With two new rides, massive Sunlite Pool, new live stage shows and an impressive array of special events, family-favorite Coney Island opens for its remarkable 129th year of operation Saturday, May 23.
In celebration of its Memorial Day weekend opening, Coney Island salutes U.S. troops with special Military Appreciation Days all weekend long, during which military personnel just need to show their military ID to receive a FREE Pool & Rides combo ticket.
The two new rides joining Coney’s incredible collection of classic family rides this year are TopSpin, a fun swinging-pendulum family thrill ride, and Fender Benders, a kiddie bumper car ride that puts little ones in the driver’s seat.
As a special opening weekend introduction, Coney visitors can experience the two new rides FREE all of Memorial Day weekend, May 23 – 25! (Ticket required for all other rides).
Coney has one of the best collections of classic rides that can be found anywhere. Coney ride favorites include the Dodgems, a grand carousel, Ferris Wheel plus on beautiful Lake Como a family motor boat ride, bumper boats, paddle boats and canoes.
Also back are the Python family roller coaster, WIPE OUT! (a topsy-turvy thriller that swings riders round and upside down 30 feet in the air), plus a swinging ship, airplanes, helicopters, a kids’ free-fall ride and many more.
Of course, Coney’s most iconic feature is massive Sunlite Pool. At 200 feet wide, 401 feet long and holding more than three million gallons of water, Sunlite Pool is the largest flat-surface pool in North America. It’s the perfect place to swim, lounge in the sun or challenge four exciting waterslides. There are also six diving boards, convenient locker and shower facilities, and several great food and merchandise outlets. A shaded public picnic area located just outside of the Sunlite Pool provides visitors a nice spot to enjoy their own picnics brought into the park (alcoholic beverages, grilling and glass containers are prohibited.)
For pure relaxation, back this year are the very popular poolside cabanas, complete with private patios – providing the ultimate place to kick back with family and friends. The cabanas are available for daily rental, and each cabana has high back patio armchairs, cocktail table, and chaise lounges on the patio. Also included in the rental fee are drink tickets and towel service.
Also on tap for 2015 is an entire lineup of original live stage shows for families to enjoy. The shows feature talented Coney Island singers and dancers performing two entertaining themed music-and-dance shows and a fun-filled kids’ show.
New shows include Danger! High Voltage (Lakeside Pavilion), a high-energy song-and-dance revue, plus One Hit Wonders (Lakeside Pavilion), featuring chart-toppers by artists who had only a brief moment in the limelight. There is also Captain Coney & Friends (Moonlite Gazebo), an interactive musical fun-fest for kids.
Food is such an important part of an amusement park visit, and Coney Island serves up some of the best food around. Start with a brand new item this season, sure to be a palate-pleaser and would make Homer Simpson drool with envy – It’s a giant Busken donut, made exclusively for Coney by Cincinnati’s own Busken Bakery. The giant donut measures 7 inches in diameter and weighs in at just shy of a half-pound! It comes with tasty icing and sprinkles can be added.
Also new this year, under the heading “everything tastes better with bacon,” are fresh-made funnel cakes topped with smoked Applewood bacon and maple syrup. There is a new Coney Island signature burger, too. Called the Bloomin’ Burger, it is a 1/3 pound steakburger covered with cheddar cheese, bacon, spricy ranch sauce and topped with onion rings –a meal in one! And there is also a new Buffalo Chicken Tender baskets served with celery sticks, dip and French fries.
Coney has a long-standing heritage of hosting some of the region’s most anticipated special events for families, and 2015 is no exception.
Returning to Coney Island Saturday, September 26 is the uber-popular Fire Up The Night event, the USA’s only international fireworks’ competition.
Now in its fourth year, Fire Up The Night features the best-of-the-best fireworks’ companies from Australia, Brazil and England competing head-to-head for international bragging rights. This is followed by Cincinnati’s legendary Rozzi Famous Fireworks blazing the night sky over Coney in a fireworks’ finale that will shake the banks of the Ohio River.
Also this summer is the famous LaRosa’s Balloon Glow (Friday, July 3), a series of Moonlite Gardens parties and the family-favorite Fall-O-Ween Festival in October.
Sunlite Pool is open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m; classic rides are open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sun.
Rides tickets and Sunlite Pool admission are $14.50 each, with discount pricing offered after 4 p.m. Reduced pricing for kids’ age 2-4 and discounted pool-rides combo tickets are offered. In addition, Coney offers an on-line ticket discount program (see website for more information.)
Coney Island is located at 6201 Kellogg Ave.10 miles east of downtown Cincinnati on the banks of the Ohio River. (Kellogg Avenue exit 72 off I-275.)
For more information — including hours, operating schedule, special events, various pricing packages, season passes and, group outings – visit the park’s website at www.coneyislandpark.com.