Attraction Profile
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Ghost Ship New walk-through at Morey's Piers
The Ghost Ship has arrived at Morey's Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey. This immersive, half-hour- long experience features multiple costumed actors and animatronics spread across a labyrinth of interconnecting decks and walkways. Paul Ruben takes a tour of the Jersey shore's latest grand walk- through
T
he action takes place inside a 150-feet-long (45-metre) cargo ship named Ignis Fatuus, which has apparently crash-landed into
Morey’s Mariner’s Landing Pier.
Spread across 14,000 square feet, the walk- through covers two levels, the upper deck open to the sky. Weaving through the structure are the Sky Ships monorail and Sky Cycles. The experience lasts nearly 30 minutes, or about 10 times the average length of a typical walk- through attraction. “We built the Ghost Ship where the original Seaport miniature golf course had been located. Our father, Will Morey Snr, and architect Fred Langford, dreamed that up in the early '80s," notes Morey's Piers president Will Morey. "We decided to get back into the custom-built, classic boardwalk attractions business."
"Our guests have been telling us they want two things more than anything else
...rollercoasters and dark rides," adds executive vice-president Jack Morey. "We have a great attraction here. We hope it will have a positive impact on both guest satisfaction and attendances."
Will (left) and Jack Morey 34
The Ghost Ship took two years to design and six months to build, at a cost of approximately $3 million (. More than 100 workers were involved in its construction. Spread across 14,000 square feet, there are 15 “scare boxes” and numerous props. At any one time there are between eight and 10 actors roaming the ship to startle guests.
SEPTEMBER 2010
“We cannot thank those who worked on this project enough," offers Jack Morey. "From concept artists, architects, writers, special effects experts, actors and artisans to carpenters, electricians, steel workers and labourers, numerous trades came together.” Together with Jack Morey, lead project designer
Russell Betheau and local author Terry O’Brien explored several themes including aliens, crab people, cyborgs and meteors before settling on the Philadelphia Experiment. The Ghost Ship and its back- story are based on a bit of Latin wordplay and the famous conspiracy theory about an experiment that supposedly made a US naval ship invisible in 1943.
Live Attraction The Ghost Ship’s name, Ignis Fatuus, has two meanings. It is either a flitting phosphorescent light
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