During the late 1920s, in anticipation of the arrival of the subway, land was bought by developers and was built up.

[7] Zoning laws were changed to allow fifteen-story apartment buildings to be built,[8] and made the neighborhood of Forest Hills a more desirable place to live, especially as it was an express stop.

[13] Construction was further delayed due to a strike in 1935, instigated by electricians opposing wages paid by the General Railway Signal Company.

[15] In August 1936, tracks were installed all the way to 178th Street, and the stations to Union Turnpike were completed.

[13] On December 31, 1936, the IND Queens Boulevard Line was extended by eight stops, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km), from its previous terminus at Roosevelt Avenue to Union Turnpike, and the 71st Avenue station opened as part of this extension.

[27][28] In 2014, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority built a new signal tower for the Manhattan-bound platform.

[38] The tile colors were designed to facilitate navigation for travelers going away from Lower Manhattan.

[39][40] The station's I-beam columns are painted emerald green with signs reading "71 - Forest Hills", while older signs on the black columns between the express tracks read "CONTINENTAL AVENUE - Forest Hills" in black lettering on a white background.

[41][42] There are two fare control areas on the full width mezzanine above the platforms and tracks.

An elevator is located at the southern exit between 70th Road and 71st Avenue and makes the station ADA-accessible.

At the eastern end of the mezzanine there is a staircase leading to Queens Boulevard between 71st Avenue and 71st Road on the northern side, and a staircase leading to the intersection of 71st Avenue and Queens Boulevard on the south side.

[43][44][45] On the current MTA map[36] and published timetables,[46] the station name is "Forest Hills–71st Avenue."