Abandoned Atlantic City. Watch to the end.

[@dand5228]

Ive been going and looks like you went in the dead of winter. It's definitely not the same as 90's, but the weekends are much busier and lively. Especially as it warms up.

[@nataliejones2742]

Yes he skipped over everything that was open. On top of that Atlantic City is a tourist city. It’s clearly the winter season.

[@richardhales92]

it's fun, though, seeing AC in the dead of winter. Still could find a place to lose our $$; can't believe the makeover at Bally's Wild Wild West

[@Jesseezgirl]

@@nataliejones2742 Yes...I was down there just 3 weeks ago and it was crowded....Hard Rock and Resorts down where I stayed was very crowded.

[@jaymasterscrapper301]

@@richardhales92 Make over Wild West Casino is closed no ?

[@richardhales92]

@@jaymasterscrapper301 I'm sorry; not sure

[@stevebessette1826]

Sometime around 2006-7, when you took the bus from Port Authority to Showboat, they would give you $20 CASH as soon as you walked in. Not a slot voucher, an actual $20 bill. It was pretty cool.

[@Hyuga_Princess]

Thank you so much for making this , my father and I used to vacation there when I was younger until he passed away a few years ago. Watching your Atlantic City videos gives me so much nostalgia 😊

[@LCQueensNYC]

I absolutely loved this video. You sharing your memories of Atlantic City parallels that of mine. I feel like there was a whole generation of us who lived in the Tri-State area who used to spend their weekends and their summer's in Atlantic City. We all shared similar experiences and memories. My main memories were from Caesars and Ocean One. I always called Atlantic City my home away from home bc my family never traveled that much but when we did it was to Atlantic City. My parents would just leave me and my sister a roll of quarters to play in the arcade and then they would just gamble and would meet us in the lobby of the casinos late night. How parent were able to leave younger kids unattended back then is beyond me lol. I remember all the buffets too in Atlantic City. Caesar's had one of the best buffets when they renovated it in the 90s. I always wanted to try the one on the boardwalk not in a casino like above those gift shops. But my parents never went there bc they always had food comps. So many memories that I can't share in just one comment. We need to find a Facebook group so we can all share our memories! I would love to see old pictures and videos from the casinos back in the day. Such amazing memories and no matter how abandoned AC got, I will always visit with find memories and hopes that there will be a resurgence in the city. Thank you for making this video!

[@LCQueensNYC]

@MichaelMcDermott123 LOL because it's was intriguing!!! Have you tried? LOL

[@WuYorkYankees]

Great comment and I have similar memories. My family and I would visit there from thr mid 80's all through the 90's. My nephew and I were also left in the arcades and left to wait until our parents finally came out of the casino! Our young asses would walk the whole boardwalk and eat 3 Brothers Pizza without a fear or care in the world. Would love. Facebook group!

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@WuYorkYankees Same!

[@gerardcooney1810]

I go to AC all the time.Usually to Harrahs or Borgata.Sometimes Caesars. In the Summer the Boardwalk is usually busy. The Pandemic also put a hurt on AC. Many more Casinos now in NY and Pennsylvania. Trust me the Casinos that are open are doing well.

[@kevin2400]

Glad the casinos that are open in Atlantic City are done with this covid crap

[@aishasagir6433]

Hi.which casinos do you advise in NYC for live table games

[@spunkyb5249]

This video really hurts. Sad to see all that beautiful architecture going to waste. It's so clean and pristine. Glad you made the effort to share it!

[@theresahaddad107]

Indeed!

[@PebbledPlays]

It’s just how it is in the winter and then they redo everything. This dudes also just finding things that are old and saying it’s falling apart. This is bad publicity for my city. Don’t appreciate this.

[@theresahaddad107]

@@PebbledPlays Dude - get real!

[@jeffreyfunke8866]

Hey America! The parties over! It''s time to face reality!

[@theresahaddad107]

@@jeffreyfunke8866 Agreed.

[@dianad.5312]

I loved Caesar's Palace in the 1990's, they had a great buffet and there was a daily parade where Caesar and Cleopatra would walk through the casino. The casino is now in bankruptcy mode and all the greatness is gone.

[@rosemitchell5224]

Maybe now that they are part of The Tropicana, they will update the decor and make the slots more looser. Also more importantly -- Caesars Entertainment joined Robert de Niro and Nobu Hospitality for a project to be called Nobu Hotel Atlantic City.

[@warrenfrancis5180]

Whenever I go down to the boardwalk (especially in the off-season) it's so surreal seeing the abandoned and run down buildings that once held so much life

[@Adeoca2]

I recently visited Atlantic City for the first time since 1999. I was 10 years old and I’m 35 years old, now. I could tell how much it wasn’t the same like it was before. I walked inside The Playground Pier mall and it was completely empty, except for 2-3 stores that are left.

[@Blindbuymovieguy]

Thanks for making this video. My first wife and I went there for our honeymoon in 1988. We stayed across the street from the Sands casino. Both the Sands and the hotel are both gone but the Sands had an awesome food court upstairs. Sad to see what it's like now

[@jaymasterscrapper301]

777

[@dianad.5312]

I remember when Wild West casino first opened, there was a robotic display of a gold miner and a donkey at the entrance and there was model train on an elevated track. The ventilation was always bad and the casino smelled like cigarette smoke.

[@richardhales92]

I went to Resorts Casino with my Mom about a year ago, and I was shocked when someone next to me said, "you mind if I smoke?" My Dad was a smoker, and as we're used to the past, I said, 'sure, no problem.' I was suprised how much I coughed after he left, which is something I don't remember doing when everyone was mixed up in the casino smoking. It was a shocker to learn you can smoke in the casino (that may have changed after the pandemic; not sure)

[@KingNewJersey]

I remember the donkey.

