Coney Island’s Luna Park, the largest amusement park in New York City, has opened Tony’s Express, a new coaster named after the late Antonio Zamperla.
The family-friendly coaster bends and curves around the upcoming ‘Leti’s Treasure’ log flume ride, named after Letizia Zamperla.
With speeds of more than 30 mph across over 1,200 feet of track, the coaster “showcases the rich heritage of Coney Island and honors the first roller coaster ever built in America, the Switchback Railway, with its vehicles design”.
Luna Park said the coaster’s illuminated station house entrance “reestablishes Luna Park as ‘The Electric Eden’, a nickname that was given to the historic park in the early 1900s”.
The Zamperla family owns Luna Park through Central Amusement International (CAI). Antonio and Letizia are the grandparents of CAI president and CEO Alessandro Zamperla.
Leti’s Treasure is a log flume ride featuring 12 flume boats that can seat up to six guests at a time. Riders will be lifted up to 40 feet in the air before dropping at speeds of up to 35mph.
Luna Park is also set to launch the new Sky Chaser Ropes Course as part of its expansion. The development will increase the theme park’s size by 50 percent.
Tony’s Express and Leti’s Treasure
“This is also about activating and reinvigorating this historic amusement district,” former councilmember Mark Treyger said at last year’s groundbreaking ceremony (via Brooklyn Paper).
“I think this is the most magical place in New York and I think I can say this with certainty: We need Coney Island more than ever,” he added.
Zamperla, a leading ride manufacturer, is debuting a new collection of coasters at IAAPA Expo Europe this week.
Antonio Zamperla was the first Italian to be inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Images: Luna Park