Coney Island was a seasonal amusement park and water park destination on the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio, located approximately east of the downtown area adjacent to Riverbend Music Center. One of its signature attractions, the Sunlite Pool, was the largest recirculating pool in North America and one of the largest of its kind in the world. Coney Island first opened as a picnic grove in 1870, and by the turn of the century, the park had added a lineup of popular amusement rides and significantly increased in size.
With frequent flooding a reoccurring issue, along with growing competition, park management ultimately decided that a larger destination was needed away from the river bank. Coney Island was sold to Taft Broadcasting in 1969 for $6.5 million. It was relocated further north to Mason, Ohio, where it reopened as Kings Island in 1972. The old location reopened in 1973 and was renamed Old Coney, featuring only the Sunlite Pool initially. Smaller flat rides and other water park amenities eventually returned, and under new ownership, the park resumed operation as Coney Island in 1985. of land were donated to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) to build Riverbend, an outdoor amphitheater designed to withstand flooding.
A decision was made in 2019 to remove the park's amusement rides, and operation continued as a water park resort only. Coney Island permanently closed after the 2023 season following its sale to Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI), a subsidiary of CSO, which demolished what remained to redevelop the area as a state-of-the-art entertainment venue.
History
In 1867, an apple farmer by the name of James Parker purchased a apple orchard located along the shores of the Ohio River. After renting out the land for a private picnic in 1870, he realized its potential to become a popular gathering place for local residents and named it Parker's Grove. Instead of apple farming, he focused his efforts on building amenities such as a dining hall, dance hall, and bowling alley, and when apple trees died, he replaced them with maple trees for shade.
The Ohio Grove Corporation, a company headed by two steamboat captains, purchased Parker's Grove in 1886 for $17,500. They changed the name to "Ohio Grove, The Coney Island of the West" in an effort to link the park with the famous New York destination, and it was marketed as "Cincinnati's Moral Resort" ahead of its grand opening on June 21, 1886. At a time when trolley parks were beginning to appear throughout the United States, Ohio Grove's riverfront location near the major inland port of Cincinnati helped ensure that the riverboat would become the most popular method of transportation for park guests. The name of the park was shortened to Coney Island after "Ohio Grove" was dropped from the title in 1887.
The Sunlite Pool was added in 1925. It is an outdoor freshwater pool with surface area. It was the largest recirculating pool in North America, and at one time, was the largest in the world.
Over the years, Coney Island became a full-fledged amusement park, complete with rides and carnival games. Notable additions included the first and second Island Queen in 1896 and 1925, respectively, Moonlite Gardens dance pavilion in 1925, the Wildcat and Twister wooden roller coasters in 1926, the Land of Oz children's section in 1934, and the Shooting Star roller coaster (a renovation of the former Clipper roller coaster) in 1947.
Coney Island became a Cincinnati institution. It was desegregated after being sued in 1952 by Marian Spencer. The park's proximity to the river made it prone to frequent flooding. In 1968, park management entered into talks with Taft Broadcasting for the purpose of developing a new park on higher ground. Taft responded by buying Coney Island outright in 1969, and construction began the following year on a new site located in Deerfield Township of Warren County north of Cincinnati along Interstate 71. Coney Island closed its amusements on September 6, 1971, as most of its rides were moved to the newly completed Kings Island theme park.
After Kings Island opened in 1972, Taft Broadcasting intended to sell Coney Island's land for redevelopment. However, with the company's decision to open another theme park in Virginia (Kings Dominion) and its acquisition of Carowinds on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, the property's redevelopment became a low priority. Less than two years after closing, Coney Island reopened permanently in 1973. The park was only a shadow of its former self but still featured several popular attractions. The Sunlite Pool helped Coney Island remain a popular summertime destination.
The park donated of land for the construction of Riverbend Music Center which opened in 1984. The land was the former location of the Wildcat and Shooting Star roller coasters. The Riverbend amphitheater serves as the summer home of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, as well as a concert venue for other musical acts. In 1991, Coney Island was purchased by Cincinnati businessman Ronald Walker. No longer held back by a corporate entity, management was able to restore Coney Island as a traditional amusement park with familiar rides such as the "Tilt-A-Whirl", bumper cars, carnival games and musical shows.
Coney Island announced plans to remove all amusement rides from the park on September 21, 2019, but continued to operate as a water park featuring the Sunlite Pool and other water-related attractions. The decision was based on attendance, consumer feedback, and rising costs associated with maintaining ride operation.
On December 14, 2023, the park announced that it would be sold to Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI), a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with plans to redevelop the property into a multi-use venue with sports, dining, and entertainment. Demolition proceeded in early 2024 despite a failed grassroots effort to save the Sunlite Pool and the surrounding property.
