Wonder Wheel’s centennial opening postponed due to coronavirus

Coney Island's iconic Wonder Wheel celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it won't be opening for the season to celebrate that milestone on its usual weekend, nor holding its traditional Palm Sunday "blessing of the rides," Brooklyn Eagle reports. Those events were originally scheduled for the weekend of April 4 and 5. "Of course safety and the health of all our employees and family members and of course our customers are the utmost priority," Wonder Wheel co-owner Dennis Vourderis said, speaking to the Brooklyn Eagle. "Common sense dictates that we are going to be closed until the time is appropriate for us to open. When our elected officials advise us that it’s safe to open, then we will open."

Vourderis continued to Brooklyn Eagle, "there’s people sick and there’s people dying, and we all have to do our part. There’s no exception. We will be celebrating when it’s appropriate to be celebrating. Right now is not a time to be having celebratory events."

Meanwhile, F train service was scheduled to be suspended between Church Ave and Coney Island on weekends starting on March 20 and running through the end of the year, a move which would've made it harder for some people to get to Coney Island during its busy spring and summer seasons. That work has now been postponed as well amid the pandemic.

Stay tuned for a new opening date for Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, as well as other summer Coney Island events, including the Mermaid Parade and fireworks.