Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA family-owned amusement park on Coney Island centered on the landmark Wonder Wheel.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City. Located beside the Riegelmann Boardwalk and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the park is organized around the Wonder Wheel, a 150-foot eccentric Ferris wheel that opened in 1920. The wheel predates the park itself and is the attraction from which the park takes its name. The Wonder Wheel was designed by Charles Hermann and built between 1918 and 1920 by Herman Garms's Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. Before the Parachute Jump was built, it was the tallest attraction on Coney Island. Garms operated the wheel as a stand-alone attraction and later added Spook-a-Rama, an indoor dark ride, in 1955. The wheel became a New York City designated landmark in 1989, giving it an important civic and architectural status in addition to its role as a commercial ride. The Vourderis family's connection to the site began with Denos Vourderis's Anchor Bar & Grill near the Wonder Wheel and a concession stand he opened in the neighboring Ward's Kiddie Park in 1970. Vourderis purchased Ward's Kiddie Park from John Curran in 1976, establishing the foundation of the present amusement park. In 1983, he acquired the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama from Fred Garms and Walter Kerner Sr. These acquisitions brought the principal historic attractions and the surrounding family-oriented ride operation under common ownership. The park has traditionally emphasized children's and family attractions rather than large-scale thrill rides. Its published attraction mix includes six adult rides, 16 kiddie rides, and approximately a dozen family rides that can be enjoyed by adults and children together. This positioning allows the park to serve multigenerational visitors while preserving the visual identity and historic character of Coney Island. After Denos Vourderis died in 1994, his sons Dennis and Steve continued operating the park. Their stewardship has combined preservation of the Wonder Wheel and other established attractions with selective expansion. In January 2020, the family announced plans for a substantial expansion tied to the Wonder Wheel's centennial. The plan involved taking over part of an amusement area on West 12th Street that had been closed since 2017. The family reportedly paid $6 million for the land and committed a further $5.5 million for an unnamed ride. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the park from opening for the 2020 season and delayed the expansion. The expansion began to come into service in 2021. Phoenix, a Vekoma suspended family coaster, soft-opened on June 26 and received its full opening on July 1. Sky Flyer, a micro coaster from SBF Visa Group purchased at the 2019 IAAPA Expo, was also operating in 2021. These additions broadened the park's offering while remaining consistent with its family-oriented operating model. Today, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park combines a historic landmark attraction, traditional Coney Island amusements, children's rides, family rides, and newer coaster installations. Its identity rests on the relationship between the Wonder Wheel, the Coney Island waterfront setting, and continuous family operation by the Vourderis family.
History
The Wonder Wheel was completed in 1920, before the amusement park that now bears its name. Designed by Charles Hermann and built by Herman Garms's Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company between 1918 and 1920, the 150-foot wheel became one of Coney Island's defining attractions. It was initially operated independently by Garms and was temporarily the tallest attraction on Coney Island before the taller Parachute Jump was constructed. Garms later expanded the attraction area by building Spook-a-Rama, an indoor dark ride, in 1955. The Vourderis family's involvement began nearby. Denos Vourderis operated the Anchor Bar & Grill and opened a concession stand in Ward's Kiddie Park in 1970. Ward's Kiddie Park occupied an adjacent area developed in 1950 and was owned by John Curran. Vourderis bought the kiddie park in 1976, creating the operating base from which Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park developed. In 1983, he purchased the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama from Fred Garms and Walter Kerner Sr., bringing the principal historic attractions into the family's ownership. The resulting park retained a strong emphasis on children and families. Its attraction inventory has been described as including six adult rides, 16 kiddie rides, and about a dozen family rides suitable for parents and children together. The Wonder Wheel remained the visual and commercial centerpiece, while Spook-a-Rama and other rides added variety to the waterfront park. The Wonder Wheel received formal recognition from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1989, when it was designated a New York City landmark. This designation reinforced the park's role as both an amusement business and a custodian of a significant Coney Island structure. Following Denos Vourderis's death in 1994, his sons Dennis and Steve took over operation. Under their management, the park continued its family-owned model and later pursued expansion. In January 2020, the Vourderis family announced plans connected with the Wonder Wheel's hundredth anniversary. The proposal called for taking over part of the abandoned West 12th Street amusement area, closed since 2017. The family paid $6 million for the land and allocated another $5.5 million for an unnamed ride, according to the referenced account. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the plan. New York City's pandemic conditions meant that the park did not open for the 2020 season, and the expansion was postponed. The project resumed in 2021, when Phoenix, a Vekoma suspended family coaster, soft-opened on June 26 before its full opening on July 1. Sky Flyer, a micro coaster manufactured by SBF Visa Group and purchased at the 2019 IAAPA Expo, was also operating during the 2021 season. Deno's therefore represents a layered form of Coney Island continuity: a family business established around an existing historic ride, a collection of traditional children's and family attractions, and gradual investment in newer rides. The park's identity remains closely tied to the Wonder Wheel's landmark status, the Atlantic waterfront, and its location beside the Riegelmann Boardwalk.
