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Love stories come in all shapes and sizes, but few can rival the grand romantic gesture of Denos Vourderis, a hardworking immigrant who made good on a fanciful engagement promise by purchasing one of New York City’s most enduring landmarks.
When Denos proposed to his beloved Lula in 1948, he didn’t just offer her a traditional diamond ring. Instead, he vowed to give her “a ring so big that everyone in the world would see how much he loved her, a ring that would never be lost.”
That ring turned out to be none other than the Wonder Wheel, a towering Ferris wheel in Coney Island that would become both a symbol of their love and a legacy for generations to come.
Denos was a Greek immigrant who arrived in America as a 14-year-old to pursue the American Dream. Denos joined the Merchant Marines and then served during World War II. When he returned from service, he sold hot dogs from pushcarts and ran small eateries, working tirelessly to build a future. Throughout the 1940s, he and Lula would often visit Coney Island, a place of joy, excitement and wonder.
It was there that Denos first laid eyes on the Wonder Wheel, a 150-foot-tall, 400,000-pound Ferris wheel that had been operating since 1920, the same year he was born. He marveled at the 24 colorful cars, 16 of which slid on a serpentine track towards the hub of the Wheel as it rotated. Enchanted by its beauty, he promised Lula that if she accepted his marriage proposal, one day he would buy the Wonder Wheel for her as a wedding present. It was a promise she never forgot.
For decades, Denos worked to make good on his vow. He took every opportunity to grow his business, running restaurants and boardwalk food stands while continuing to dream about the Wonder Wheel.
By the 1970s, he was a fixture in Coney Island, helping manage the kiddie rides at Ward’s Amusement Park. As fate would have it, in 1983, the owners of the Wonder Wheel decided to sell. Though there were higher offers on the table, the Garms family entrusted the historic ride to Denos, recognizing his passion and dedication to preserving its magic.
With his family by his side, Denos, at the age of 63, purchased the Wonder Wheel for $250,000 and restored it to its former glory. It became the centerpiece of what would be known as Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, ensuring that his love for Lula would be immortalized in the heart of Coney Island. The Wonder Wheel was designated a New York City Landmark in 1989.
Denos passed away in 1994, but his love story lives on. Today, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is still operated by the Vourderis family, who continue to share the magic of the Wheel with millions of visitors. Over its 105 years of continuous operation, the ride has been enjoyed by more than 40 million people. It also has become known as the “Most Romantic Ride in the World,” a place where countless couples have proposed, sealing their love with a spin high above the boardwalk.
In a world where gestures of love are often fleeting, Denos proved that, sometimes, the biggest promises are worth keeping. So next time you visit Coney Island remember that the towering Wonder Wheel is not just an amusement ride — it’s a symbol of devotion, perseverance and a love story for the ages.
Credit: Photo by DangApricot, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
