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End of Astroland

Coney Island amusement park shuttered

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• Sept. 7, 2008: Visitors to Astroland Park enjoy a ride at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y. The owner of Coney Island's landmark Astroland amusement park is calling it quits. Carol Albert says she has told employees the park permanently closed on Sept. 7. Albert's family has owned the Brooklyn amusement park for almost a half-century and says she is giving up on negotiating a two-year lease with Thor Equities, the developer that owns the seaside property. Thor spokesman Stefan Friedman said the firm was 'extremely disappointed' that Albert had 'decided to give up on the future of Coney Island' although her current lease was valid for several more months.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Patrons mill around outside of the closed Astroland Park gates at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y. The owner of the famed amusement park said it would not reopen next year.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Astroland Tower is the last ride lit after Astroland Park closed for its final time at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Astroland Park owner Carol Hill Albert, center, walks through her park with staff and friends, shutting the power on the rides one at a time at Astroland Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sept. 7, 2008: A sign comments on the development in Coney Island in a booth near Astroland Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sept. 7, 2008: The entrance to Astroland Park is seen from the boardwalk at night at Coney Island.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Carmen Castillo, who has worked at Astroland for 14 years, tears up after giving her last ride on the swings at Astroland Park at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sept. 7, 2008: A family poses in front of Astroland Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. The owner of Coney Island's landmark Astroland amusement park is calling it quits. Carol Albert says she has told employees the park permanently closed on Sept. 7. Albert's family has owned the Brooklyn amusement park for almost a half-century and says she is giving up on negotiating a two-year lease with Thor Equities, the developer that owns the seaside property. Thor spokesman Stefan Friedman said the firm was 'extremely disappointed' that Albert had 'decided to give up on the future of Coney Island' although her current lease was valid for several more months.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Visitors to Astroland Park enjoy a scary ride at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Sept. 7, 2008: Crowds pack into Astroland Park at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.