The "Ridin' the Rides at OC" Story

Wonderland Pier taken from atop the Ferris Wheel

It was an ordinary day.  Everyone is showered and dressed so we're heading up to the boardwalk for supper at the food court and then to ride a few of the rides on the Ocean City boardwalk.  The family has been coming to Ocean City, NJ for years and years.  First it was my wife Carol and me with our three children and my parents, and now it is Carol and me with my three children and my three grandchildren.  Just love the atmosphere at the Jersey Shore in early summer.  We travel early in the summer to avoid the high rental prices for lodging.  Have been staying at the same condo on 9th Street for quite a few years now.  Block right off the boardwalk so the grandkids have no busy streets to cross when walking to the beach each day and the boardwalk in the evening.  Almost every evening and sometimes in the morning, we make a trip to the boardwalk to enjoy the rides or arcade games.  Gets expensive, but we do it only one time each year and the grandkids save their money all year for the excitement of one week at the shore.  I used to enjoy the roller-coasters, but now have to settle for the milder Ferris Wheel to avoid breaking something that may be an important part of my body; such as a leg or arm.  There are two large amusement piers, one on the north end of the boardwalk and another close to the middle of the boardwalk.  They both have fun rides, but "Wonderland Pier" in the north seems to have a larger variety of rides.  My favorite is naturally is the Ferris Wheel.  Actually the only one I go on anymore.  Costs $4 per person to ride, but it lasts longer than any other ride and the sights at night-time of the Jersey coastline and north to Atlantic City are amazing.  Last night my two granddaughters, Courtney and Camille, and my oldest son, Derek grabbed a ride with me on the wheel after an evening meal on the boardwalk.  Seems we are about the only ones who aren't afraid of heights and actually, this was the first time for Derek to ride in quite a few years.  The girls are always up for a ride with Tampah.  "Wonderland Pier" was first opened in the summer of 1928 by David Gillian.  He was a long time drummer in bands on the boardwalk, but in 1927 quite a bit of the boardwalk went up in flames and Dave lost his job and had to make a career change. Lucky for him!  Because of the great depression, only a few places reopened after the fire, but David saw that it was the opportune time to open what was originally called the "Fun Deck", located at Plymouth Place and the boardwalk, and did so with only a Ferris Wheel and one carousel.  The business prospered and in 1957 he turned the business over to his two sons, Rob and Roy. In 1963, Roy bought the property where Stainton's, a department store, had been 10 year before and had burned.  That year Roy opened the pier with 10 rides and a parking lot.  Today, "Wonderland" is still in operation with Roy's son, Jay running the operation as well as being the mayor of Ocean City.  Jay's oldest brother, Jimmy, operates Gillian's Water park and miniature golf course, Adventure Golf.  The water park and golf course are now located where the original "Fun Deck" was located.  Original founder David Gillian died in 1993 at the age of 102, still looking over the pier until his last days.  Jay's seven children will more than likely keep the very successful amusement business  in the family for a long time.  Wouldn't you?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.