Steeplechase
Specific Type: MotoCoaster
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There is no more famous or instantly recognizable place in the amusement industry than Coney Island. While Coney Island’s legacy is in the past the current version, Luna Park is banking on that nostalgia as a path towards their future. Even the name Luna Park and their current entrance are a nod to the past. Luna Park operates the famous Coney Island Cyclone as well as the historic carousel, even though they are owned by the city of New York. They have reached into the past to name their current attractions as well. The steel roller coaster installed in 2014 was named the Thunderbolt, a nod to the John Miller wooden roller coaster that stood from 1925-2000. The Tickler a spinning wild mouse style roller coaster also shares its name with the past. The original Tickler was a ride that featured spinning wooden chairs. The most famous name was resurrected in 2011 when the Steeplechase moniker was given to a Zamperla motocoaster, with horse trains instead of motorcyles. The original Steeplechase was so beloved the whole park was named after this racing roller coaster. The original ride was a racing coaster with 8 tracks, where a horse similar to the type that could be found on a carousel glided down each one. Unfortunately the original ride was bulldozed by Fred Trump when he tried to get the land rezoned for condos. Even though the city refused to change the zoning most of the park was demolished in a publicity stunt. MCU Park, a minor league ball park now occupies this land.The most prominent surviving reminder is the Parachute Jump that still stands despite having not operated in decades. The modern version of the Steeplechase doesn’t race but it does borrow the racing horse theme to go along with the name.
The riders approach the station, and hop aboard the horse trains. Riders are arranged two abreast on six cars. The horses roll out slowly and then come to a halt. The train is launched by a flywheel up to its maximum speed of 40 MPH. The train banks and climbs to the highest point at 65 feet. The track straightens out as the train gallops to the other side of the layout, and then banks hard and spirals down turning one direction and then the other in a series of figure eights before completing the 1,194 foot long circuit. It may not be the original but the nostalgia and theme allow this ride to stand out and be a link to the past. |
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