Coney Island kicked off its new season with a surge of excitement. Riders like David Knapp, who has a Cyclone tattoo and considers the roller coaster a personal icon, braved the early morning hours to be among the first in line. Beginners Sarah and Marcela Infante expressed their anticipation for their first Cyclone ride, reflecting the diverse crowd that comes to experience the park's unique magic. A perfect spring day, combined with just a hint of anticipation from its history and popularity, created a particularly thrilling atmosphere.
Bensonhurst resident David Zubin , 34, arrived at Coney Island at 3:45 am to secure his spot as one of the first riders on the park’s legendary wooden Cyclone roller coaster. “Don’t lose your inner child,” said Knapp, who sports a Cyclone tattoo on his right arm. “Usually, I come here much earlier, but my mom is sick. She’s 83, and I’m actually riding for my mom today.
” Knapp, a seasoned coaster enthusiast who has ridden it over 2,000 times, claimed he had held the first-in-line position for the past 22 years. Behind the two friends stood Sarah, 21, and her mother, Marcela Infante, 46, from Queens. The pair woke up at 5 am, hoping to be among the first to experience the iconic Cyclone, their first encounter with the ride. “The weather has been super and we’re super excited for the ride. We’re big rollercoaster fans, and this will be our first time on the Cyclone,” Sarah expressed their enthusiasm. Coney Island's unofficial mayor, Dick D. Zigun, shared in the celebratory mood, stating that the weather was perfect for the 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 proclaimed. Among the attendees were Alessandro Zamperla, his mother Paula, and brother Antonio. The Zamperla family, originally from Italy, have owned and operated the iconic park for years. Paula Zamperla remarked on the Cyclone's enduring appeal, saying, “There are people in the United States who have a list of dreams in their lives, and a lot of people come here with the list that they show us. And they say, ‘I go to the Cyclone because it’s on my list.’ It’s 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.
Coney Island Cyclone Roller Coaster Opening Day David Zubin Sarah Infante Dick D. Zigun Alessandro Zamperla
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