[@sharontucker4106]

I love AC n the summer on weekends walking the broad walk sitting on the beach it has went down sad

[@aaronsmith5433]

@@richardhales92 I worked Resorts from opening day 1978. They had smoke eaters, tremendous electrostatic air filters, they did a great job as the place was packed, even a sardine would have said , :"jeez oh man , it sure is crowded in here!". And every other person seemed to be chain smoking, yet the air was clean , cool and dry. I heard the put extra oxygen in to perk everybody up.

[@richardhales92]

@@aaronsmith5433 Resorts was my first casino (when Merv owned it) and I played the slots machines and was raking in the quarters w/very dirty hands. I loved Breadstick's crab cakes, although the last time I was at Breadsticks they didn't have it on the menu. Back then, if you remember, they closed the casino like at 4am and reopened, I'll say, about 7am, so we spent the night in one of the restaurants waiting for 7am clock to hit so we could continue. We got tired around 6am and found a cheap room off the boardwalk, and continued later in the afternoon. Resorts is still my favorite

[@sisiltivi8193]

This video brings back memories back in the days when I lived in US from 1999 to 2007. I went to AC at least once a month. Only few hours drive from my house in Philly suburbs. My (now ex) husband would drive there in the morning, and we were spend all day playing slots, eating at that buffet and walking around the boardwalk. Watching the seagulls and enjoy the breeze from the beach. I still keep my pics there. What a wonderful memory.

[@choossuck7653]

Want a new one?

[@sisiltivi8193]

@@choossuck7653 😊

[@jamesriendeau7351]

Nowadays Atlantic City has that exact same vibe as that scene in Blade Runner 2049 where Ryan Gosling's character goes to the abandoned ruins of Las Vegas, and the casinos are all empty except for like, a holographic Elvis Presley that performs to an empty audience. You really get a sense for the meaning of the term "hauntology" wandering around these places at night.

[@MattHaviland]

Nicely done video. I’ve been to a lot of those places including the house of blues and the Foundation Room (that place was creepy). I also remember the Ocean One Mall. Atlantic City is still a great place with great people. It would be nice to see some of these places thrive again including the abandoned Atlantic Hotel.

[@theresahaddad107]

It would be nice to re-invent itself like Asbury Park has done!

[@pattyfazzini]

I was getting the creeps when you were walking into places where no one was there, especially The House of Blues. Beautiful rooms, but creepy being the only one in there. I'm really surprised no one tried stopping you from walking through. What a shame how AC went downhill so fast.

[@thegerm574]

I had a escort that’s why I went back. It was totally unexpected and filmed hours apart from each other.

[@richardhales92]

@@thegerm574 I'm glad you were a 'little forward' and got pics of behind the scenes.

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@thegerm574 How did u get that escort?

[@josepharturi5442]

Well, that was very interesting, sad but yet interesting. I live in NJ but have not been to A.C. in years. I liked the Mall at Ocean One years ago and would always shop there when I stayed in A.C. You are very correct that their attempt to make it more upscale ruined it. I had a really awful experience when a cleaner took away my food while I was eating it in the food court because an incredibly obnoxious wealthy foreign couple bribed the cleaner because they wanted my table as it had a view of the ocean! That was the very last time I went to A.C. I will never forget that experience. Its such a shame what became of A.C. I doubt it will ever recover.

[@larrybraverman7997]

Sounds funny to me when you mention the old days.My old days are the 40s .I spent my summers in AC with a wonderful grandmother.What a pity that the young of today couldn’t experience the city that was called the”showplace of America.Soooo many wonderful things to do and just memories that I will forever carry.The great toy stores ,the soda mats ,eating the best French fries on the boardwalk and the greatest entertainment center ever “steel pier”where if an entertainer appeared he or she made the BIG TIME.I must like to torture myself watching today’s videos. Enjoyed yours.😊

[@catherinetesoro6714]

my old days were 60s and 70s before casinos. We had steel pier.

[@99somerville]

Once every state legalized gambling there was no reason to go to AC.

[@kaylam1743]

Oh boy, what memories. That walkway in the beginning was to the Sands & the Claridge casinos. The Sands had one of the best restaurant buffets ever, Rossi's. Can't tell you how often we took that walkway to the casinos. And how we miss the Wild Wild West buffet. We were actually there in WWW watching the NASCAR race at the bar when Dale Earnhart hit the wall & was killed. In 2001. I was heartbroken. We used to own a timeshare at La Renaissance which was on the boardwalk & Kentucky avenue. It was on the 10th floor & had an oceanfront balcony. We stayed a week in August each year. LOVED it. Unfortunately, that closed too. Agree on Ocean One mall. They had great affordable restaurants looking right onto the water & fun stores inside. Yes, they ruined it. We haven't been back in a long time. Thanks for the memories. Just found your channel & am enjoying it. Thanks again.

[@54Ripster]

Me to Kayla when i went to AC. Actually I probably stayed at Resorts more than any other place.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Rossis was great.

[@MikeCaiazzo1]

You are absolutely right at :35, when you say that glass shed was the entrance to the Claridge casino walkway many years ago. However, it actually led to both the Claridge on the left AND the Sands on the right. At the end of the conveyer, you had to choose whether to go to the Claridge or the Sands. I ascended that walkway myself decades ago.

[@thomastierney3857]

The Sands was demolished around 2007 and they were supposed to build another resort there called The Pinnacle. Then the 2008 recession happened and casinos opened in Pennsylvania. Pinnacle was eventually canceled and never got built.

[@lalvino978]

It's the info booth in the summer.

