Recent images and videos circulating on social media unveil the complete disarray of Isla del Coco, once known as Coney Island, in the Miramar neighborhood of Havana. This once-bustling amusement park now stands in decay with rusted attractions, scattered debris, overgrown vegetation, and locked gates.
Journalist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez shared a reel on Facebook titled "Coney Island, Miramar, Havana. 2026, Year of Destruction's Victory," which sparked a flood of shocked and saddened responses from Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The visuals reveal a closed entrance marked by the Isla del Coco sign, a weathered astronaut statue with peeling paint, mechanical parts strewn amidst rubble, a vehicle with shattered windows, and wild vegetation overtaking the spaces where rides once thrilled visitors.
The Heartbreaking Public Response
The online community's reactions combine outrage, nostalgia, and despair. One user starkly commented, "Cuba is like Chernobyl without the radioactive explosion." Another compared it to Pripyat, the deserted Ukrainian city abandoned after the 1986 nuclear disaster.
Amidst the comments, one person reflected on the emotional toll: "The decay is overwhelming. If only we could create a video capturing the deterioration of our souls, it would be a sorrowful sight."
A recent visitor to the site shared their disheartened perspective: "What I saw left me emptier than before. Imagine, Cuba is already in ruins, but to remove the smiles from our children... that's deeply painful."
Voices of Opposition
Criticism extended beyond the visual decay, as some rejected official excuses: "This isn't due to the embargo. It's self-sabotage, internal destruction, a lack of empathy, neglect, and greed."
A Cuban woman who experienced the park during its heyday expressed her disappointment: "I remember when it was the real Coney Island, complete with a roller coaster and rides for all ages. It still had charm in 1974, but when they turned it into Isla del Coco, its days were numbered."
A Storied Past, A Troubled Present
Opened on December 5, 1918, as Coney Island Park, it was modeled after the famous amusement park in Brooklyn, New York, and for decades, it was one of Latin America's premier entertainment centers.
After the 1959 revolution, Fidel Castro's regime nationalized and dismantled the park in the late 1960s, relocating its attractions to Lenin Park, which opened in 1974.
In 2004, a Cuban-Chinese agreement aimed to revive the space, leading to its reopening in 2008 as Isla del Coco with 20 Chinese-manufactured rides. A significant overhaul in 2017 allowed operations until 10:00 pm, but promises of a recovery project by 2025 never materialized, leaving the park to further deteriorate by July 2025.
A Broader Pattern of Neglect
This isn't an isolated case. The Rio Cristal Complex, reintroduced in 2017 with a 6.8 million peso investment, now lies abandoned. Similarly, the Ciudad Escolar Libertad features neglected pools and broken benches, while the Lincoln Hotel, reopened less than two years ago, is already shuttered and windowless.
Understanding the Decline of Cuba's Amusement Parks
What caused the decline of Isla del Coco?
The decline of Isla del Coco is attributed to neglect, lack of maintenance, and unfulfilled promises of renovation. Despite a planned recovery project, no substantial rehabilitation work took place.
How did social media react to the park's condition?
Social media reactions were filled with shock, sadness, and anger. Many users expressed a sense of nostalgia and despair, drawing comparisons to other sites of devastation like Chernobyl.
What was Isla del Coco before its decline?
Originally opened in 1918 as Coney Island Park, it was a major amusement center in Latin America, inspired by Brooklyn's Coney Island. It was nationalized and renamed Isla del Coco in later years.