What a thrill it must have been when LaMarcus Thompson's Cyclone first welcomed riders on June 26, 1927 — a full 4 decades after the original invention that made it possible. Perched on the corner of West 10th Street and Surf Avenue, this legendary ride ranks among the oldest amusement attractions in the nation that still operates to this day. For anyone stepping foot in Coney Park, a spin on this storied rollercoaster is practically mandatory.
The Cyclone came to life thanks to the vision of brothers Irving and Jack Rosenthal, who dreamed up the concept behind the project. After securing land in Coney Island, they brought on celebrated roller coaster designer Vernon Keenan to turn their plans into reality. Keenan built upon the engineering formulas and principles originally created by LaMarcus Thompson — a man whose groundbreaking work on the Cyclone earned him the legendary title of "Father of Gravity."
Back when the ride first launched, hopping aboard cost just a quarter. These days, visitors need to shell out $10 for the experience. Reaching speeds of 97km/h, the coaster whisks riders through 27 elevation changes and 12 drops over the course of approximately 2 minutes. Stretching 2640 feet in length and soaring to a maximum height of 85 feet, the track was engineered by LaMarcus to handle up to 1440 rides per hour — a safety-conscious cap that kept the Cyclone running smoothly.
Constructing the Cyclone came with a price tag of $175,000 — equivalent to nearly $3 million in today's dollars! Fortunately for Thompson, the financial burden was eased by the state government, which covered some of the costs after recognizing the ride's potential as a business opportunity.