CINCINNATI — Coney Island will close at the end of the year, and the announcement has set off a chain reaction of varying emotions from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati families. 

Northern Kentucky resident Theresa Cahill was in shock when she heard Coney Island was closing at the end of 2023, she said. 

“I kind of felt sad," she said. "I mean, I've had a lot of experience with this park through the years.” 

Growing up, Cahill and her family spent many of their summer days at the park, she said. It only made sense to host one of the most special events of her life there.

“I decided I wanted to plan my wedding here," Cahill recalled. 

It was June 28, 2008, when Theresa said "I do" to her husband, Thomas Cahill, in the park's Moonlite Gardens. 

“They opened up the carousel for us at night," Cahill said, "and our wedding party got to take pictures on the carousel, which is, I mean, really neat."

The open-air dance hall, Moonlight Gardens, was built in 1925. Over the decades, it received numerous renovations and became a popular location to host special events, including weddings. Cahill said she's glad she has photos to keep the memory alive. 

“It was nostalgic; it's definitely … wedding photos that I'll get to keep and treasure the memories, especially now with Coney closing," she said. 

No matter what, she'll never forget Coney Island. 

"I'm happy with the memories that I have left from Coney Island," Cahill said. 

The park is set to close Dec. 31 following the ending of Coney Island's "Nights of Lights" holiday event. The park was sold to Cincinnati's Music & Event Management.

The new owner has plans to transform the site into a $118 million music venue and entertainment campus. Music & Event Management owns several concert venues around Cincinnati, including Riverbend Music Center and PNC Pavilion.