52 years ago, Donald Trump’s father demolished Coney Island’s beloved Steeplechase Park (Not Politcal)

[billymach4]

Full disclosure and disclaimer. No political issues here!

52 years ago, Donald Trump's father demolished Coney Island's beloved Steeplechase Park | 6sqft

Steeplechase Park was the longest lasting of Coney Island's original amusement parks, but it was Fred Trump, father to Donald, who eventually demolished it.

www.6sqft.com

 

[SNA27]

If he demolished it, it must have needed demolishing, I would think! Creative destruction is the norm of this universe!

 

[DrQ]

 

[DrQ]

Duplicate

 

[WVBaker]

Full disclosure and disclaimer. No political issues here!

52 years ago, Donald Trump's father demolished Coney Island's beloved Steeplechase Park | 6sqft

Steeplechase Park was the longest lasting of Coney Island's original amusement parks, but it was Fred Trump, father to Donald, who eventually demolished it.

www.6sqft.com

Full disclosure and disclaimer. No political issues here?

Nice try however, I for one, am not buying it.

I'm sure there's no need to direct you to this portion of your noted article.


"But ultimately, it was Fred Trump, Donald’s father, who sealed Steeplechase’s fate, going so far as to throw a demolition party when he razed the site in 1966 before it could receive landmark status."


Portraying him as quite the scoundrel wouldn't you say Billymach4? Perhaps you overlooked that part though. I doubt it however.


"But by this time, George Tilyou’s children were getting older and concerned about the park’s future. His daughter Marie was the majority stockholder, and without the blessing of her siblings, sold all the family’s Coney Island property to none other than Fred Trump (that’s right, Donald‘s father) in February 1965."

"It was designated an official landmark in 1977 and serves as a symbol not only of Coney Island’s history as an amusement capital but of a reminder that controversy and public antics from the Trumps go back much further than Donald’s presidency."


"No political issues here!" Oh wait, you misspoke didn't you. Point being, let's get back to, Steeplechase Park shall we?


"The Pavilion of Fun played a significant role in helping to make Steeplechase Park the longest surviving of Coney Island's great amusement parks. The Pavilion of Fun survived to the day that Steeplechase finally closed its doors in 1964. George Tilyou's timeless recipe for making people laugh continued to draw crowds even then. It was only when crime in New York City and its subways made it difficult for people to get to the park that the Tilyou family made the difficult decision to close. Subsequently, Fred Trump purchased the site and tore down Steeplechase in an unsuccessful attempt to develop condos on the site.""

Coney Island History | Steeplechase Park

The incredible history of Steeplechase Park at Coney Island and its founder, George Tilyou. Rare photographs and memorabilia, ride tickets and comprehensive historical analysis based on primary sources.

www.heartofconeyisland.com

You have your agenda, which I appreciate. Shall we continue this dance as long as permitted?

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

..."But by this time, George Tilyou’s children were getting older and concerned about the park’s future. His daughter Marie was the majority stockholder, and without the blessing of her siblings, sold all the family’s Coney Island property ...... "The Pavilion of Fun played a significant role in helping to make Steeplechase Park the longest surviving of Coney Island's great amusement parks. The Pavilion of Fun survived to the day that Steeplechase finally closed its doors in 1964. George Tilyou's timeless recipe for making people laugh continued to draw crowds even then. It was only when crime in New York City and its subways made it difficult for people to get to the park that the Tilyou family made the difficult decision to close. Subsequently, Fred Trump purchased the site and tore down Steeplechase in an unsuccessful attempt to develop condos on the site.""

Coney Island History | Steeplechase Park

The incredible history of Steeplechase Park at Coney Island and its founder, George Tilyou. Rare photographs and memorabilia, ride tickets and comprehensive historical analysis based on primary sources.

www.heartofconeyisland.com

Interesting -

FYI - there is a pretty decent & active historic wooden roller coaster in the greater NY area - called the Dragon Coaster .(built -1929)

It is located in Playland in Rye NY . Playland is a theme park owned by Westchester County . Playland fronts on Long Island Sound and has a boardwalk and beach area as well as rides

There is also a hockey rink where the NY Rangers practised back when Emile Francis was coach .It is still in use for local HS & College games ; as well as public skating etc.

 

[Brett]

I remember the closing of Glen Echo Amusement Park near Washington DC
(no scoundrels involved, .... or at least not many scoundrels)

 

[Panina]

I actually was brought up in the area, in the large Trump Village complex that was built in the early sixties, just a few blocks away. My guess is he wanted to build another community and it had resistance . I still frequent the area to visit family and it is thriving.

This article was interesting to me as I did not know this history.

 

["Roger"]

Interesting article. I was to Coney Island once when I was a kid, but by the time I was in high school, as the article indicates, it had gained the reputation of becoming really seedy. It was time for it to go.

 

[Talent312]

In the mid 1950's, Pennsylvania RR (Penn Central) "modernized" (ruined) Penn Station in NYC.
It's demolition and conversion to Madison Square Garden (1963-68) was merely icing on the cake.
-- Source: New York Times, 12/30/15

The urge to make profits from public spaces leaves very few in real estate with clean hands.
.

 

[Patri]

There is a time for old things to go. Not everything can be preserved, as there is always a limit to funding. Interests change. Maybe Mr. Trump us did a favor.