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.
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