Brooklyn · Kings County
Coney Island Parachute Jump
NYC Parks
- Location
- Riegelmann Boardwalk at West 16th Street, Coney Island
- Size
- Part of Coney Island beach area acres
- Hours
- Always visible (exterior landmark)
- Type
- NYC Parks
The Parachute Jump is a 250-foot steel tower on the Coney Island boardwalk, a designated New York City landmark that has become the defining symbol of Coney Island's amusement park heritage since it was built for the 1939 World's Fair.
The ride originally operated at the 1939 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows before being relocated to Coney Island's Steeplechase Park in 1941. Riders were lifted to the top and released to float down on parachute-like canopies attached to guide wires.
The Parachute Jump ceased operation in 1964 when Steeplechase Park closed, and has stood as a non-functioning landmark ever since. The city restored and illuminated the tower with LED lights in 2006, making it a beacon visible for miles along the Brooklyn coastline.
Coney Island's amusement park heritage stretches back to the 1880s, when the area became the first major amusement destination in the United States. Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park drew millions of visitors and invented the modern concept of the amusement park.
The Parachute Jump stands as the cathedral of Coney Island's amusement heritage, a soaring steel spire that honors the millions who came to this beach to ride, scream, laugh, and escape the city for a few hours of seaside pleasure.