Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Parachute Jump

This is a picture of one of the former rides at Coney Island called the Parachute Jump. I don't think it's been used for some time but it still a famous structure from the park. It was originally built for the World's Fair in 1939 in Queens but was later moved to Coney Island. It would be fun to parachute down from there. Have a good day!

5 comments:

W Jay W said...

A great photo that while conveying the impressive size of the structure and its design, also shows the viewer details one does not usually notice. For example, the airy metal decking radiating out from the center to each "jump station." Good eye, Lori!

Blue Wave 707 said...

That's a neat perspective shot!

I know Knott's Berry Farm in CA has a ride similar to that one.

W Jay W said...

Lori, I shared this photo with a freind in Wisconsin, with a comment about what good condition it is in for its age and this was his interesting response: He mentioned a friend in NY who is an engineer for the NYC Parks Dept. and worked on the stabilization of the Jump. who once told him that they sand-blasted the frame, removed all non-essentional cables, hangers, etc. and then repainted it with some kind of super epoxy paint to withstand the corrosion. He said being at the top was a unique and scary experience. Mt friend also reports that his dad and Uncle rode it in the ealry 1960's. "It looked really, really big" to him back then and he noted that the Army still has a few operating at Ft. Benning, Georgia to train paratroopers. He also noticed the cell phone antennas at the edges of the 'chute supports and asked, "Is this the worlds largest cell tower? You CAN hear me now!" LOL!

Babzy.B said...

nice structure but i wouln't jump ;)

Mandy said...

I thought it was an electricty pylon at first.