NEW YORK – The city has acquired Astroland’s famed Rocket Ship ride, the Albert family and city and local officials announced Wednesday.

The rocket was donated to the city by Carol Hill Albert and Jerry Albert, whose family owned and operated the Astroland Amusement Park from 1962 until its closing in 2008.

The 71-foot-long, 14,000-pound Rocket was removed from its perch atop Gregory and Paul’s boardwalk stand in anticipation of its move to Homeport in Staten Island, a city-owned facility operated by the city’s Economic Development Corp. The rocket will become a permanent and iconic part of the 27 acre redeveloped amusement district in Coney Island.

“Coney Island is the people’s playground, and the Astroland Rocket is its symbol of the adventure, discovery and fun that have brought New Yorkers here for years,� said Deputy Mayor Robert C. Lieber.

“The rocket will now join the Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel and the Parachute Jump as permanent symbols of Coney Island as it once was and the Coney Island that it will become again.�

“The Astroland Rocket symbolizes the spirit of adventure and exuberance that Coney Island represents to us all,� said City Planning Commissioner Amanda M. Burden. “The city's plan for the redevelopment of Coney Island will keep that spirit but also ensure that it is as much fun in January as it is in July.�

“This one-of-a-kind rocket simulator was the very first ride to arrive at Astroland Park when it was founded by my late father in- law Dewey Albert in 1962,� said Carol Hill Albert. “My husband Jerome and myself are donating this in his honor and on behalf the Coney Island History Project.

“It is especially fitting that this rocket -- which was the first to arrive -- will be the last item to leave Astroland Park. On the sad occasion of closing Astroland, which has been Coney Island's largest amusement park for 47 years, my husband Jerome and I are heartened to know that the city will be displaying the rocket in a prominent location as part of the new Coney Island where it can continue to educate and entertain.�

The Rocket was the first ride debuted at Astroland Park when it opened in 1962 and one of the first space voyage simulators created during the Space Race. Originally built as the “Star Flyer,� it was renamed the Astroland Rocket in 1963 and continued to operate through the 1970’s. The ride had 26 seats and lifted on hydraulics to simulate launching into space.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2009 All materials posted on BrooklynEagle.com are protected by United States copyright law. Just a reminder, though -- It’s not considered polite to paste the entire story on your blog. Most blogs post a summary or the first paragraph,( 40 words) then post a link to the rest of the story. That helps increase click-throughs for everyone, and minimizes copyright issues. So please keep posting, but not the entire article. arturc at att.net