It’s the moment none of us were waiting for: Astroland’s rides have begun to be packed away for what’s almost certainly the last time.

Take a look at Astroland from a passing Q train, and you might not notice anything out of the ordinary: The Astrotower, the pirate ship, and other landmarks are still there as always. Approach the gates, though, and the first signs of demolition are obvious. The teacup ride sits packed up on a flatbed truck just inside the Surf Avenue gate, while the Break Dance has been partly dismantled. The kiddie park on the Boardwalk end of the lot is almost entirely gone, with work crews this morning beginning to pick apart the caterpillar roller coaster, with its iconic grinning apple tunnel…[read more]