Corporate Family

Ten years ago, the Zamperla family –  who have been involved in the amusement industry for five generations with their roots in circus, carnival rides, and ride manufacturing – developed Luna Park in Coney Island, through their company, Central Amusement International Inc (CAI). CAI is a locally-based small family-business with unparalleled expertise in the amusement industry.

CAI, is an amusement park planner, developer, and operator whose management team has more than 150 years of combined amusement industry experience. CAI was founded in 2002 with the goal of establishing a seasonal amusement park in New York City’s Central Park.  That vision came to fruition in the summer of 2003, when CAI opened the gates of its first amusement park, Victorian Gardens at Wollman Rink in Central Park. Seven successful years later, CAI opened Luna Park in Coney Island, a brand new amusement destination that helped America’s Playground see its most successful summer in decades.

Alessandro Zamperla, President and CEO of Central Amusement International Inc. (CAI) :

As the grandson and son of ride manufacturers and IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees Antonio Zamperla (2005) and Alberto Zamperla (2019), Alessandro spent his entire life embedded in the attractions industry and has more than a decade of experience with CAI. During his tenure, he has overseen local and global development of amusement parks, all designed, built, and operated with a community centered approach. He currently serves on the board of the Alliance for Coney Island, the non-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger Coney Island business and residential community. Alessandro graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science from Columbia University in the City of New York. He lives in New York City with his wife Tracee and their three children.

The Rebirth of Luna Park

In an effort to revitalize historic Coney Island to its once glorious past, the City of New York, under the leadership of the Bloomberg administration, purchased 6.2 acres of land in November 2009 and quickly put out a request for proposals, welcoming bidders to submit their proposal for a state-of-the-art facility that would be completed by spring of 2010.

CAI was awarded a 10-year lease for 3 parcels of land, which encompassed the 6.2 acres of land the City had previously purchased from a private developer. On February 16, 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and CAI held a joint press conference to unveil plans for Luna Park in Coney Island, a new amusement park coming to Coney Island that very spring.

The season opening of Luna Park in Coney Island in 2013 was a memorable moment as the park opened on time despite Hurricane Sandy the previous autumn. Newly formed CAI Foods was in full effect with several food kiosks, cafes, and a new boardwalk restaurant. On the ride side, CAI introduced the world premiere of Water Mania, a new Zamperla ride. Track work continued on the Coney Island Cyclone but the area of focus that season was Steeplechase Plaza. Located within the plaza is the Parachute Jump. A now defunct ride, the Parachute Jump regained some of its former glory that season when CAI covered it in 8,000 LED lights.

In 2014, we introduced another two rides – Luna 360 and the Thunderbolt roller coaster. Luna Park in Coney Island has championed these two new additions to the park to continue the upside down fun, the spinning in circles fun, and the g-force moving fun.

In 2016, Luna Park in Coney Island recreated a new classic, Endeavor which gives riders the sensation of flying sixty feel through the air! Coaster to coaster, from the 93 year-old wooden Coney Island Cyclone to the new steel Thunderbolt; there’s something for everyone at Luna Park in Coney Island.

What’s next? You tell us! It’s New York City’s most iconic destination for fun and we’re listening.

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