[@4EVERLaRu]

Thanks for sharing this video! I was there last Thursday . Stunned. My favorite place turned into a ghost town. No matter what time of the year you visit, the boardwalk was always crowded: restaurants selling pizza, funnel cakes, Nathan Hot Dogs, specialty fudge & taffy, crab cakes from Phillips Seafood Express; Oceans 1 used to be family oriented w/myriads of stores, a food court, arcades until the upscale stores came catering to high rollers from casinos. There was always entertainment on the Boardwalk. I see my favorite band Duran Duran on the wall at the House of Blues. Quite ironic. Saw them at Ocean Resorts this past Friday! Buffets replaced with food courts with fewer restaurants. Ask any employee what happened they will tell you they don't know or it's possibly seasonal. If this continues into Spring..it's abandoned just like Baltimore Inner Harbor, Maryland. So sad to see both places of charm fade into only beautiful memories.

[@jonathanfirst5060]

Really devastating to see Atlantic City decaying over the years. Good video seeing how places used to look and its history. The economy was not well even before the pandemic. Never been to Atlantic City but saw the decline through videos and footages

[@PebbledPlays]

It’s not decaying. I live there. He went in the off season. And is only going to the older sections. Not showing all of the new buildings and casinos.

[@meatnoon]

Don't go, it's a shit hole

[@Steven-bz1bz]

​@@PebbledPlaysit is dying. It is a shitholes.

[@gaylegondek6585]

Great memories of AC! Thanks for the video. My husband and I were there many times, but my favorite memory is New Years Eve, 1985, give or take a year or two. We were walking down a hall in The Grand. A guy came up and asked if we wanted 2 free tickets to The Crystal Ball, he didn't want his. We said sure and walked up to a doorway with a sign that sai Crystal Ball. We were dressed up a bit, my husband in a suit and me all in black pants, I thought I looked ok.LOL. Well, the doorman was nice, but said he wasn't sure we could go in since I didn't have a gown on. Then he just st said to go on in. Well, it was amazing, free food, drinks, life band, dancing and I st filled with very wealthy looking people. We sat at a round table with a out 8 other "rich looking" people. They were very nice and asked how we got in. We explained and they thought it was great. I asked them what made a person eligible for The Crystal Ball. They said it was a High Rollers Club, and you had to spend at least a million dollars a year to get in! We were like Cinderella at the ball. When it ended they told us to take the beautiful huge centerpiece in the middle of the table. What a night, no New Years has even come close to topping that one!

[@jm-bv1wh]

I love stories like yours!

[@jillcsupa9961]

I was just in AC about two weeks ago and there was NO ONE there. It was after memorial day weekend and most of the shops weren’t open. The shops he is talking about in the end are not even there anymore at that pier mall connected to Caesar’s. Only Sugar is there because it opens onto the Boardwalk and still gets some foot traffic. I remembered it being awesome so I took my mom and niece there to check out the shops and it was just empty, abandoned and sad. We left after a short walk on the boardwalk and some lunch because there was nothing else to do.

[@tomb7382]

Wow this video brought back so many memories. When I first started going to AC when I was 18 years old, the Atlantic Club was The Golden Nugget. It was the Borgata of the day. It was very fancy and elegant. There were nice restaurants on the second floor, including an icecream parlor. Then it became, Bally's Grand, The Grand, The AC Hilton, The ACH, then the Atlantic Club. Sad to see it closed. I really enjoyed how you showcased the Showboat. That was my favorite Casino Hotel back in the day. It's a total shame what it's become. The casino was always so bright and cheerful, and every time it was renovated, it became nicer. So sad to see the buffet like that. That was one of the best buffets in AC, and I remember taking the bus from Brooklyn NY to AC and going to the Showboat and waiting on line for over an hour to get into the buffet. The line was always down the hallway. The place next to the buffet (The big empty room where you though people got married in) used to be called at one time "The Mansion". It was a nice restaurant to go for breakfast or lunch. I'm not sure if it was open at dinner time. It had really good food and it was the place to eat if the buffet line was too long LOL. Also, at the boardwalk entrance when you walked into the House of Blues area, there was also always a band playing infront of those giant escalators that were taken down. I also recall that in the casino, they used to have a parade go through every so often and they would have people toss beads. Everyone would wear the beads to get into the New Orleans spirit. I also remember that long conveyer belt thing from the Boardwalk that went to The Claridge. I believe it also went to The Sands. I don't remember if there were two of them, or if you transferred onto a separate one to go to the Sands. OMG I remember going to the Ocean One Mall. It was really cool and had lots of neat stores. Then when it became the really fancy Pier Shops, I was there the day they were testing "The Show", which was the water/music/light show at the end near the ocean. That's all gone now. When the guy that owns the Showboat brought the place, he kind of ruined it by trying to make the first floor all little clubs. It never took off. I think Caesars owns the pier again. Before the pandemic, I would be in AC at least twice a week, (I live about and hour and 15 minutes away) and would really enjoy it. Since they reopened, I only go down once every few months now. It's just not the same. I heard that the Tropicana is redoing a lot of their restaurants. The buffet is going to be a Hash House a Go Go (like they haven in Vegas) and the Irish place is going to be a BBQ joint. Can't remember the other changes they are doing.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Hi, what escalators are you referring to that were taken out?

[@namalum420]

Atlantic City is alive and well. Although 50% of the casinos are closed HardRock Caesar’s resorts and ocean are doing well.

[@joshc7348]

The ones that closed a few years ago have all reopened in some form except for Trump Plaza which was demolished and Atlantic Club which is vacant

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@joshc7348 Except Sands, LOL.

