BY TODD MAISEL
Coney Island’s iconic Wonder
Wheel turned 100 years
young this summer — and attraction
owner Dennis Vourderis
had a big celebration
planned for the Coney Island
landmark.
But, when the COVID-19
pandemic hit New York City,
leading to all kinds of shutdowns
of social activities,
Vourderis had to put his plans
on hold. Nearly two weeks removed
from the Fourth of July
and still not a soul has taken a
spin on the Wonder Wheel this
summer — or, for that matter,
on any of the other attractions
at Deno’s Wonder Wheel
Amusement Park.
The giant ferris wheel’s
caged cars are open air, without
any windows, and spaced 15
feet apart from one another —
and Vourderis maintains that
staff members are ready to sanitize
each car after every ride.
Yet the amusement park,
and others in the city, have not
yet been allowed to reopen. New
York City is in Phase Three
of reopening, and amusement
parks — which generally bring
about large crowds — are a part
of plans for Phase Four, should
conditions stay the same.
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In the meantime, Vourderis
— whose family has owned the
ferris wheel since 1983 — keeps
hoping to hear good news from
a cautious governor and mayor
who have kept to strict phases
as to not make the same mistakes
as other states now suffering
from coronavirus outbreaks.
The Coney Island businessman
said he worries about a
real estate tax bill sitting on
his desk, as well as his rent
owed to the Economic Development
Corporation. He also
has a mortgage on an adjoining
property his family bought to
expand their amusement park.
With the bills piling up and
only two concessions stands
open to the public, business is
just 15 percent of that during a
normal Coney Island summer,
Vourderis said.
“Give me a reason why they
are keeping us closed. Why
punish us for what Florida, Arizona
and Texas have done?”
Vourderis groused. “We are in
the safety business, and we will
make sure all our staff and visitors
are safe. Look at the Boardwalk
and the beach, very few
people are social distancing
and wearing masks – nobody is
following the guidelines.”
Although Vourderis has
been presented with a plan to
reopen safely when the time is
right, he and his fellow amusement
park owners are worried
— Rye Playland has already
cancelled its summer season
and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has
cancelled the annual New York
State Fair in Syracuse.
“I’ve had many sleepless
nights thinking about what
the hell, how will I pay real estate
taxes that were due July 1,”
Vourderis said. “I have to pay
them. I have to pay a mortgage
and real estate taxes — those
bills must be paid.”
At a press conference July 6,
Mayor Bill de Blasio promised
to examine whether outdoor
amusements like those in Coney
Island can resume safely.
“The state rules have been
very smart as we open in
phases to avoid things that
have too much closeness,”
the mayor said. “Amusement
parks are in that category –
the Wonder Wheel may be different
and that’s a fair point. I
love Coney Island and I want
people there and we want to
continue to keep Coney Island
alive. We will pursue
this with the state — maybe
we will fi nd an appropriate
balance.”
Vourderis insists his park
will hold a high standard of
safety when it reopens. Ticket
takers will stay behind plexiglass
and each ride will receive
a thorough wipe down
between customers.
“We will insist on social
distance, use hand sanitizer,
clean our rides and we will
control entry to the park by
selling tickets before people
enter and control the number
of people,” Vourderis said.
“We are safer than being on
the beach and boardwalk.”
And it’s not just about business,
according to Vourderis.
A bit of summer normalcy, he
believes, will be good for the
city’s state of mind.
“Don’t you think the mental
health of kids cooped up is
essential?,” he said.
Spinning his wheels
Wonder Wheel operator wants to reopen soon
Wonder Wheel owner Dennis Vouderis says they can open safely under
health guidelines. Photo by Todd Maisel
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