Park Update
parkworld-online.com
WHAT’S NEW IN NEW JERSEY?
Paul Ruben heads down to the Jersey shore to check up on new attractions for 2013 and examine the rebuilding efforts made by various parks since Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy last fall (autumn)
Funtown Pier & Casino Pier Seaside Heights
Of all the amusement parks struck along the US East Coast last October when Sandy slammed into the shore, it was two piers along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey that suffered the worst devastation.
A 75 x 35ft (23 x 11m) portion of Funtown Amusement Pier was washed away. Six rides fell into the Atlantic Ocean, including a Schwarzkopf looping coaster, a bungee tower, go-kart track, Wisdom Tornado and Dartron Hang Glider, while a building housing arcade
Funtown Pier
games was washed away. Damage was so severe that the pier will not reopen until the 2014 season. Nearby, at Casino Pier, a 70ft (21m) section was also torn apart, launching several rides into the surf. Lost were the Star Jet rollercoaster by Miler, Stillwalk Manor dark ride, a Reverchon flume, Bertazzon Musik Express and the Centrifuge building containing an Eli Bridge Scrambler. The coaster was removed from the ocean in the mid-May and the rest of the rides are now being pulled out as well. “The reconstruction is going well,” marketing manager Maria Mastoris tells Park World. “We were open Memorial Day weekend (24-27 May) and every weekend after that with the Breakwater Beach Waterpark,Casino Arcade, Pier Grill, Pier Surf Shop, rooftop mini golf and the midway games.” When Park World was in town on 23 June, the boardwalk portion of the pier was open but the pier itself remained fenced off with just a handful of rides in place, construction equipment randomly positioned, and gaping holes in the deck. Rides were either in shipping or in storage, awaiting installation and New Jersey state inspection, never an easy hurdle. But, Mastoris informs us, the lower deck opened on 26 July and will remain open for the rest of the summer.
Morey’s Piers Wildwood
Guests visiting Morey’s Piers in the Wildwoods this summer will enjoy new and improved attractions including a makeover of the Zoom Phloom flume ride featuring hand carved rockwork seals and sea life and the freshly renovated Boat Tag ride on Adventure Pier. On Surfside Pier, visitors can check out the new Soggy Dollar Beach Bar at Ocean Oasis Waterpark, accessible from the beach or boardwalk.
Morey’s Piers have also embarked on something of a departure from the traditional seaside amusement park offering with the addition of artBOX (pictured) at Adventure Pier. A 10,000 sq ft artists’ colony crafted from 11 re-purposed shipping containers, it features five studios for local artists, a café serving fresh sushi, a museum shop and a space for live music. Together with Jack Wright from Exit Zero
Publishing/Museum Shop, Jack Morey is one of the key people behind the concept: “artBOX
AUGUST 2013
is quirky, nostalgic, cutting edge, and a true celebration of the visual and musical arts at the Jersey Shore … just the thing that belongs on the Wildwoods Boardwalk,” he says. One of the first exhibits to go on display at
artBOX was a giant replica of a tribute painting created by 11 year-old “celebrity artist” Autumn de Forest to honour the rebuilding efforts after Superstorm Sandy.
moreyspiers.com Casino Pier
Originally opened in 1960, Casino Pier housed 38 rides, as well as a rooftop miniature golf course, concessions stands and boardwalk games. Of those, 17 rides are planned to operate during the 2013 season. Included are two new attractions, a Surf Shack (funhouse) from Owens Trailers and the aptly-named Super Storm (Super Miami) by Technical Park. The Storino family, owner of Casino Pier, has hired JRA (Jack Rouse Associates) to provide masterplanning and programming services for phase I of the two-phase rebuilding effort.
funtownpier.com casinopiernj.com
Gillian’s Wonderland Pier Ocean City
Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc at Gillian's Wonderland Pier in Ocean City. On the enclosed front portion of the park, the October 29 storm removed the coating on the park's roof, blew in four large garage doors and damaged three others. The wind took the tops off the Musik Express, Gravitron and chair swings, and flooded the park's maintenance shop. Gillian's is now in its fifth season operating Funland, 12 miles away from Ocean City in Sea Isle City. This smaller, sister park took on 4ft of water, damaging all 13 rides. Most are now repaired and two new rides have been added for the summer, a replacement Wisdom Gravitron and Grizzly, a Super Miami by Technical Park.
gillians.com
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