[@cheryljones2009]

I'm glad this video popped up! I live in NJ & have been going to AC regularly with my family since the 90's also.... My Aunt from Maryland used to drive up & we would all meet up & stay at Showboat in the late 90's & early 2000's, plus my family & I often stayed at the AC Hilton, (which later became the Atlantic Club) Boy, watching this video sure is sad if you really think about how the places you actually stayed in for your "vacation" have closed down, are abandoned & shuttered!!! I even remember going down on my birthday several times with my Mom & eating at the Virginia City buffet! I actually used to play at Bally's Wild Wild West- that big room you showed with the high ceiling DID used to be filled with slot machines, table games & packed with people! I can remember being in there until like 2:00am, playing slots & also $1.00 Blackjack at a table! What is the biggest reason for the downfall, is it because the other States all have Casinos now??? 🤔

[@edde333]

Loved the video! It was insane that you got to go into some of these areas and no one say anything. Lol. Really cool experience to be able to see a kind of behind the scene's. When Philly built the casinos here they basically killed AC. It's a shame. Love ya brother and tell the family we said hello 👋 🙏🏻

[@thegerm574]

I didn’t show him in the video but I was escorted in some of the rooms later on in the day some of the video of pieces were filmed hours apart. I was just at the right place at the right time I guess.

[@edde333]

@@thegerm574 That's awesome. And it was cool to see.

[@LouisAurizio]

People going in the 80s and 90s were from a different generation when there was real entertainment, real money and an appreciation for places they frequented. You do not have the appreciation for first rate entertainment anymore and the newer generations focus on clubs, beach bars and do not have the $$ like their elders. Most importantly, one today has the convenience of watching anything they want, get any food and drink of their choice delivered to their door and gamble on their phone. We have all of the conveniences today but the magic is gone.

[@stevenmay3860]

Hey Germ! Great video! I’m not sure if another viewer pointed this out already, but the large room area with the painted sky ceiling at the Showboat was actually a sit-down diner style restaurant that was an alternative to the buffet next door. I ate breakfast at the restaurant a few times! New to your channel and I look forward to seeing more from you

[@thegerm574]

Thanks so much and your the first one to point that out. Thanks for the info.

[@RayOutThere]

Great video. Atlantic City is really a shell of what it used to be. But it was really fun to see all these abandoned places!

[@WuYorkYankees]

Thanks for this update of a place my family visited so often during my youth. I remember when the Showboat buffet was the 100 lane bowling alley and arcade. The original buffet they had had great fried chicken! Definitely sad to see what Atlantic City has become. But memories live on.

[@johnmp3828]

Wow I remember ocean one mall and then the rebrand as the pier at Caesar’s which had a good Irish restaurant. I definitely bought donuts at Gertie’s back in 2003 I think it was. Thanks for the video walk down memory lane! Oh and yes trop’s buffet was bad. Glad ours was comped.

[@craniumlost6439]

I been going to ac since the day it opened in 78. I always loved it, especially in its heyday which was the 80's through early 2000s. Now I don't go as much mainly cause it is sad, although there are a few casino's still worthly of a trip there. I never saw those rooms at the showboat either, that was great! Ballys always had great food, won a lot of jackpots there, and for lunch pickles was the spot to go to. I saw the best shows in 80's at resorts. From comedians to bands, singers. Tropicana was fun, but never known for their great food until they upgraded and leased out to chains made it somewhat better. I ddn't go to the sands much, but heard they had a really great buffet. I always loved walking through the ocean mall. I kind of liked it better in the beginning when they had all these little stores to walk through. Such happy times there for me! I don't it will ever come back because any younger people who gamble now, most likely will do it online or at their local casino. Soon NYC will also open casino's, then AC will be just a memory.

[@richardhales92]

With all the casinos opening up in NY, MD, PA, and DC, Atlantic City can be a real bargain to get an inexpensive room and some local shopping haunts that can get you a pair of sweats on the cheap. If only the buses were as inexpensive as they used to be. I enjoyed seeing those secret rooms at the Showboat, though if I were at a party, I'd be itching to get to the casino floor or 'gettin on with the show.'

[@jackwilliams5474]

I miss pickles. Now they have Johnny Rockets.

[@greyshadow9498]

Back in the day when we used to casino crawl, we'd head in and park at Showboat. Then wander through Showboat, the Taj and Resorts because you could go to all three without ever going outside. Then wander on down, hit Bally's and Wild West and stop at the buffet for lunch before going over to Caesar's. We'd hang around Caesar's for a bit because they had a good retail section and we'd head across to the mall and browse (it was fun when it was just a regular mall and had an arcade in the back.) Then we either did the whole thing in reverse, ending back at the Showboat. Or we'd grab a Jitney and head over to the Castle and Harrah. Depending on how we did we'd either hit the Hard Rock Cafe or Showboat's buffet for dinner then head home. I do really miss those days. It was a good time. Nowadays you just go to the Ocean and do everything in one place. I mean, yeah it's a nice place, and it's a good time, but I miss the crawl... Casino hopping was part of the AC experience.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Bar hopping!

[@KLEARSKITHEKREEPER]

Awesome tour..creepy vibes, Love it.

[@thegerm574]

Lol. I agree with you 100%

[@richardhales92]

whoever planned those rooms; WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? I would have hated to be in those rooms for more than a minute. I can see why the GERM says they should be rented out for the hour for other purposes. Now maybe that would be fun.

[@aidancavanaugh3849]

Stayed at the Claridge a few years back and remember seeing many empty areas wondering about what was there. No clue it was also a casino at one point. Sad to see the city like this, there’s potential somewhere. Would’ve loved to see this place in its peak.

[@dianewojtkowiak9059]

Even the people who work in the casino will tell you. It's not safe to walk on the boardwalk.

[@deborahczepiel7883]

Omg, thank you for this video, I used to go to Atlantic City years ago in the late seventies and eighties, it was so nice as long as you stayed on the boardwalk. Loved to gamble at the Claridge and Ballys. We would take the bus from up in Utica NY and stay for a few days. wow, how sad.

