Coney Island USA was founded in 1980 by Costa Mantis, Jane Savitt-Tennen and Dick D. Zigun. Over the years, Coney Island USA has been funded, in part, by the
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the
New York Council for the Humanities, the
Brooklyn Borough President, and
New York City Council member
Mark Treyger and others. In 2025, Coney Island USA joined the
Coney Island History Project and other Coney Island community organizations in opposing the casino proposed by
Thor Equities for Coney Island. Coney Island USA Executive Director Patrick Wall said of the casino: "We're asking for a giant fort to come and plop down on top of our entire amusement district across three blocks. That's crazy! It's going to keep people locked in, they've got food, they've got accommodations, they've got entertainment. They're never going to come outside, they're never going to give us money." In September 2025, a community advisory committee rejected the casino proposal, effectively ending the plan. == Film festival ==