{"id":177120,"date":"2026-03-27T13:50:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/177120\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T13:50:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:50:47","slug":"the-family-that-keeps-coney-islands-wonder-wheel-turning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/177120\/","title":{"rendered":"The Family That Keeps Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel Turning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brothers Steve and Dennis Vourderis are carrying forward a legacy that began with their father, Deno.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"man\"man <\/p>\n

DJ Vourderis helped run the wheel as the crew worked to bring it back to life this month. Photo by Erica Price<\/p>\n

by Erica Price, Brooklyn Paper<\/p>\n

For Coney Island, the reopening of the Wonder Wheel each spring marks the start of the summer season, and the continuation of a family story nearly a century in the making.<\/p>\n

Brothers Steve and Dennis Vourderis, who own and operate the landmark attraction along with a broader amusement park<\/a> of the same name, are carrying forward a legacy that began with their father, Deno.<\/p>\n

\"wonderDeno Vourderis promised to buy the wheel, pictured in the summer of 2025, for his wife as a \u201cring that would never be lost.\u201d Photo by Susan De Vries<\/p>\n

According to the family\u2019s history, Deno once told his wife, Lula, that he would one day buy the Wonder Wheel for her as a wedding present \u2014 \u201ca ring so big everyone in the world would see how much he loved her, a ring that would never be lost.\u201d He eventually fulfilled that promise, cementing the family\u2019s place in Coney Island history.<\/p>\n

Today, that legacy lives on not only through ownership but through hands-on work. As preparations for summer 2026 got under way, Steve and Dennis were joined by the next generation. Steve\u2019s sons, DJ and Teddy, were on site this week helping bring the ride back to life, reassembling and reconnecting the cars to the ferris wheel after a long winter break.<\/p>\n

\"someoneTwo generations of the Vourderis family helped to assemble the Wonder Wheel ahead of its 2026 opening. Photo by Erica Price
\n\"crewThe Deno\u2019s crew assembles the cars onto the Wonder Wheel in advance of the season opener. Photo by Erica Price<\/p>\n

Exactly one week before the grand reopening<\/a> of the People\u2019s Playground<\/a>, DJ assisted with operating the Wonder Wheel while Teddy handled the forklift used to lift and position its massive cars.<\/p>\n

The sense of continuity extends beyond the family. Some members of the crew are second-generation workers, following in the footsteps of parents who once worked at the park. Among them is Tom, a fabricator who carries on his father\u2019s trade as a welder at Coney Island. Now, Tom welds identifying numbers into the metal bars of each car, ensuring they are installed in the correct order.<\/p>\n

\"movingTeddy Vourderis and crew members moved the cars into place. Photo by Erica Price
\n\"crewMany in the Deno\u2019s crew have ties to the park\u2019s history. Photo by Erica Price<\/p>\n

Nearby, Steve takes on one of the most physical roles in the operation. Known as the hammer-wielding force of the team, he uses a tool nicknamed \u201cthe intimidator\u201d to secure the heavier components into place as the ride is assembled.<\/p>\n

The process requires precision and teamwork. About eight people work together to mount the Wonder Wheel\u2019s 24 cars. Attaching the cars to the wheel itself takes about six hours. Some preparation \u2014 including work on the swinging car components \u2014 was completed the day before. The colorful red and blue swinging cars are installed first, followed by the stationary white ones.<\/p>\n

\"groupIt takes a crew of nine to prepare the famous ride for the summer season. Photo by Erica Price
\n\"wonderIn the off-season, the cars are stored and carefully maintained by the crew. Photo by Erica Price<\/p>\n

The park also features other attractions, including the Thunderbolt, a ride named in homage to the original Thunderbolt roller coaster that once stood at Coney Island. The current Thunderbolt at this location is not a roller coaster, while a separate, modern Thunderbolt coaster operates at neighboring Luna Park.<\/p>\n

Despite the complexity of the work, the crew moves with a practiced rhythm, functioning like a well-oiled machine. Preparation begins in the off season, when painting and maintenance help preserve the nearly century-old structure.<\/p>\n

\"paintPainting and maintenance are critical to preserving the Wonder Wheel. Photo by Erica Price
\n\"aA picture of Lula and Deno, hanging near the wheel. Photo by Erica Price<\/p>\n

For Dennis, the work is about more than a single ride. He takes pride in the park\u2019s broader attractions, especially those that delight younger visitors. This year, he pointed to the freshly repainted Kiddie Fire Engine ride, a favorite among children returning to the boardwalk.<\/p>\n

As the Wonder Wheel nears its spring debut, it stands not only as a landmark attraction but as a symbol of an enduring family tradition, continuing to turn generation after generation high above Coney Island.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here<\/a> to see the original story.<\/p>\n

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