[@marastotts6677]

I live in Atlantic City and the boardwalk is always packed when it's nice outside..not to many people go on the boardwalk when it's cold outside unless they going to work

[@joanalorenzo6949]

I agree. I go every summer. The winter in the east coast is not that great to begin with. I don't know why he decided to go in the winter and make it look so crummy. Summer time is not like that at all. The only thing he might be right is about the food. I have no idea what he expected it to see in the dead of winter after a pandemic, and at the start of a huge inflation.

[@jackwilliams5474]

they're going not they going

[@spicehill]

Loved seeing the House of Blues, that was awesome. Good work Germ!

[@thegerm574]

Thank you. Now I wish I had gone when it was open. Some many great acts preformed there.

[@offconstantlypoker7325]

The place in the middle of the boardwalk was called the people mover. It was the link from the boardwalk to the Sands casino that's now a huge lot. The Sands was bought by a group of investors because they heard that Revel wanted to build a new casino in Atlantic city. They bought it for over 300 million and tore it down in anticipation that they could sell the land to the new investors. Unfortunately for them they deemed the land too small and decided to build their casino on the end of the boardwalk. Last I heard the land that used to be the Sands is now only worth a fraction of the purchased price.

[@djargus]

Actually, to give you some context, Caesars put in these arcade machines a few years prior to Lucky Snake even existing, so someone had this idea that instead of having slot machines and table games there, they put in random new arcade and redemption machines there (one of those redemption machines is the bowling game, but no ticket booth for small toys) sometime after putting a wall around much of the things they aren't interested in having there anymore (such as the buffet). I wish they put pinball machines into the Wild West Casino and old arcade games in there like Lucky Snake did years later, give more variety to do things other than gamble when walking up and down the AC boardwalk instead of those random arcade machines they picked. I hope whoever bought Bally's from Caesars is considering reopening the buffet after renovations and if not going to use the Wild West Buffet for all slot machine and table games, at least put in better arcade machines and pinball machines than the ones they currently have there! As for the Lucky Snake arcade itself, they just got a ton of new pinball machines bringing their number up to the high 70s from previously just 4 Jersey Jack Pinball machines, though from a pinball enthusiast Facebook page I was told the quality of the machines and repairs/maintained are hit or miss, so good and bad with new additions to the place. Still waiting to see what the place will look like after the construction has concluded on that area of the Lucky Snake that is on the city side (did you see how far it came along? Last time I was there with my wife it was February I believe) where they used to have a VR cage and miniature golf course next to the PC Gaming room (which still exists, but there was a long corridor leading to it along the back wall).

[@danamcdonnell9064]

My wife and I used to frequent the buffets in both Showboat and Wild West. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

[@homelanderop6102]

Thanks for explaining some of this stuff because I was there wondering yesterday about some things that look like they use to be something but you helped me figure them out. 👍

[@jerryc5743]

5:54 - when I was a pre-teen, that was the Golden Nugget. On the left corner there used to be a video arcade when the local kids from Chelsea Heights and Ventnor would come and hang out. So sad to see this turn back into the way the town was in the 1970’s (this reminds me of AC in the movie, The King of Marven Gardens)

[@ruthlong6876]

Hey germ, I ate at the wild wild west, buffet, years ago, is the buffet still there

[@thegerm574]

It’s closed. I showed the sign and the escalators going up to it. That’s all you can see. I’m sure it’s all still there.

[@SammySense]

Oh wow! Great Tour!! Thanks for your time!! ✨

[@lucaslastarza6706]

Everything you mentioned that once existed were my favorites. The Ocean one mall was amazing, I spent countless hours in the arcade at the back of the ship when we visited with my family. The Virginia City buffet was one of a kind. We would get tickets for the steak to enjoy with our meal. It was a great atmosphere, used to love sitting on the porches. And finally, Tivoli's pier at the Trop. We always had a blast. Kids nowadays will never know the excitement of the old AC.

[@multitieredinvestor183]

My niece was VP Claridge for ten years. I also worked on Indiana Ave. Loved walking on BDWK in winter.Graduated ACHS 1956. Was also a photographer for AC Press, Steel Pier. Ocean One was the Million Dollar Pier in older days. Grew up there 1948-69.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Awesome!

[@dronebear]

The Wild Wild west is no longer owned by Bally's. It is owned by Caesar's Entertainment that is comprised of Caesars, Harrahs and Tropicana. A lot of buying and selling has happened, to the casinos, within the past 4 years.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Yes that is too bad.

[@aprilm2664]

I went to Atlantic City many years ago and I felt it was kind of sketchy at that time ,and I was hoping it would get better, so I'm very surprised it went down hill so fast, thats a shame

[@thegerm574]

Yeah I agree. It went down this time fast. Hopefully the new indoor waterpark brings new family’s to the area.

[@joelashadali]

Actually Ac is really making a big comeback. Just not at this properties shown on video. The Hardrock,Ocean and Borgota all doing really well. Cesar's,Ballys and Trop are getting redos. Huge all season Waterpark and pro style go Kart track going in as well. There's also a section outside the casinos called the orange loop with many independently owned bars,pubs,beer gardens. Claridge been long gone as a casino and wild west beed a dump for awhile. As far as buffets,they were on the downswing and covid really ended them. Same thing in Las Vegas.

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@joelashadali Hardrock has buffet. Orange loop had Bars that all close by 12 AM, Or So. Ballys had awful service where they didnt do room once during 1 Week stay.