List of attractions Sunlite Water Adventure Attraction Opened DescriptionCannonball Cove2019A separate pool for diving located near Sunlite Pool that features two diving boards and a diving board.Challenge Zone2021Large floating obstacle course featuring more than of obstacles.Cyclone2006A enclosed body slide located near the deep end of Sunlite Pool.Silver Bullet1945A speed slide that sends its riders splashing into the main area of Sunlite Pool.Sunlite Pool1925The nation's largest recirculating pool.The Twister2009Named after the Twister wooden roller coaster that operated at the park from 1926 through 1936, Twister is a four-slide attraction that features two body slides and two inner tube slides.
Family attractions Attraction Opened DescriptionAction Alley2022Giant inflatable jump pad, soccer darts, cornhole, and more.Cincy Mini-GolfMiniature golf course.Storybook Paddle BoatsPaddle boats; located on Lake Como.
Pre-1972
List of former attractions pre-1972 Attraction Manufacturer (Model) Opened Closed DescriptionBatman's Bat Cave(Dark Ride)19661967Re-theme of The Spook. Designed by Arrow Development. Themed to Batman. Replaced with Haunted House.Bluebeard's Castle(Funhouse)1927ClosedFunhouse with stunts including a tilted room with the walls, ceiling, and floor at different angles. Facade included two over-sized heads, with one as the entrance and the other as the exit. Attraction was a partnership between Frank Thomas and George Sinclair.Brain Trust(Funhouse)1930sClosedLocated on the Mall.CalypsoMack Rides (Calypso)19631965Spinning flat ride imported from Germany. Covered with 5,500 red and white lights. Replaced by Cloud 9.CarouselPhiladelphia Toboggan Company (Carousel)19261971Classic carousel with 48 hand-carved wooden horses and two chariots. Originally opened in building that had housed the park's previous carousel before being relocated within the park to a newer building designed by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1932. Carousel #79 from manufacturer. Originally painted with more than 20,000 sheets of 23-karat (96%) gold and 1,000 sheets of sterling silver. A 68-year-old woman fell from the ride in 1947 and died. Completely refurbished in 1969 at a cost of $50,000. Relocated to Kings Island as Carousel, today known as Grand Carousel. Ride's structure remained in place until it was demolished in 1985.Caterpillar(Caterpillar)1924ClosedClassic Caterpillar attraction. Installed by J.J. Schmid with a five year lease.Chase Me(Kiddie Auto)1934ClosedChildren's ride located in the Land of Oz. Included vehicles themed to automobiles, fire engines, and police cars.Circle SwingHarry Traver and Rudyard S. Uzzell (Circle Swing)1900sClosed - 1944 or laterLarge circle swing originally built on a small island in Lake Como. Identified under various names, including Circle Swing, The Rockets, and Flying Tigers. Originally had six wicker basket ride vehicles which were replaced with small wooden airplanes in the 1920s. Relocated within park in 1926. Airplanes replaced with rockets (built in-house) for 1938 season. Rockets repainted to resemble Flying Tigers airplanes for 1942 season.ClipperPhiladelphia Toboggan Company(Wooden Coaster)19371946A twisted wooden roller coaster designed by Herbert Schmeck. Skyrocket's machinery was saved for use on this ride. Featured an art deco-style loading station. Nicknamed Greased Lightning. Segments of the ride, including its loading station, lift, and final spiral helix, were retained for the construction of Shooting Star.Cloud 9Chance Rides (Trabant)1966ClosedTrabant attraction that replaced Calypso.Coney Island and Lake Como RailroadChance Rides (Miniature Railway)19641971Miniature railway over Lake Como on a trestle and into the adjoining woods. Included settler and Native American figurines created by Special Effects Company of Morrison, Colorado. Victorian-style station designed by University of Cincinnati graduate Darrel Daniels. Engines named after Mad Anthony Wayne (#34) and George Rogers Clark (#35). Trains were stored overnight in the ride's two tunnels. $10,000 of new effects added for 1966 season, including a grizzly bear, a fort, and additional Native American figurines. After ride closed, #34 was relocated to World of Golf in Florence, Kentucky and later Oil Ranch in Hockley, Texas. #35 eventually found its way to Guntown Mountain Railroad near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky before being put in storage at Beech Bend Park.Crazy OrbitHrubetz (Round-Up)1960ClosedA spinning flat ride that tilted riders upward.Cuddle UpPhiladelphia Toboggan Company (Cuddle Up)19301971A spinning flat ride. Relocated to Kings Island.Devil's DipsT.M. Harton Company (Wooden Coaster)1913ClosedOpening delayed until June 22, 1913, due to large flood. Twisted, figure-eight style roller coaster.Devil's Kitchen(Funhouse)1927ClosedFunhouse. Replaced Noah's Ark but retained the rocking structure design. Visitors entered through Satan's mouth.Dip the Dips (1)T.M. Harton Company (Wooden Coaster)19111918Roller coaster built by T.M. Harton. Operated by the Coney Island Dips Co.Dip the Dips (2)T.M. Harton Company