Coney Island gets first new roller coasters in 80 years

AP Photo

“The first new roller coasters to be built at Coney Island in eight decades were opened on Wednesday as part of efforts to reverse the decline of New York City's world-famous theme park.

The Soarin' Eagle and Steeplechase roller coasters are part of the new multimillion-dollar Scream Zone theme park, that replaced several more ramshackle attractions that had their own loyal followings.

"Last summer was Coney Island's biggest in nearly a half century, and this year -- with the addition of the first new roller coasters since the Cyclone opened in 1927 -- it's going to be even bigger," New York City Mayor Bloomberg said at Wednesday's opening ceremony. "It had been decades since Coney Island saw any significant investment and the famed amusement district had dwindled as a result."  Story Here