[@VladisRed]

That's great dude)) I like such videos))

[@jnfr2424]

Thank you you saved me a 2 1/2 trip to see what AC looks like now All the memories you have I share the same I won the first time ever at the Hilton. Ocean 1 was the best mall when I wasn’t old enough to hang in the casinos I stayed in there Breaks my heart to see Showboat Wild West and Claridge look so desolate Virginia City was THE best Buffett ever And we used to frequent Pickles Thank you so much for sharing

[@thegerm574]

Hopefully it comes back but the memories we have will live on forever in our heads. Every age group has it Atlantic City memories. My moms memories were of Steel Pier and the famous diving horse.

[@1wwtom]

The Showboat was my fav place to stay in AC back in the 90's. Liked that it was connected inside to the Taj and from there to Resorts it was like staying in one Huge casino. You didn't have to go outside in bad weather or the winter to go next door. I preferred staying there instead of Midtown. Also back then my measly Points would get me really good room rates for a few nights midweek. It always got me a good ocean view room in the front Bourbon Tower. I was really disappointed to see it closed and sold off. I couldn't understand the deal that mandated it could Never reopen as a casino. I guess that Harrah's Corp wanted to ensure that another casino competitor wouldn't reopen it. Also miss the Wild West! Yes the VA City buffet had great steaks! I liked the overhead train that ran from the bar to the table games underneath it.

[@theresahaddad107]

YEP!

[@richardhales92]

measly points. That's funny! I know what you mean. We could play for hours and get no points whatsoever these days. People who are comped, somehow I wonder exactly what they're doing. My $500/day on penny machines doesn't seem to do it.

[@stevesmom9868]

I miss Bourbon Street poker!

[@KennyKetchum91]

Man you’re video will definitely help Atlantic City! Keep up the good work!

[@pierces2885]

Yep, my hometown, grew up in all these places, been to plenty of concerts at House of Blues, bowled in the bowling alley, ate at all the buffets you mentioned, worked in Ocean One Mall, cut school at Ocean One too….lol, been in all the abandoned places you shared. Mom still lives blocks from the Atlantic Club formerly Hilton formerly Bally’s Grand originally Golden Nugget. Thanks for the memories of good times long past. Very sad.

[@thegerm574]

Thanks so much for also sharing your memories.

[@barbarapagano5102]

Wow! I went to college right bye Atlantic City in the 90's.....even in the dead of winter, those casinos were rockin' ! The boardwalk would be virtually empty, but the casinos were mostly full!!

[@PhillyBagel]

Until neighboring states opened casinos of their own, Atlantic City didn’t have an off season, at least as far as gambling was concerned.

[@Andihitshandis]

How did you get to that place inside of showboat with all the rooms? That’s soooooo freaking fascinatingly creepy to me. Straight out of a call of duty map or something. I want to go see myself! I’d love a part two of this video. So interesting.

[@iristyndall7522]

Hi I go to AC pretty often I went to Wild Wild West I guess it was late summer and it was full of people they even had a show on stage .AC is still fun just different now .Try going to Tropicana it’s stays packed with plenty to do .

[@jackwilliams5474]

Tropicana actually has too much going on, and their service wasn't good but I havent stayed there since 2011 so might be better now.

[@harpsichordgal]

Thanks for the vid. I don’t know half those places(I heard of them,tho). My AC haunts were in the mid to late 60’s , when the British Bands used to come to Steel Pier. AC was starting to get tatty and frayed by then, but plenty of famous people hung out there. I saw Dean Martin once and Debbie Reynolds. So yeah, I may be old as dirt now, but AC was a great place way back when

[@jm-bv1wh]

AC was great in the sixties. $7.00 hotel rooms and you could get drunk on $5.00. $1.50 for breakfast.

[@aishasagir6433]

Who can advise please where we can go to live casinos NYC or pensilvania?

[@resalyn658]

I went to A.C. 3 or 4 times in the early 80's. Loved going there. The boardwalk was always busy. Great memories.

[@kumitetoday]

That last room was a restaurant. It was a french quarter patio-themed venue. Thanks for the tour of the Foundation Room, I was never in there.

[@oliviaoravits1881]

My grandparents lived in Ventnor so I basically grew up in AC in the early 90s. I wish there was more footage of Tivioli Pier (my FAVORITE place at 11 years old) and that moving walkway at Resorts. I remember it ended at a Ripleys Believe it or Not museum with a shark from Jaws and 'Mother' from Psycho. Great memories! So sad to see it this way nowadays.

[@thegerm574]

Yeah I wish I could find video of Tivoli pier. I’m sure it’s out there some place. For now all we have are the memories in our heads.

[@jerryc5743]

I grew up in Chelsea Heights in the ‘80’s. When I was about 8-9 years old, I remember when the Trop was the girders of the old Ambassador hotel. AC now reminds me of the town in the late 1970’s, everything abandoned.

[@tolfan4438]

Ripley's was cool

[@recoveringmytruth8162]

Tivoli Pier was THE BEST!!! Underground Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and games. And it was right near Ocean One Mall

[@pegf.8066]

The Hilton had many great shows,I saw the Doobie Brothers a few times, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra Jr. & many others,that end of town is very run down now.

[@cab1488]

Loved your video..My first casino I was in ..I was 18..That was the Playboy Club...I remember Pier One when it was still a regular mall...Beefsteak Charlie's and many other restaurants on the third floor...Have not been down in almost 10 years..so sad to hear the Pier One is almost empty..Your video makes me want to hop a bus down..lol..but the tour buses dont run but once a week..they went down all week including evening bus runs..sad..I live near Allentown Pa and since the casinos opened in Pa they took business away from AC

[@lloydwaters1888]

Great video. Good job. Thanks

[@cynthialynn14]

I go often & it’s never this empty like this unless it’s dead of winter weekday. The Atlantic club is supposedly becoming part of Stockton campus. The other side of the boardwalk & now the small biz area of the orange loop has a lot to offer. What you’re showing makes it seem like the whole town is abandoned . It’s an ever changing industry that recreates itself. Of course it’s not gonna be the same as when you were a kid.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Agreed. Not sure what orange loop is though

[@slainteron4027]

been awhile since I have watched you, this was really good

[@DixiePokerAce]

Atlantic City did well when it was the major casino resort destination on the East coast. Now you have casino resorts all over the East coast. They are literally everywhere.