- 2021
Phoenix opens
[1]The Vekoma suspended family coaster Phoenix soft-opens on June 26 and fully opens on July 1.
- 2020
Centennial expansion announced and delayed
[1]The family announces an expansion tied to the Wonder Wheel's centennial, but the park's 2020 closure during the COVID-19 pandemic delays the project.
- 2019
Sky Flyer is purchased
[1]Deno's purchases the SBF Visa Group micro coaster later operated as Sky Flyer at the 2019 IAAPA Expo.
- 1994
Dennis and Steve Vourderis assume operations
[1]After Denos Vourderis's death, his sons Dennis and Steve continue operating the family amusement park.
- 1989
Wonder Wheel receives landmark designation
[1]The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designates the Wonder Wheel a New York City landmark.
- 1983
Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama acquired
[1]Vourderis acquires the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama from Fred Garms and Walter Kerner Sr.
- 1976
Vourderis acquires Ward's Kiddie Park
[1]Denos Vourderis purchases the neighboring kiddie park from John Curran.
- 1970
Vourderis opens a Ward's Kiddie Park concession
[1]Denos Vourderis begins his direct involvement with the neighboring kiddie amusement operation by opening a concession stand there.
- 1955
Spook-a-Rama is built
[1]Herman Garms adds the Spook-a-Rama indoor dark ride near the Wonder Wheel.
- 1920
Wonder Wheel opens
[1]The 150-foot eccentric Wonder Wheel begins operation on Coney Island after being designed by Charles Hermann and built by Herman Garms's Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company.
Products and positioning
A family-oriented Coney Island amusement park that combines a landmark historic wheel with children's rides, family attractions, and selected modern coaster experiences.
Historic amusement ride · 1920
Wonder Wheel
The park's signature attraction is a 150-foot eccentric Ferris wheel completed in 1920. Its design includes moving and stationary passenger cars, and its prominent position beside the Coney Island boardwalk makes it both a working amusement ride and a landmark visual symbol. The wheel was designated a New York City landmark in 1989.
Dark ride · 1955
Spook-a-Rama
Spook-a-Rama is an indoor dark ride built by Herman Garms in 1955 near the Wonder Wheel. It became part of the Vourderis family's holdings when Denos Vourderis acquired it together with the Wonder Wheel in 1983. The attraction represents the park's connection to Coney Island's older traditional amusement repertoire.
Suspended family coaster · 2021
Phoenix
Phoenix is a Vekoma suspended family coaster added during the park's delayed expansion. It soft-opened in June 2021 and received its full opening on July 1, providing a newer ride experience while maintaining the park's emphasis on attractions suitable for family audiences.
Micro coaster · 2021
Sky Flyer
Sky Flyer is a micro coaster from SBF Visa Group. Deno's purchased the ride at the 2019 IAAPA Expo, and it was operating at the park in 2021 as part of the expanded attraction offering.
Amusement rides
Kiddie and family ride collection
Beyond its named attractions, the park operates a broad collection of children's and family rides. The referenced park description identifies six adult rides, 16 kiddie rides, and roughly a dozen family rides that adults and children can experience together. The mix supports the park's multigenerational, family-oriented positioning.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch of Phoenix and operation of Sky FlyerProduct launchBackground
After the pandemic delayed the planned 2020 expansion, the park resumed the project with new coaster attractions.
Action taken
Deno's introduced Phoenix, a Vekoma suspended family coaster, and operated Sky Flyer, an SBF Visa Group micro coaster acquired in 2019.
Aftermath
The new rides expanded the park's offering beyond its historic wheel, dark ride, and established children's attractions.
2020
Expansion for the Wonder Wheel centennialStrategyBackground
The park planned to mark the Wonder Wheel's hundredth anniversary by expanding into part of the abandoned West 12th Street amusement area, which had been closed since 2017.
Action taken
The Vourderis family acquired the land for $6 million and planned an additional $5.5 million investment in an unnamed ride.
Aftermath
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the park from opening in 2020 and postponed the expansion. The project began operating attractions in 2021.
Reported expansion land and ride investment. $6 million for land and $5.5 million for an unnamed ride (Announced January 2020)
1983
Acquisition of the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-RamaM&ABackground
The Vourderis family already operated the adjacent kiddie amusement business and sought control of the neighboring historic attractions.
Action taken
Denos Vourderis acquired the Wonder Wheel and Spook-a-Rama from Fred Garms and Walter Kerner Sr.
Aftermath
The acquisitions established the core attraction portfolio of the family-operated park.
Sources3 sources
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