Dreamland

Coney Island.

Dreamland was one of the earliest and grandest amusement parks in the world before it burned down on May 27, 1911. The Dreamland Pier, at W. 5th St. and Surf Avenue, was an elaborate creation that served as an extension of the decadent park. When the 1911 fire broke out, the pier collapsed and sunk into the water without a trace. In 1988, Bensonhurst resident and professional diver Gene Ritter discovered the pier in a single solo dive.