[@cheryljones2009]

I'm honestly wondering is THAT the main reason why Atlantic City Casinos began shutting down & closing back around 2014? It is because of Casino gambling opening up in PA, MD, NY, etc??? That decreased the number of people coming to AC that much that they just gave up & closed down? 🤷‍♀️

[@cheryljones2009]

I'm honestly wondering, is that really the MAIN cause of the "decline" of Atlantic City? Because Casino gambling is now in the surrounding States, such as PA, MD, NY, etc???

[@debbiel8585]

I was just there in April and we walked thru wild wild west and it was very strange.

[@richardhales92]

I remember the Claridge had an area called PennyVille. I used to play there almost 4x a week for 9-10 months. I went back one day and there was a wall, like the place never even existed. You can get that feeling at the Wild Wild West. I guess it costs casinos $ to place slot machines in the area, because Wild Wild West seems to have lost so many slot machines, giving it an abandoned feeling. Sad

[@stephendacey8761]

Loved going to AC in early 2000's, and had a blast. Stayed at the Tropicana, Hilton, Resorts, and the Trump Marina among others. Lots of people in the summer walking the boardwalk. That MTV show w/ the wild Jersey kids (I think Jersey Shore) was popular when I used to go (and I'm sure the show helped tourism). Went to Johnny Rockets, Hooters and many other fine eating establishments. Loved the beach bars, and people watching. Much better then than now (everywhere in America back then was better).

[@leoorlowsky2283]

The Buffet at Showboat was moved to the Bowling Alley when they closed the Lanes . The Casino and Hotel really went to hell after the Bowling Center closed. I Bowled the first Tournaments there and it was a great venue . When the Tournament started the only food places ready were the deli and the Buffet that had Snow Crab all you could eat , great deal and food . Miss the Bowling Center.

[@thegerm574]

Wow that’s crazy. I didn’t realize that was the location

[@hithere-uk1tn]

Got a question how did you get access to the place around 18:00

[@thegerm574]

I was given a tour by an employee.

[@Kharkovkid]

Instantly brought back to mind the Miami Beach I remembered and never forgot. This City will come back one day and it will be "different". Enjoy this while you can.

[@atruckin_hairstylist6645]

"Imagine how busy it was back in the day". Doesn't even seem that long ago. I worked at Trop as it was being re-done. Also when the parking garage collapsed. So sad to see AC in its current condition.

[@thegerm574]

I remember when the deck fell. Wasn’t that one of Trumps property’s?

[@atruckin_hairstylist6645]

@@thegerm574 Chump may have owned shares in Tropicana, but I'm not sure.

[@who432]

Thanks for this video, I used your video as a guide while I was in Atlantic City this weekend

[@tinyBIGDOG]

Ocean One was AMAZING!!!!! I from Atlantic City and I loved running through that mall every weekend, the arcade and KB toys was my spots, 🤣

[@briangriffith2394]

Thank you so much for the tour it brought back a lot of memories

[@imsoooimpresssss4574]

absolutely love this …ty for the touring…i used to wrk at taj mahal plaza and marina…what a timeeee

[@kristenwilliams8928]

We recently were walking through Wild Wild West and found it strange with the mix of video games and a few slots. Strange vibe in there and security was extremely rude to us for no real reason. The place was empty.

[@thegerm574]

Well that’s terrible. I didn’t see any security when I was there. I loved that place when it was open. It was a fun atmosphere.

[@54Ripster]

The walkway thing from boardwalk to the Claridge also went to the Sands, which is long gone. Nice Video enjoyed it, Atlantic City sure has changed mostly for the worse.

[@dougfheck]

Interesting video i see how you made it look like a ghost town. That section of Bally where the arcade is was being redesigned as a huge sports book. The section with a few slots was also being redesigned. They have DJ's and bands on the weekend's. We like going there you get free entertainment while you gamble. The 2 escalators that were closed off actually go into Ceasars and that is packed on the weekend's. AC is not like it was in the early 2000's but they are coming back. They need to fix the homeless issue on the boardwalk and get more family entertainment and they will do great.

[@marvshirk6302]

The man went there on a Monday morning at 6am in the winter 😂

[@richardhales92]

@@marvshirk6302 It may be a snapshot, but fun to see. I know I walked through Showboat about 2 years ago in the winter, and I got the same abandoned feeling. You can feel it Wild Wild West, too, as well as my old favorite, the Claridge

[@marvshirk6302]

@@richardhales92 well it's what trump would say fake news 😂

[@VroodenTheGreat]

The reason to tear down a casino and not put up another one is simple... property taxes. The empty lot is worth less than an abandoned casino.

