Cincy's Coney Island hits milestone

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) - It began as an apple orchard, grew into a picnic grove, blossomed into a riverside resort and then became a full-scale amusement park.

Aong the way, it survived devastating floods, the Great Depression, polio scares, a long desegregation battle and competition from bigger theme parks to become a summertime tradition for generations of greater Cincinnatians.

Coney Island, the 75-acre amusement park on the banks of the Ohio River, is marking its 125th anniversary this year -- and its status as the sixth-oldest amusement park in the country.

The biggest celebration of the season is happening all day Saturday, with discounted admission after 4 p.m., $1.25 concession specials, free birthday cake, live music, a memorabilia display and fireworks over Lake Como at 10 p.m.

"There's a long-term love affair with Cincinnati and Coney Island," said Tom Rhein, the park's vice president of food operations and its resident historian. "People really want it to be successful. That's kind of a neat feeling."

Originally called "Ohio Grove, Coney Island of the West" -- a nod to the Coney Island of the East, in New York -- the park was founded on June 21, 1886 by a steamboat captain named William F. McIntyre and his partners. They paid $17,500 for what was then a picnic grove and riverside resort with a dance hall and a few rides and games, to which visitors arrived by steamboat.