1971 was the final season for old Coney Island (Ohio). With plans to open the new park in 1972, Coney management put on a major marketing push for people to come enjoy the old place one last time. It worked—over 2.75 million guests pushed through the ticket gates that year. Certainly there had to be second thoughts and lots of butterflies…I mean really, with
Coney Island (Ohio…not the more famous place in New York) was in trouble. Not financial trouble—the park was tremendously successful. But sitting adjacent to the Ohio River has its drawbacks, the biggest being periodically submerged and covered in mud. Though the park had always recovered and was rebuilt each time, the writing was on the wall. Things were changing in the park business