[@pcrealty]

Our Atlantic City trip from May 28 to June 4th 2022 was a let-down. The last time we traveled to AC was in 2010 where it was thriving. We managed to visit the best resort casinos: Borgata and Ocean Casino Resort for 2022. The Pier Shops at Ceasar's Resorts is now the Playground where it is nearly abandoned due to the pandemic and the advent of legalized on-line casinos, and competition of new casinos authorized in New York City and Pennsylvania. Tanger Outlet was a bargain during Memorial Day weekend. The Bass Pro Shop was the busiest shop center with free parking for one hour or 4 hours with a minimum purchase of about $30.00 The Atlantic City Cruises for dolphin watching was still exciting, although we had about 50 passengers for a cruise boat that seated about 100 passengers. Borgata Casino buffet was delicious but not as busy as it used to be. We managed to go into the adjacent town of Pleasantville, NJ for more affordable eateries. Gary's Restaurant: a small place with good food and Hú Tieu Mien Tay Restaurant for Vietnamese food. Kelsey & Kim's Southern Cafe in Atlantic City was a takeout place with good fried seafood restaurant. Renting a bicycle or tandem bike was good exercise on the boardwalk. Later we took a walk and did some jogging on the boardwalk. Our timeshare exchange to the Flagship-Fantasea showed deterioration, mismanagement and poor service. The only positive comment is that it has great views of the ocean and casinos from the 29th floor. The City of Atlantic City offered tax abatements to the casinos in lieu of closures affecting employment, but the City is broke and downsizing. This will be the last time we will vacation in Atlantic City. I believe redevelopment in Atlantic City will not help it to be a better resort area. We are hoping for a better vacation in Las Vegas. Note: we are not gamblers.

[@richardhales92]

Thanks for your view of your vacation. I think you had pretty good weather & got some exercise. I enjoyed your review. Best wishes for a continued great summer; make it a good one

[@farmerboy8659]

The more corruption and stealing of our wealth the poorer we become. Higher taxes means less money I have to spend. Now inflation and recession or depression will really hurt !

[@pcrealty]

@@farmerboy8659 Correct, the politicians permitted all on-line casinos and new casinos in New York City and Pennsylvania, killing all the businesses in Atlantic City, AC was like a ghost town.

[@williamnessanbaum7464]

I think the entire parking structure that used to be for Trump is now being used by the hospital.. Years back, I put my truck in that parking garage and there was one level reserved for hospital visitors and staff.

[@thegerm574]

I think they might also use the parking deck for for the outlet shopping.

[@renaalam6844]

Yep, Trump killed it bad vibes

[@MedicTopher]

I remember about 7 years ago now (roughly), the Wild Wild West portion of Bally’s had a lot of table games, slots, a great bar, and a good food area there. My friend and I had a great night at the bar there when that area was alive with all the casino games.

[@joeslovick4643]

It still is really good just not in february

[@jackwilliams5474]

I remember!

[@LOCKnLOAD122]

The moving walkway that was removed was the boardwalk entrance to the sands hotel and casino which was demolished in 2007-2008.

[@carlav1819]

I go to AC every 2-3 months and it’s not abandoned. It’s still alive and after the pandemic I’ve seen more people coming to visit and enjoying the casinos, hotels, resort, outlets, shopping stores etc.

[@artemiscool67]

Exactly, this video looks like it's in the off-season (which is always fairly empty); in the summer the crowds are insane

[@Steven-bz1bz]

It's a dump

[@johnfranklin8319]

@@Steven-bz1bzU R correct, it’s a dump.

[@Steven-bz1bz]

@@johnfranklin8319 Rent free buddy get a job and get yourself hooked on phonics.

[@1989closed]

Worked in AC for 19 years. Used to go bowling at Showboat after work. They had free parking in their garage at the time. Fun times! The Atlantis/Playboy was my favorite casino, but unfortunately, they went bankrupt and closed. Used to do really good there. It's sad to see all of that gone, along with the Trump Plaza being just a memory. The Plaza used to be packed.

[@jackwilliams5474]

I remember Atlantis, then Worlds fair

[@billgoodman3213]

I recently saw that AC is the cheapest place to live in the country next to a beach. 160k was the average price of a house.

[@thegerm574]

It’s funny you said that. I often thought the same thing. It’s crazy to think you can buy a home that close to a beach and resort area for that price.

[@stever7157]

I liked the Showboat even though it was smaller and understated compared to the Taj Mahal next door. The buffet was the best one that I had in AC. I went fairly frequently between 1997-2005, but I haven’t been in at least 12 years.

[@andrewtolpa643]

Just stayed there last week. The second floor is completely empty so much wasted space at the showboat

[@stever7157]

I’ve heard that it’s now a water park that tries to attract families. Whatever works I guess.

[@richardstarn2189]

This is going back even further but my great uncle Clarence Starn owned Captain Starn’s at the inlet. I’ve got a lot of pictures from back then and even the original menu and a family member card from when it was open. Crazy how much AC has changed.

[@leonardbonitt3586]

I remember driving by captain starn's as a youth on our way to Garwood Mills

[@jm-bv1wh]

Captain Starn's! That would be our last stop in AC before heading back to Philly on Sunday. Loved those little oyster crackers that were on the table. We ate those while waiting for the food.

[@skiprockjr.6881]

Wow. I used to play blackjack at Wild Wild West back in the late 90's to early 2000's. It's weird seeing it as an empty arcade.

[@user-xw7bm6xb7r]

You don't need to worry. At midnight, the place will be crowded with smiling people (drug dealers and customers) one after another.

[@drcoffee0913]

I’m always at AC boardwalk lol just was there last week! it’s not really summer yet so all the stuff isn’t open. Once memorial weekend and stuff happens it’s gunna be packed ! Lol but it’s definitely different now

[@Bikinibee]

I was there in December 2021 and se. I recorded it and was so excited to go. But yes police noise everywhere.

[@rafaelcastillo4248]

I once found a $500 chip in tropicana laying there on the floor. Immediately went to cashier got $500 , and went upstairs to hotel room dropped off $400 , played w $100 the entire night.

[@divinediva6320]

I love coming to Atlantic City Showboat Hotel and the French Quarter! They should not have closed them down!! I missed Showboat! Thanks for video! House of Blues had reggae night that was the good old days!

[@patrickfitzgerald9859]

We went there with the family for a couple of days every summer. My kids still talk about us all renting bicycles and going for miles on the boardwalk each morning. Repeated it with my grandchildren when they were of the age.