New York ( CNN ) -- Brooklyn gave roller coaster fans something to scream about Saturday . This weekend marks the 85th anniversary of New York 's most esteemed roller coaster , the Cyclone . Nostalgic local residents and excited tourists gathered Saturday at Luna Park in Coney Island to help celebrate the anniversary of the treasured landmark . The Cyclone , which debuted on June 26 , 1927 , helped revolutionize entertainment in amusement parks across the United States . The roller coaster , made mostly of wood , has an 85-foot drop to start and is followed by several drops and turns . Luna Park honored the ride 's original fare of 25 cents for the first 85 minutes Saturday . The 2012 price to ride is $ 8 . Players from the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team were on hand around the park for a `` meet and greet '' with fans . The day 's festivities , many of them free , were to be followed by a fireworks display over the Coney Island beach . `` This ride has really stood the test of time '' said Johanna Zaki , marketing manager for Central Amusement International . `` It 's been around for so many years that families get to share their experiences from generation to generation , '' she said . Zaki said visitors lined up three hours before the park opened Saturday . The Cyclone was declared a New York City landmark in 1988 . Three years later , it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places . This summer , Disney goes big in California . America 's cleanest ( and dirtiest ! ) beaches . Did you ride the Cyclone as a kid ? Tell us about it and all of your favorite summer memories in the comments .
Cyclone roller coaster debuted in June 1927 . Coney Island fixture , with one drop . Riders on Saturday paid the original 25-cent fare .