time for a rides break (and a sunshine break, too) so we went right for Sideshows By The Seashore, which is a hip updating of classic carny entertainment. Humor and great music and juggling and fire-eating and moments of shock and revulsion and amazement, what a great time!

It is all-ages friendly, with just a hint of naughtiness here and there, but it has that edge Coney is supposed to have. Matt even got into the act, going up on stage and standing on the guy who laid down upon a bed of nails. Loved it, loved it, loved it; GO.

If we'd had no plans for Ruby's, this place would have gotten our money for sure. Next time.

I'm so sorry the Coney Island History Project was closed SADFACE. Had I done a little more research... I'll know better next visit and plan accordingly; sight unseen, this is full of win, I'm certain.

(Coney Memories Elephant Hotel gate painted by Philomena Marano & Marc Kehoe)