Cannon Coaster

The Cannon Coaster was a wooden roller coaster in Coney Island, Brooklyn, with a distinctive cannon-tunnel feature at the start of its route. After riders passed through the tunnel-like section, they traversed a wooden track system with multiple turns and drops.

George Francis Meyer built the ride in the early 1900s, when Coney Island became the leading amusement destination on the East Coast. The coaster was part of a wave of new roller coasters that appeared in the area between 1901 and 1907.

The name referenced cannons firing, with riders pushed through a tunnel-like structure at this seaside Brooklyn attraction. The ride appealed to crowds seeking novel amusement experiences in the early 1900s entertainment district.

The coaster was located on Bowery Street in Coney Island, making it easy to find among other attractions in the area. Visitors should know the ride closed by 1907 and no longer exists today.

The ride was originally designed with a gap jump, where cars would leap over a break in the track. After testing with sandbags revealed safety concerns, this dangerous feature was removed while keeping the cannon theme.

GPS coordinates: 40.57500,-73.98000

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:07